Praying Instead of Posting

In the book of Acts chapter 23, the Apostle Paul had an encounter with the leadership of the nation of Israel;

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” - Acts 23:1-5

My heart is heavy for America today for so many reasons, but one of the greatest is the condition of Christians and churches here.  We have stopped influencing our nation’s conscience and behavior and so I want to ask a few questions that are relevant for the situation:

1. When did it become acceptable for Christians to call the leaders of our nation names and continually ridicule the God allowed authority?
2. Why do we expect the unsaved Americans to behave like Christians when the Christians cannot seem to behave like Christians?
3. When did it become more important to be accepted by our peers than our God?
4. Why do we assume that because leaders are doing wicked things all that needs to happen to “straighten out” the nation is for the people of the nation to simply be shown this and they will reject the leaders?  Thus Christians again and again point out every glaring failure of our leaders with a “clear justifiable” conscience using every term and name they can.

Recently I was reading the posts of other Christians via various blogs and found post after post of these so declared authorities of governmental wickedness.  Now, mind you, I agree we are living in wicked days and have many leaders doing wicked things.  But when did we as individuals gain the biblical right to publicly attack our leaders?

In Acts 23, the Apostle Paul unknowingly calls the high priest a “whited wall” and then apologizes for the term by acknowledging: “Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

In other places there is a clear God given line of how to respond to the governmental authority allowed by God:

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." 2 Peter 2:9-10

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Romans 13:1-2

The state of our nation is dire but so is the current state of our Christianity!  Let’s do as the scripture mandates for us:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, KJV).

The next time you are tempted to post or repost an attack piece about the governmental official you reject pray that God changes their heart and yours!