|
Before I read today’s word for the sermon, let me ask you some-thing: What is it that people usually pray for? What is it that you normally ask God in your daily prayers? [Collecting answers] Thank you.
Now, having collected a couple of things, let’ see how St. Paul advices his co-worker Timothy and all other Christians how to pray. For Paul writes in today’s Epistle reading, taken from his 1st letter to Timothy, the 2nd chapter, as follows:
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
There are three things, which I would like to emphasise in view of Paul’s words: Firstly the fact that he encourages all Christians to pray for everyone. What does this imply?
Secondly I would like to ask why Christians should pray espe-cially for those in authority, and what this implies in view of our present political situation and responsibility. And thirdly, I would like to follow Paul’s encouragement to pray in a ‘fourfold’ way.
So, let’s look at: What it implies, that Paul encourages all to pray for everyone. It implies two very important things, namely that prayer is and should be a part of the spiritual life of every single Christian, for prayer is the expression of a living faith that ad-dresses God in expectation of his answer, trusting in his promises.
As a relationship is in danger to die, when there is no communica-tion, our faith is in danger to die, where we neither listen to God’s promises nor answer them in trusting prayers. But what is at least as important as the fact that prayer is a vital part of faith, is that we as Christians shouldn’t pray just for our-selves. Paul says, Christians should pray for everyone, which means literally every person on earth. However reading between the lines it points out that we should pray for all the people we know, no matter, if they are family or friends, or people, whom we don’t like, even enemies. And the reason, why Paul encourages us to do so, is very simple: We are Christ’s disciples; and our Lord died for all people, not just for us or those, whom we like. He died for everyone, no mat-ter where this person comes from, what he looks like, what her income is, or their social status. Jesus especially died for those, who are lost in sin and guilt, outcasts, unrighteous people. And to trust in this Lord therefore means to trust in his love for every single person on earth. It also means to trust that God can help, or change people, even if we have given up on them. To pray for all people means to express our trust and hope in God, who loves all, and who is capable of saving even the most notorious sinner.
But why should Christians pray especially for those in authority, and what does it imply concerning our political responsibility? To find a reasonable answer to this 2nd question, it might be help-ful to know that in Paul’s days the political imperial Roman au-thorities dealt rather harshly with Christians. Christians refused to participate in the emperor’s cult and to worship him as a God. This rejection was however esteemed by the Romans as subversive and hostile to the state. And this was crucial, because for the Romans a functioning state was the highest good, for it guaranteed peace, prosperity and order. Something that even Christians had to admit – as Paul’s words show us. It is for this reason that Paul encourages Christians to do what is in their power to support and influence the policy of the empire in a way that pleases God: which was – because of the imperial structures – prayer. There was no other way of influencing the absolute sovereign of Rome. To pray for the emperor and the empire was therefore the only possible sign of loyalty, without renouncing one’s faith in Christ, the only true king of the world. And by praying that God may influence the decisions of the mighty in a way that peace and harmony may prosper, Christians also expressed their hope for practising their faith undisturbed. We in South Africa on the other hand live in a democratic society that guarantees us to practise and live our faith in peace. We also have the chance to influence the government by actively taking over political responsibilities. However a political career is not meant for every one of us. So we are left with our right to vote; and prayer. For until this very day people can’t take it for granted that governments secure order and peace and conditions, in which people can practise and live their beliefs, and in which Christians can invite others with the Gospel of Jesus, who died for all.
It is for this reason that Paul encouragement to support and to pray foremost for the authorities, and to ask God to give them wisdom and faithful hearts, addresses us, too. Because: Only if politicians come to the saving faith in Christ, they will do their job in responsibility to God, and according to his will for the welfare of all people. And this is so important, that Paul encourages to pray for it not just in a simple, but in a fourfold way, namely in requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.
I would like to follow Paul’s advice therefore at the end of this sermon in the style of Martin Luther’s private prayer, the so called fourfold garland, which Luther describes as follows: „If I have time and opportunity to go beyond the Lord’s prayer, I deal ... [for instance] with the Ten Commandments [as follows:]… taking one part after another [I] make a gar-land of for strands: ... first of all, I take … [it] as a teaching ... and reflect on what our Lord God earnestly demands of me here. Secondly, I make a thanksgiving of it. Thirdly, a confes-sion. Fourthly, a prayer.“
So let us pray: Lord, you have installed all governments on earth, because hu-mans over and again just look for their own advantages, forgetting about others. Governments however are meant to secure peace and order for the welfare of a whole nation and the social safe-guarding of all people in a society. In this way you instructed Saul, the first King, to rule over your people, and in the same way it is the commission for all Govern-ments on earth until this day: be it a kingdom, a democracy, a province, a community, or the authority of parents over their fami-lies. It is your gracious will that all people in power put themselves out for those who are entrusted to their care. And you want us to support them in respect and loyalty in this strife. It is for this reason that we give thanks to you, for you have blessed us with a Democracy that allows us to influence and par-ticipate in politics for the welfare of this country, and that gives us the freedom to live and share our believes without retrenchments; which we shouldn’t take for granted. Forgive us therefore, where we have just criticised and talked badly about those, who try to work for the benefit of all, without showing any sign of support for these people. We ask you to for-give us also, where we have lived at the expenses of others; where we have followed the selfish model of this world rather than to reflect your love and care for all people. It is true, how shall we reflect your light, if we as Christians evade taxes, just because our colleague does the same? How can we expect that the social stan-dard of this country will increase, if Christians live at the expenses of others, just because they follow their friend’s example? Lord, how can we expect this country to become a safer place, if Chris-tians even don’t abide to the rules – for instance of traffic –, be-cause everyone does it? What is the future of this country, if Christians keep out of politics, just to say afterwards: We have known it all along? Forgive us, where we have erred. And help us, that we may support those who have to take care of our wellbeing, by using our rights and by fulfilling our obligations, by engaging ourselves and giving constructive criticism, but most of all by praying for them.
All this we ask in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives, and reigns, one God, now and forever. AMEN |
