I have been amazed at the protests in the aftermath of this presidential election. Not because there have been protests. There have always been protests after an election by the faction that felt they will not be served. No, what has surprised me has been the anger, the hatred, and the vulgarity that has accompanied these protests.
However, the more I think about it, the more I am beginning to understand it, because if a person believes that his or her hope for the future rests in the hands of one individual, and that person does not win, then I can understand the fear and desperation that would follow.
I have to confess that, unlike many out there who seem to know, I can’t predict how this presidency will play out. But as a Christian, I have to remind myself of a few things.
Reminder #1: No ruler gets into power without God’s okay.
Psalm 22:28: For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
Daniel 2:21: He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
Reminder #2: As a human with a finite mind, I will probably not be able to understand why God allows certain rulers to be in power.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
Reminder #3: God has used evil and benevolent, pagan and righteous rulers to further His will.
Proverbs 16:4: “The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
This is not to say wicked leaders are good or to be condoned, but that God can bring good out of even the most evil of situations. God used Nebuchadnezzar to judge a disobedient people but used the kindness of Cyrus to bless them. Pharaoh’s hardened heart eventually led to the Israelites being able to leave Egypt and make it to the promised land. I wish I had the omniscience to see the good that might have resulted from all the various leaders, but I don’t. I do, however, know that the ultimate good that came out of evil was Christ’s death and resurrection at the hands of Jewish and Roman leaders.
Reminder #4: We are to honor and respect those in office. (It does not say agree.)
Romans 13:1-2: "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
Titus 3: 1-3: “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”
I Peter 2: 17-18: “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Reminder #5: We are commanded to stand up if the government violates Scripture. (The Bible doesn’t say to work off of our own ethical code or version of right or wrong but God’s. As we can readily see, humans do not agree and can sometimes be self-serving.)
Acts 5:29: "We must obey God rather than men."
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Reminder #6 and the one that is most valuable: We are commanded to pray for our leaders.
I Timothy 2:1-2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
I would urge each of us, regardless of our political affiliation, to pray for President Trump, his cabinet, the Congress and the Supreme Court. I am betting that prayer will have more power than placards.
The late Corrie Ten Boom encourages us to “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Finally, we are all heading toward the ultimate judgment day. In the end it won’t matter whether President Trump lines up with our personal values. What will matter is whether he aligns with God’s. For he and every other leader, as well as every one of us, will eventually have to answer to God.
James 4:12: “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy.”
However, the more I think about it, the more I am beginning to understand it, because if a person believes that his or her hope for the future rests in the hands of one individual, and that person does not win, then I can understand the fear and desperation that would follow.
I have to confess that, unlike many out there who seem to know, I can’t predict how this presidency will play out. But as a Christian, I have to remind myself of a few things.
Reminder #1: No ruler gets into power without God’s okay.
Psalm 22:28: For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
Daniel 2:21: He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
Reminder #2: As a human with a finite mind, I will probably not be able to understand why God allows certain rulers to be in power.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
Reminder #3: God has used evil and benevolent, pagan and righteous rulers to further His will.
Proverbs 16:4: “The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
This is not to say wicked leaders are good or to be condoned, but that God can bring good out of even the most evil of situations. God used Nebuchadnezzar to judge a disobedient people but used the kindness of Cyrus to bless them. Pharaoh’s hardened heart eventually led to the Israelites being able to leave Egypt and make it to the promised land. I wish I had the omniscience to see the good that might have resulted from all the various leaders, but I don’t. I do, however, know that the ultimate good that came out of evil was Christ’s death and resurrection at the hands of Jewish and Roman leaders.
Reminder #4: We are to honor and respect those in office. (It does not say agree.)
Romans 13:1-2: "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
Titus 3: 1-3: “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”
I Peter 2: 17-18: “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Reminder #5: We are commanded to stand up if the government violates Scripture. (The Bible doesn’t say to work off of our own ethical code or version of right or wrong but God’s. As we can readily see, humans do not agree and can sometimes be self-serving.)
Acts 5:29: "We must obey God rather than men."
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Reminder #6 and the one that is most valuable: We are commanded to pray for our leaders.
I Timothy 2:1-2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
I would urge each of us, regardless of our political affiliation, to pray for President Trump, his cabinet, the Congress and the Supreme Court. I am betting that prayer will have more power than placards.
The late Corrie Ten Boom encourages us to “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Finally, we are all heading toward the ultimate judgment day. In the end it won’t matter whether President Trump lines up with our personal values. What will matter is whether he aligns with God’s. For he and every other leader, as well as every one of us, will eventually have to answer to God.
James 4:12: “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy.”
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