Large and in Charge
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. — 1 Timothy 2:1–4
Given what’s happening in the world, Paul’s words have a profoundly prophetic impact on the modern Church. As does the Lord Jesus, who gave us an unambiguous mission, and a beautiful example of what it looks like to bathe ministry in prayer:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20
These two passages are related through an interesting serendipity. Jesus sets the mission. Subsequently, Paul instructs us how to nurture a fertile context. The apostle envisions God’s people prioritizing (“First of all…”) prayer for average citizens (“all people” – friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.), heads of government (“kings”), and everyone who serves in a position of organizational authority (“in high positions”).
Why does Paul command this? So that God’s people may live quiet, godly, and dignified lives. Why is that “good” as Paul frames it? Well, some of the goodness is self-evident because it enhances human flourishing. But Paul implies a reason that sits close to the heart of “God our Savior,” who desires to see all people saved — in other words, to be made disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is where Matthew 28:18-20 meets 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
When God’s people live within a stable and just society, it allows them to devote considerable emotional, spiritual, and financial resources to the mission of making disciples. Some Christians, like a number of those in Gaza, don’t have that same advantage. They are forced to devote precious energy to finding their daily bread. The same could be said of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, or Cambodia, or Thailand, or Syria,… I could go on, but you get the point. It’s tricky for many to balance the mission with survival.
I’m not making political statements about war with the examples above, or pointing out who’s right or who’s wrong, given any issue from immigration to globalization. That’s not what I’m after. I’m simply stating a fact: there is a lot of daylight between Paul’s vision for how those in authority organize society so that Jesus’ people can peaceably pursue His mission, and what’s going down in 2025.
The reasons our world feels like it’s teetering in this gap are many and complex. Conversely, the fact that war is awful, for example, and kills innocent people is painfully simple. Starvation is bad.
It’s seems obvious that this intricate, interconnected world we share is anything but peaceful, godly, quiet, and dignified. It’s roiling, so God’s people have a Scriptural imperative to stand in the gap. A large part of that assignment is to pray for our leaders. That’s why we commend ourselves to the kind of prayer that God’s Spirit commands through the pen of St. Paul. We do so knowing that it is our first, best option, not a last resort. We need to remind ourselves of this truth lest we grow discouraged: what can feel like ineffectual prayer is often the most effective action we can undertake.
— Pastor Steve