Praying for political leaders

We have elected a new government. Some of its members are Christians, many are not. How shall we pray for them?

In Psalm 122:6 we read that we are to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” (See also Ezra 6:10.) Concerning oppressive governments Jesus instructed us to “pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).

The apostle Paul provided fundamental guidelines: “I urge, then . . . that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

On the basis of these and many other Scriptures, consider these 12 guidelines in praying for political leaders, ours as well as those in other lands.

1. Pray that rulers will practice personal integrity. The peaceful functioning of government requires public trust and confidence. The fragile fabric of civilized society weakens and even unravels if rulers cheat, lie, steal, take bribes, and deceive.
2. Pray that rulers will rule justly. This includes seeking truth, acting on truth, and resisting any temptation to become arbitrary or unfair.
3. Pray that rulers will do good to us all, for God has mandated them as “God’s servant[s] for your good” (Romans 13:4). Such positive action can take many forms.
4. Pray that governments will resist evil and be moral in punishing evildoers. “Governors” are “sent by God to punish those who do wrong” (1 Peter 2:14).
5. Pray that rulers will pursue ways of peace. Those who rule can be easily tempted to undertake unwarranted military action, for wars, after all, often unite people, distract citizens from poor government, and bring short-term prosperity.
6. Pray that governments will manage the economy carefully and wisely in areas ranging from taxation to budgeting, trade negotiations to debt reduction, and currency manipulation to setting interest rates, all of which have tremendous impact on citizens.
7. Pray that rulers will create and maintain a climate of freedom, including freedom of religion, assembly, speech, the press, and movement.
8. Pray that governments will defend and promote human dignity. As Christians we are strongly motivated in this area because we know that all persons are made in the image of God.
9. Pray that governments will govern for the common good and not for their own advantage.
10. Pray that governments will be open to good counsel and advice, including counsel from Christians.
11. Pray that rulers will come to understand and acknowledge God’s role in human affairs and their accountability to God. Even the ungodly king Nebuchadnezzar came to such an understanding (Daniel 3:28ff).
12. If rulers are not Christians, we should follow Paul’s example as he witnessed to King Agrippa and other rulers, and do our part, especially in prayer, so they may come to salvation (Acts 24, 26).

Our general attitude should be one of gratitude. Given that Paul urged Christians to be grateful even for the brutal dictatorship of his day (doubtless believing that the Roman dictatorship was better than anarchy), how much more should we be grateful for governments that provide freedom and much else that is good. Even if we don’t support the government of the day and may actually work to defeat it democratically, we should still pray for it.

Any time is the right time to pray for political leaders. They need it. Scripture commands it. And obedience to God requires it.

John Redekop is adjunct professor of Political Science at Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. and a member of Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford.