Church and State!

The Lord's Prayer begins, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. " These are very famous words. Surely you have heard them, read them, or said them many times. And yet, have you ever thought about what Jesus meant when He told us to pray that way?

Consider this: The Lord's Prayer is a political prayer, at least in part. "Thy kingdom come" is a political statement. And it is not limited to some future time when God's Kingdom will be set up on the earth. Jesus is telling us to pray that God's will would be accomplished in the political realm today!

So many people have a cynical view of politics expressed like this: "They're all crooks;" or "Why vote? You're only choosing the lesser of two evils." And by saying this, they excuse themselves from all responsibility and justify doing nothing. Why is politics so dirty? Because God's people have, for the most part, withdrawn from the realm of politics. When good people fail or refuse to act, wicked men will be sure to rise and succeed.

Many claim that religion and politics don't mix. Apparently, God doesn't think so, because we find this in 1 Timothy 2: "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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;"

We cannot allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep in this matter. The future of our nation and of the Church depends upon our obedience, steadfast, even zealous, obedience to the Lord's instruction to pray "after this manner." Pray for our leaders.