Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
As dispensationalists and fundamentalists, we can dismiss all political and social participation in our nation and culture as a continuation of the social gospel of the early twentieth century. Not only is that a mistake, it is unbiblical. It is a violation of the direct commands of scripture both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Political and social engagement is NOT the gospel. People’s hearts and minds are not changed by politics. But political and social engagement do impact the environment in which we can freely spread the gospel, and that is a stewardship we must honor.
The command to pray.
Consider the Apostle Paul’s command to Timothy to pray for all governmental leaders. The purpose of that prayer was two-fold. One purpose is identified in verse four where he states that it is the Lord’s will that all be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. In this context, it certainly seems like Paul saying that God wants to save all KINDs of people—including Kings, presidents, governors, senators, school board members, police officers, and many others. We should not exclude any group of people from our evangelistic prayer list.
The first reason he mentions is the request that our leaders would allow us to lead quiet and peaceable lives. The assumption is that we could practice our faith without persecution or molestation. The outworking of our faith includes many realms.
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Political Participation is a Biblical Stewardship