- Jan 25, 2009
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Was thinking recently on how many have been complaining often on the president - noting everything he may be doing wrong..and yet as I read the Word in Titus 3, it really weighed on my heart what the Apostle noted when saying the following:
In considering my own life, although others often talk about all the ways that bad things have been happening, I've found myself more prone to intercede for the good that has occurred - and rejoicing over that as well as noting to others where I think the leaders of my nation are doing a lot of things which require Divine revelation, encouragement, support and wisdom. And I've had some places I don't feel I can really be myself at now at this season of life because I don't take a stance of demonization on other leaders or choosing to slander rather than choosing to be peaceable toward all men. I by no means am a fan or supporter of all things done in leadership - but at the same token, I don't think it's right for believers to forget that people in leadership are just that....people. Men/women who have sons and daughters at home. People who have fears and struggles as do all men.
I thought about the president during a trip out the country - and thought "How often are the same people critiquing him praying for his children to have godly friends in school?" or "How often do he and his wife have time to just be the two of them/keep their marriage strong" - and my mother and I would pray on those everday things we'd like prayer on. The same thing goes for praying he'd be encouraged when it comes to good actions he has fought for and that others often seem to belittle.
I wonder how the Fathers would've handled things if they lived in the times we are in - and I'm aware of others such as Tertulian who has discussed Christian loyalty to the Emperor, whoever he may be.
From what I understand, concerning relationship to Caesar and the Roman Empire, the church rejected the empires idolatry and many of its cultural values and it suffered greatly at the hands of the empires leaders, but in priniciple it respected the God-given place of the empire and its emperor. The idolatrous Roman empire martyred the saints including some of the men who wrote the words above - but the church generally believed that the empire could be redeemed as its citizens came to know Christ.
That said - perhaps it's just me ....but from the election till now with the Fiscal CLiff and many other decisions made in government, I can't really see the Fathers waging a war against the President. But perhaps I'm wrong. Would they have been involved in campaigns against the president? Or would they have been simply intercedding for him and noting to others to do the same? Would they have been expressing anger continually toward leadership? Or would they look to see how the Lord could be glorified in it. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear sometime
Titus 3
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
If Daniel could serve the King of Babylon as well as the Medes and Persians with excellence - and if Joseph could serve the King of Egypt with concern for all in the land - how much more could people do the same in the U.S when they're not slaves/captives in their land like those men were? As I processed the issue of what it means to serve where you are in governments of any type, I began to think on things the Desert Fathers and other monastics noted (in addition to many of the Church Fathers)- specifically on how they seperated themselves from corruption in the Empire...and yet they also prayed for those within it.Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
In considering my own life, although others often talk about all the ways that bad things have been happening, I've found myself more prone to intercede for the good that has occurred - and rejoicing over that as well as noting to others where I think the leaders of my nation are doing a lot of things which require Divine revelation, encouragement, support and wisdom. And I've had some places I don't feel I can really be myself at now at this season of life because I don't take a stance of demonization on other leaders or choosing to slander rather than choosing to be peaceable toward all men. I by no means am a fan or supporter of all things done in leadership - but at the same token, I don't think it's right for believers to forget that people in leadership are just that....people. Men/women who have sons and daughters at home. People who have fears and struggles as do all men.
I thought about the president during a trip out the country - and thought "How often are the same people critiquing him praying for his children to have godly friends in school?" or "How often do he and his wife have time to just be the two of them/keep their marriage strong" - and my mother and I would pray on those everday things we'd like prayer on. The same thing goes for praying he'd be encouraged when it comes to good actions he has fought for and that others often seem to belittle.
I wonder how the Fathers would've handled things if they lived in the times we are in - and I'm aware of others such as Tertulian who has discussed Christian loyalty to the Emperor, whoever he may be.
For we offer prayer for the safety of our princes to the eternal, the true, the living God, whose favour, beyond all others, they must themselves desire. They know from whom they have obtained their power; they know, as they are men, from whom they have received life itself; they are convinced that He is God alone, on whose power alone they are entirely dependent, to whom they are second, after whom they occupy the highest places, before and above all the gods. Why not, since they are above all living men, and the living, as living, are superior to the dead? They reflect upon the extent of their power, and so they come to understand the highest; they acknowledge that they have all their might from Him against whom their might is nought. Let the emperor make war on heaven; let him lead heaven captive in his triumph; let him put guards on heaven; let him impose taxes on heaven! He cannot. Just because he is less than heaven, he is great. For he himself is His to whom heaven and every creature appertains. He gets his sceptre where he first got his humanity; his power where he got the breath of life. Thither we lift our eyes, with hands outstretched, because free from sin; with head uncovered, for we have nothing whereof to be ashamed; finally, without a monitor, because it is from the heart we supplicate. Without ceasing, for all our emperors we offer prayer. We pray for life prolonged; for security to the empire; for protection to the imperial house; for brave armies, a faithful senate, a virtuous people, the world at rest, whatever, as man or Cæsar, an emperor would wish. These things I cannot ask from any but the God from whom I know I shall obtain them, both because He alone bestows them and because I have claims upon Him for their gift, as being a servant of His, rendering homage to Him alone, persecuted for His doctrine, offering to Him, at His own requirement, that costly and noble sacrifice of prayer despatched from the chaste body, an unstained soul, a sanctified spirit, not the few grains of incense a farthing buys tears of an Arabian tree,not a few drops of wine,not the blood of some worthless ox to which death is a relief, and, in addition to other offensive things, a polluted conscience, so that one wonders, when your victims are examined by these vile priests, why the examination is not rather of the sacrificers than the sacrifices. With our hands thus stretched out and up to God, rend us with your iron claws, hang us up on crosses, wrap us in flames, take our heads from us with the sword, let loose the wild beasts on us,the very attitude of a Christian praying is one of preparation for all punishment. Let this, good rulers, be your work: wring from us the soul, beseeching God on the emperors behalf. Upon the truth of God, and devotion to His name, put the brand of crime.
XXXI. But we merely, you say, flatter the emperor, and feign these prayers of ours to escape persecution. Thank you for your mistake, for you give us the opportunity of proving our allegations. Do you, then, who think that we care nothing for the welfare of Cæsar, look into Gods revelations, examine our sacred books, which we do not keep in hiding, and which many accidents put into the hands of those who are not of us. Learn from them that a large benevolence is enjoined upon us, even so far as to supplicate God for our enemies, and to beseech blessings on our persecutors. Who, then, are greater enemies and persecutors of Christians, than the very parties with treason against whom we are charged? Nay, even in terms, and most clearly, the Scripture says, Pray for kings, and rulers, and powers, that all may be peace with you. For when there is disturbance in the empire, if the commotion is felt by its other members, surely we too, though we are not thought to be given to disorder, are to be found in some place or other which the calamity affects.
Justin Martyr (d. 165)
First Apology
And everywhere we, more readily than all men, endeavor to pay to those appointed by you the taxes both ordinary and extraordinary, as we have been taught by Him; for at that time some came to Him and asked Him, if one ought to pay tribute to Caesar; and He answered, Tell Me, whose image does the coin bear? And they said, Caesars. And again He answered them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. Whence to God alone we render worship, but in other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men, and praying that with your kingly power you be found to possess also sound judgment. But if you pay no regard to our prayers and frank explanations, we shall suffer no loss, since we believe (or rather, indeed, are persuaded) that every man will suffer punishment in eternal fire according to the merit of his deed, and will render account according to the power he has received from God, as Christ intimated when He said, To whom God has given more, of him shall more be required.
First Apology
And everywhere we, more readily than all men, endeavor to pay to those appointed by you the taxes both ordinary and extraordinary, as we have been taught by Him; for at that time some came to Him and asked Him, if one ought to pay tribute to Caesar; and He answered, Tell Me, whose image does the coin bear? And they said, Caesars. And again He answered them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. Whence to God alone we render worship, but in other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging you as kings and rulers of men, and praying that with your kingly power you be found to possess also sound judgment. But if you pay no regard to our prayers and frank explanations, we shall suffer no loss, since we believe (or rather, indeed, are persuaded) that every man will suffer punishment in eternal fire according to the merit of his deed, and will render account according to the power he has received from God, as Christ intimated when He said, To whom God has given more, of him shall more be required.
That said - perhaps it's just me ....but from the election till now with the Fiscal CLiff and many other decisions made in government, I can't really see the Fathers waging a war against the President. But perhaps I'm wrong. Would they have been involved in campaigns against the president? Or would they have been simply intercedding for him and noting to others to do the same? Would they have been expressing anger continually toward leadership? Or would they look to see how the Lord could be glorified in it. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear sometime
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