Are you praying, selflessly? Our Lord says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26)

It is a wise thing to come to the Confession on days like this. We are so blessed to have had the day of rest yesterday that now we enter upon the week to news that for many of us is troubling, scary, and frankly bad. How do we respond to new health care legislation voted on recently by our very own congressmen? Many of you are perturbed by this; you know it is not good for the economy, your businesses, or your families. But there is something greater that we need to think upon, and that is the work of the servant of Christ.

I ask you to think upon the Westminster Confession, Chapter 23, Section 4, as it teaches us what duty is required of us,

“It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute or other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience’ sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, does not make void the magistrates’ just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted, much less has the Pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever.”

Oh yes, we are to honor their persons because of the office they hold. It is no coincidence that the Westminster Divines made reference, concerning this section, to 1 Peter 2:17ff,

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

“Oh,” you will shout, “this is against the Constitution!” Right you are, I couldn’t agree more, and we have the means to go through to see that something is done about this, to the best of our abilities. We vote for people, we have representatives. Call, email, bug them. With God’s Word as your guide (the only rule for faith and practice) tell them what is right, and in it, don’t forget the Gospel. But even if they seek to go beyond the Constitution or deny the Constitution, remember that the Constitution is a man-made document. There is something greater than it though, thankfully. There is the Word of God, living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, the very breath of God, and we have it. If all your rights are taken away, your freedom lost, then you are still to be subject to God Himself, and in Him you are free, free indeed. And I ask you, who is it that put your ruling authorities in office?

Recall what Section 1 of Chapter 23 states of our Confession,

“God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, has armed them with the power of the sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers.”

So this health care ‘fiasco,’ although evil, although wrong, although contrary to very foundation of our nation, has God is working through it. God will, for you, the Christian, work it for His good (Romans 8:28). Do you remember the story of Joseph, though his brought meant evil in what they did to him, God worked it all out for their good and Joseph’s good? And Job, though much of what he possessed, including much of his family was taken away from him, was he not in the end blessed with more than what he had at first? In fact, not only is He working through it, He has ordained it to be. Remember Romans 13,

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”

Let us take great heed to how we speak of our rulers. We are tempted to bad-mouth them, curse them, but why must we curse them? Instead, may we pray for them, that they would be shown the error of their ways, even as we are to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). So 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).

Are you praying, selflessly? Our Lord says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). Let us remember, that we have a great God, a holy and righteous God, and He will make all things right. It is Him who says, “Vengeance is Mine” (Romans 12:19). Our Lord is bringing judgment. Sure. But He is also bringing much blessing to you who have believed in the only name under heaven by which you must be saved, Jesus Christ. Do not fret; draw comfort from the infinite goodness of Christ, our Lord.

Andrew Barnes is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and a member of Mississippi Valley Presbytery. He is a contributor at www.aprofitableword.com. [Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]