I have a serious question to ask you. What do you make of
this admonition by Paul to his protégé, Timothy:
“First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1–4,NET, emphasis added).
Would the majority of Christians be better able to fall in
line with this if we simply disengaged from political activism altogether? I
know that sounds like anathema, and I am not suggesting it, but I do wonder
with all sincerity whether we have gotten this all wrong. And when I consider
the reality that most political discourse includes slander (which Paul says
grieves the Holy Spirit of God, Eph. 4), it certainly makes me think long and
hard about what I’ve said over the years. Is it possible to be a “peaceful and
quiet” activist who prays continually for political leaders and never utters a
word that even hints at being slanderous? If so, how does that look,
practically? I’d really like your feedback. I feel like I’m starting from
scratch on this one, and I’m not even sure where to begin.
