Musing – Post election: What should we pray for?

Hebraic Musing – Post election: What should we pray for?

I was listening to a Christian radio talk show on election morning, November 6^th. The commentator interviewed a Christian enduring heavy persecution living in the Middle-East. They described in detail the sufferings, persecutions, dangers and tribulations we frequently hear that Christians in those places endure. To conclude the interview, the commentator suggested the audience should pray for the protection and safety of the Christians in that country. The Christian from the Middle-East interrupted and told the commentator he would rather the listeners “pray for their faith to endure”.

So which is more important, to pray for protection?  Or pray to hold on to the faith?...to endure?

Consider that persecution, dangers and tribulations are coming as part of our stand as ‘peculiar people’ who do not, or are not supposed to, succumb to the world’s ways. The election results show that we are succumbing! Christians supported a party and candidates with anti-biblical stances that accelerate our moral decline. Will those who call themselves Christians endure to the end?

·      When the Israelites scorned God, Ezekiel admonished them - Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.  Ezek.22:14

·      Paul and the Christians in Lystra and Derbe faced serious persecution. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe… Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”, they said. Acts 14:19-22

·      James used the word ‘when’ not ‘if’ in James 1:2 - Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…

·      Peter gave us the reason to endure - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

There are many views on the ills and direction of our nation, and the world. The election results revealed the challenges to us, and sensitized us as to the division between the sheep and the goats. The fragile nature of the moral/biblical compass of the Christian church has been laid bare. Who knows when, where and how the trials and tribulation(s) will come, but we do know the question is when, not if.  So what can we do about it?  

Point to ponder

Does it make sense to pray for protection and safety from the inevitable?

Or should we be encouraging one another to faithfulness?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             November 6, 2012