From The President of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Matthew Harrison

 FROM PRESIDENT HARRISON

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Dt. 4:7

This text was spoken to encourage the ancient nation of Israel, from whom the Christ would come. The LORD was close and heard their prayers. From the earliest days of the church, she has prayed for the state and its rulers, for peace and tranquility, for mercy and the propagation of the gospel. Jesus clearly recognized the necessity of governing authorities when he said, “Render under Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s” (Lk 20:25). He never told a soldier or a government official to leave his post as though it were unchristian. He praised a military man for recognizing His divine authority and word when that man asked that his child be healed. 

St. Paul forever set the Christian standard when he wrote, “First of all, 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. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Ti 2:1-6)

We Christians are to be good citizens, act in our communities for what is true, good, right and just. We should participate where we can in making our communities and governments reasonable according to natural law and the Ten Commandments. But a special and unique task of Christians is to pray for our leaders and our government. Ancient Israel had God’s direct prophetic word and promises about His presence with His people. We Christians have the direct and prophetic, divine and blood-bought assurance that God hears our prayers also for governing authorities and the state. 

Today we pray for peace in light of an assassination attempt on former president Trump. We thank God for sparing his life and ask God’s mercy upon him, upon Robert Kennedy, upon President Biden, and upon all candidates for political office, that our Lord Jesus would preserve them and us from murder and mayhem, that what is right, just and true would prevail among us, in our state—even now—even today. It is with that sacred task given us as Jesus’ own people that we pray,

O Lord, You are a God of justice. Spare our nation from violence and bloodshed. Relieve those affected by violence. Grant us peaceful civil discourse and orderly conduct. Preserve all candidates, all who serve in elected office, and those who keep watch to protect those who govern. Grant us confidence amid all chaos in that peace which this world cannot give, the peace that comes through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.