VICAR
Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I trust that my short, weekly message meets You well and that You are enjoying the summer sunshine wherever You are.
This week, as elections loom, I would like to pray for democracy. That, whatever the result in the General Election, the winner is respected by the losers and that We can all move forward peacefully and in a spirit of cooperation.
The Bible does not talk much of democracy. Nonetheless there are a couple of verses in the New Testament that sceptics would call ‘mere social cement’:
1 Peter 2:13-17
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor.
Romans 13:1-7
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. …
Do try and vote. The democratic process is an important one even if Jesus taught Christians to focus rather more on the kingdom of God.
May God bless You all and have a lovely Sunday and a good week ahead.
Dear Lord, We ask that whoever is elected to govern Us for the next five years does so well and humbly as the servants they ought to be. That they spend Our money wisely. That they govern humbly and with empathy. That the country grows stronger and benefits from their government’s works. That We remain in peace and work with allies to end all wars. Amen