Lord God whose kingdom reigns without end, grant us good government that seeks the security and good of all you children, believer and unbeliever alike. Help us to keep your Gospel freely in our lives that many may come to know you and faith may abound. Amen.
When we vote in elections we have one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges a person can have. I say privilege because voting is something that is secured to us by the government we live under and the Constitution that organizes that government.
Not every government is a democracy and plenty of governments stand only by the force and ruthlessness of dictators. In addition, not everything that looks like a democracy is one. Sometimes the process of elections is more about show than reality.
Paul may have been a bit too optimistic about the intentions of all rulers but his point in Romans 13 is a fair one. Governments only stand because God allows them to stand. When the corruption of government becomes so obvious that it cannot be tolerated people rise up in opposition and demand justice. In time all governments fall.
Luther reflected Paul's understanding of government and rulers into his society. Government, right government, served the important purpose of restraining evil and sin in the world. That restraint of evil served to make it possible for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed. Only when government inhibited the proclamation of the Gospel or was manifestly evil did resistance become essential. For Paul everything else was secondary to the proclamation of the Gospel.
Luther, also, understood that government was composed of men (and women) who were sinful. People who fell "short of the glory of God." Dictators, presidents of true democracies, members of congress, or the House of Lords all fall short of the glory of God. Whether secular government or sectarian governments within the Body of Christ, all fall short of the glory of God. For this reason wherever people attempt to organize and to rule themselves sin is at hand.
Understanding this when we enter into the ballot booth we must therefore remember our own sinfulness and pray that God's grace and guidance be with us as we in our society vote for those who will lead us locally, statewide, and nationally. In this way we should not vote for people superficially because some group has told us they check of all the right boxes on the right opinions. Rather we must as best as we are able vote for those who will ensure freedom of the Gospel. Freedom to speak God's grace openly without fear.
Two hundred and some years ago our Founding Fathers thought the best way to guarantee that freedom was to guarantee freedom of religion to all faiths. The most important thing you do today is to discern those who will guarantee not just your right to be Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jew, Hindi, Sikh, Baha'i, pagan or whatever you choose but will make sure they and you will respect and protect your neighbors right to believe as they do, as well.
When we guarantee the freedom of religion for all as we have from the initial founding documents of this nation the Gospel will always thrive and God's Kingdom grow.
As we enter the booth to vote and we pray it is always good to remember Luther's explanation of the second and third petitions of the Lord's Prayer.
The Second Petition. "Thy kingdom come."
What does this mean?-- The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done?-- When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and in eternity.
The Third Petition. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
What does this mean?-- The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is this done?-- When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
When we vote in elections we have one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges a person can have. I say privilege because voting is something that is secured to us by the government we live under and the Constitution that organizes that government.
Not every government is a democracy and plenty of governments stand only by the force and ruthlessness of dictators. In addition, not everything that looks like a democracy is one. Sometimes the process of elections is more about show than reality.
Paul may have been a bit too optimistic about the intentions of all rulers but his point in Romans 13 is a fair one. Governments only stand because God allows them to stand. When the corruption of government becomes so obvious that it cannot be tolerated people rise up in opposition and demand justice. In time all governments fall.
Luther reflected Paul's understanding of government and rulers into his society. Government, right government, served the important purpose of restraining evil and sin in the world. That restraint of evil served to make it possible for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed. Only when government inhibited the proclamation of the Gospel or was manifestly evil did resistance become essential. For Paul everything else was secondary to the proclamation of the Gospel.
Luther, also, understood that government was composed of men (and women) who were sinful. People who fell "short of the glory of God." Dictators, presidents of true democracies, members of congress, or the House of Lords all fall short of the glory of God. Whether secular government or sectarian governments within the Body of Christ, all fall short of the glory of God. For this reason wherever people attempt to organize and to rule themselves sin is at hand.
Understanding this when we enter into the ballot booth we must therefore remember our own sinfulness and pray that God's grace and guidance be with us as we in our society vote for those who will lead us locally, statewide, and nationally. In this way we should not vote for people superficially because some group has told us they check of all the right boxes on the right opinions. Rather we must as best as we are able vote for those who will ensure freedom of the Gospel. Freedom to speak God's grace openly without fear.
Two hundred and some years ago our Founding Fathers thought the best way to guarantee that freedom was to guarantee freedom of religion to all faiths. The most important thing you do today is to discern those who will guarantee not just your right to be Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jew, Hindi, Sikh, Baha'i, pagan or whatever you choose but will make sure they and you will respect and protect your neighbors right to believe as they do, as well.
When we guarantee the freedom of religion for all as we have from the initial founding documents of this nation the Gospel will always thrive and God's Kingdom grow.
As we enter the booth to vote and we pray it is always good to remember Luther's explanation of the second and third petitions of the Lord's Prayer.
The Second Petition. "Thy kingdom come."
What does this mean?-- The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.
How is this done?-- When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and in eternity.
The Third Petition. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
What does this mean?-- The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is this done?-- When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
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