DOMINIQUE MCKAY |GUEST
Another election day has come and gone. Some are happy with the results and others are angry or confused. As church leaders, we can be overwhelmed by the expectations that congregations demand from us when it comes to politics. But what if there was a way to help them reset their perspectives and right-size the role of public service?
Romans 13 teaches us that those who are in authority have been put there for our good — a force for administering justice against wrongdoing. This sets the stage for how we should approach our public servants. Not with suspicion or disdain, but instead with an open heart for how God will use them for his purposes, which are always good.
In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to pray for all people, but he specifically calls out “kings and all who are in high positions” with a care for how they lead. This is the heart posture God is commanding us to have for our government leaders — compassionate and desiring their success.
But how exactly do we practice that heart posture? Here’s three ways you and your church can serve your representatives this coming year.
First, pray for them. You can start with your city council and mayor. Pray for their walk with the Lord if they are Christian, and if they aren’t, pray for their salvation. Pray for their marriages and the safety of their children. If they are single, pray God provides them with a healthy community and friendships. Then begin to pray for the members who represent you in your state legislature and your governor. End with prayers for the members who represent you in Congress and the president in Washington, D.C.
It’s important as you pray to focus on things like health, safety, their spiritual lives, and wisdom as they lead. You can use 1 Timothy 2:1-2 as a starting point. This will help to invite God to develop in your own heart a joy, care, and concern for those he has put in leadership over you. Prayer in this format is something you can do on your own, with your family, or with your church.
Secondly, take a step toward building relationships. Find out where a local office of one of your representatives is and drop off a card of thanks for their service with a short devotional pamphlet or a Christian book that helped you with your walk with Christ. If you have a representative who is new to public service, think creatively about ways that you or a group of women in your church can welcome them and their staff.
Of note, many government office spaces are open to the public, but always be mindful of the security measures that offices might have in place and take a few moments to look up in advance what is and isn’t allowed to be brought into their offices.
Don’t expect to meet your representative immediately. Typically the person you’ll interact with first is an office assistant or someone who works administratively for them. What you’re doing is taking a first step toward developing a relationship. Your primary goal is letting them know there is a church community that is praying for them and caring for their well-being.
Lastly, invite them to a church service or event your church is hosting. A part of evangelizing is inviting those in your community to church, and public servants are no exception to that. If you are a church leader, take a moment to think about upcoming events you are planning. Would any of them benefit those who are serving the public? Would any of them be an encouragement to those who are in leadership roles?
Do you have someone representing you who isn’t a Christian? Invite them to a Sunday service. As someone who represents you, he or she might be willing to spend time in your church simply because you’re a community leader who asked. You never know what God can do through your simple act of faith.
As you prayerfully consider what your role might be in serving those in leadership, know that the Presbyterian Church in America supports this sort of work through its ministry known as Ministry to State (MTS). MTS is a workplace ministry of the PCA that focuses on sending church leaders to government city-centers to minister to the spiritual needs of our elected officials. If you’d like more information about this ministry, its resources, or how you can get involved, reach out directly to Dominique McKay, dominique@ministrytostate.org.
