The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (13)

Making public policy is first of all the work of prayer.

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… 1 Timothy 2.1-3

Whatever is good in the divine economy is consistent with His holy and righteous and good Law. It is good, and according to God’s Law, that we should pray for those who are in positions of public policy-making. The language by which Christians may expect to affect public policy and to bring the wisdom and understanding of God’s Law to bear on social and political issues is first of all the language of prayer.

Samuel, even in “retirement,” understood that he must continue to pray for Israel and her leaders (1 Sam. 12.23). Daniel turned to prayer and rallied his friends to pray when an opportunity for affecting Babylonian policy was suddenly thrust upon him (Dan. 2.17-23). The effective, fervent prayer of people committed to knowing and living the Law of God can be very powerful (Jms. 5.16), even, it seems, to affecting the kinds of policies governments enact in ruling their people.

Paul instructed the men of Ephesus and everywhere to pray for public officials. He urged them, through supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, to seek mercy from God so that policies might be drafted that would allow the Church to continue to increase in God’s shalom and for people to experience the full measure of dignity as the image-bearers of God. Pray, Paul urged them, that godliness may increase and the Gospel may reach to the lost (v. 4).

If we do not begin the work of public policy-making in prayer we cannot expect to know the blessings of God on our endeavors. We will rely on our own wiles, on proven methodologies and political strategies, on marketing and polling and focus groups and the language of legalese to make the changes we seek, if we will not plead with the Lord continuously that His will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We cannot expect God to bless any of our efforts to bring public policy more into line with the teaching of His Law unless the language we use to affect public policy is first of all and at all times the language of prayer. The Law of God lays the foundation for the good ends we seek in bringing the blessings of God to light through the public policies by which we are governed, and it is good to seek such policies first of all in prayer.

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