So have you seen this nifty little Christian item:
Sounds like it’s based on the call to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), right? Not exactly: here’s Psalm 109:8 with some context:
May his days be few;
may another take his office!
May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow!
May his children wander about and beg,
seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
May the creditor seize all that he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
nor any to pity his fatherless children!
(Psalm 109:8-12)
It seems former Southern Baptist Convention vice president Wiley Drake has started a trend with his practice of “imprecatory prayer” directed at those he considers his enemies. Drake has prayed for bad stuff to happen not only to the president, but to abortionist George Tiller, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and others, in the latter instance at least based on what look solely like political differences. Drake isn’t alone in his vengefulness towards those whom he thinks are God’s enemies, though this is hardly a widespread thing among conservative Christians. The real point is this: if Paul could tell his readers to pray for those in authority in the Roman Empire–a pagan state that persecuted Christians with some frequency, and obviously didn’t operate according to Christian principles–without suggesting they pray for bad stuff to happen to their rulers, nether should we. We can disagree as fiercely as we can with anyone in authority, without wishing personal ill to come to them because of our disagreements. Millions of Christians throughout the world, living in far worse conditions than Rev. Drake has ever had to endure, refrain from doing so, instead praying as Paul directed, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Rev. Drake and his allies should try that instead, and keep their death fantasies to themselves.
(Hat tip: Alan.)
November 19, 2009 at 11:44 am
I guess this Baptist did’t read the book of Daniel. Daniel prayed for his leaders, and even leading one to know the Lord, depending on how you interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer. It’s sad, but I’ve heard other friends of mine say that they were praying against Bill Clinton, when he was president. That doesn’t seem to be what Paul is talking about in the Timothy verses you refer to. I guess this is what happens when Christians confuse the 2 kingdoms.
November 19, 2009 at 11:52 am
It should make any Christian wonder if imprecatory prayer should be directed towards any human being but only towards the powers and principalities (i.e. the demonic).
November 19, 2009 at 12:16 pm
That is disgusting. Of course we shouldn’t be praying that bad things should happen to people, we should be praying for God to change hearts.
November 19, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Yes, all of that does seem “over the top,” but I still hope and pray for more Godly leadership – especially following the 2012 elections! I’m certainly into “change” nowadays.
November 19, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I have no problem with that at all.
November 19, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Unfortunately, this isn’t a new trend and is probably more wide-spread than people would like to admit. I’m also surprised at the relative silence by folks on the right about this. One would think that Al Mohler might take a moment to say something, but as far as I know he’s remained silent.
After all, it isn’t like Drake is some random loon (loon yes, random no.) He used to be VP of the SBC. Some may also remember a few years when Pat Robertson was praying for an “opening on the Supreme Court,” which is a lifetime appointment. Not much from the right about that one either.
November 19, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Keep in mind that people do retire from the Supreme Court, though — only 20% of the last 30 Supreme Court justices to leave the bench did so through death. I’m not saying I agree with Robertson, only that it wasn’t necessarily a death sentence.
Psalm 109 is a psalm of David, and Jesus calls down woes upon the Pharisees. Is there a place for any form of imprecatory prayer for Christians? I’ve never prayed one and don’t plan on it. But since the Psalter includes them, we should at least be aware of them and know if and when there is a rightful time for them.
November 19, 2009 at 1:45 pm
P.S. David, while you may get some criticism for taking on the Loony Right as well as the Loony Left, I must say I think it shows true wisdom. Thanks. (And thanks to Alan for his hat tips. We disagree on things of critical importance, but loony is loony no matter who’s the loon.)
November 19, 2009 at 2:23 pm
“Jesus calls down woes upon the Pharisees. Is there a place for any form of imprecatory prayer for Christians?”
No, I don’t think there is. Jesus did it, but he could see into people’s hearts. We are called to pray for our enemies.
November 19, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Kate –
I agree with you; I’m saying we need to have a theological position to deal with the obvious imprecatory prayers in the Bible. (I believe it has to do with God’s suspension of judgment through Christ, as we see in what you mentioned and in Jesus’ deliberately shortened quotation of Isaiah 61:1. That said, we also have to take seriously the reality of pending personal judgment.)
And BTW, take the time to read the articles linked. The T-shirt seems to make a little joke of it, but Drake’s comments are deeply disturbing.
November 19, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks for a great post. I am no fan of BHO, but we are commanded to pray for him. I don’t beieve Paul had imprecations in mind, especially in the light of Romans 13.
November 19, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I always pray for God’s wisdom and direction and blessings upon the President, whoever it is.
November 19, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Wiley Drake certainly proves the axiom that those in leadership positions do not necessarily possess common sense.
As is the case in too many organizations, (whether in business, government, or churches) there are knuckleheads everywhere.
And we all know the churches seem to have more than their full share of leaders who are one fry short of a happy meal.
We do have the responsibility to remove these leaders from office by the established laws or procedures and failure to do so makes us like bad leaders.
Wishing for their demise by unnatural causes is not very Christian.
November 20, 2009 at 9:44 am
We pray for the president almost every week in church. We pray that he will make the right decisions. So far it hasn’t worked.
November 20, 2009 at 11:58 am
Really? How do you know? God’s ways are not our ways.
November 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I’m sure the Hebrews prayed that Pharaoh would let them go without all those plagues, but God eventually hardened Pharaoh’s heart Himself so that He would be glorified. Who knows what might be stirring in people’s hearts because of the decisions President Obama has been making, good AND bad? Who knows how God might use any and all of those decisions?
November 20, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Exactly.
November 22, 2009 at 2:13 pm
You’re right, we don’t know God’s purpose. Thanks for reminding me.
December 8, 2009 at 5:23 pm
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON,T PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. I PRAY FOR MY COUNTRY INWHICH I LOVE DEARLY. I ALSO PRAY FOR THE PERSON GOD PLACED TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. IT NOT A MISTAKE THAT HE BECAME PRESIDENT OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY. GOD MADE THAT DESICION. EVERY THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.