Praying for the President?

God's Word says:

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

 
Recently, Franklin Graham asked Christians to make June 2nd "a special day of prayer" for the president.  That Sunday, during the worship service, many churches prayed for President Trump.  

And I'm shocked at the conversations and reactions that praying for the president have generated.  Whether they're for President Trump or against him, people have strong opinions about praying for him.

I don't get it, because praying for the president has nothing to do with politics or supporting a certain political agenda.

God puts leaders on the "throne" to "wield the sword," to keep law and order so that people can live in peace.  So we pray for our leaders.

But, over the years, I've noted that most conservative Christians want our country's leaders to be Christians, and want laws to be passed that reflect a Christian culture. 

And there's nothing wrong with having Christian leaders or with being a Christian politician, and there's nothing wrong with supporting good and moral laws, with praying for the United States of America.

But...

The evangelical thinking behind this is all wrong.

The Kingdom of God doesn't come through politics.  Having good rules and even good leaders won't guarantee that a country and its people will be godly.   

As a matter of fact, people can be good and live decent lives, in the eyes of man, and still not be Christians. 

Politicians and laws can't change a man's heart.

Only God can convict a man of his sin, and comfort him with the gospel message.  Our only hope is in Jesus. 

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 11:19

It's in Jesus, in His coming, that we see and know the Kingdom of God.

We can pray for our president and our country.  But we're ultimately called to share God's Word with people, to tell people about Jesus.  Let's make evangelism what it's meant to be.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:14 and 17

And that means telling people about the forgiveness of sins that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4

...Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Matthew 26:27-28

How about a Day of Prayer, prayer that our hearts, and the hearts of all people will be repentant and be turned to God?

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18