LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: EVEN ENEMIES DESERVE OUR PRAYERS

Dear Editor:

I am responding to the letter by Margaret Walker (May 10). I believe the sentence, "Our president seeks no forgiveness, and so I won't pray for him," reflects an attitude prevalent among politically conservative Christians. This attitude is unbiblical and actually counterproductive.

Paul instructs Timothy to pray for everyone, specifically mentioning "kings and all those in authority" (1 Timothy 2:1,2). Four different words are used for prayer in the text. However, Paul never makes his urge to pray for leaders conditional. He never says, "Pray for them if you agree with their policies or personal convictions." Paul doesn't even make prayer contingent on the character of the leader. Our instruction is simple: pray for all those in authority. Period.

I am joined with another Paul, Paul Cain, in praying that God will change Bill Clinton into the man He wants him to be. I am praying the same for myself. I believe praying for God to change each of us into the person he wants us to be is always positive and appropriate.

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Even if a Christian considers our President an enemy who persecutes him or her, a believer is still obligated to pray for the President. In summary, we are never free of our responsibility to pray for a person, including our national leader.

From a practical standpoint, I believe the prayers of Christians for Bill (and Hillary) Clinton will be far more effective than withholding prayer. The Bible gives repeated examples that God honors and acts on the prayers of his people.

AUDIE LONG

Cape Girardeau