The Language of Public Policy (1) – The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (13)

The Language of Public Policy (1)

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 (Jas. 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.

For a more complete exposition of the promises of God, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store. Subscribe to Crosfigell, the devotional newsletter of The Fellowship of Ailbe. Sent to your desktop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Crosfigell includes a devotional based on the literature of the Celtic Christian period and the Word of God, highlights of other columns at the website, and information about mentoring and online courses available through The Fellowship.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.