Gordon L. Heath
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​My blog posts revolve around my interests and vocation as a historian: the intersection of history and contemporary church life, the intersection of history and contemporary politics, serendipitous discoveries in archives or on research trips, publications and research projects, upcoming conferences, and speaking engagements.

I sometimes blog for two other organizations, the Canadian Baptist Historical Society and the Centre for Post-Christendom Studies.

The views expressed in these blogs represent the views of the authors, and not necessarily those of any organizations with which they are associated.

An Ancient Prayer for Government Today

5/28/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clemens_Romanus.jpg
My summer reading has begun, and right now I am reading through the Apostolic Fathers. The following is a prayer included in Clement of Rome's Letter to the Corinthians (c. late 1st century). I include it here for the obvious historical interest, but also because it is a helpful guide when wondering how to pray for politicians in vexing times.

Lord, you gave to our politicians on the earth the power of government by your magnificent and indescribable might; may we know the glory and honour given to them by you and be subject to them, and in doing so not resist your will.
 
Lord, give them health, peace, harmony, and stability so that they may exercise well the authority given to them. For You, O heavenly Lord and King eternal, give to rulers glory and honour and power over the things that are on the earth. 
 
Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well-pleasing in your sight, that, devoutly in peace and humility exercising the power given them by you, they may know your blessing.
 
To you Lord, the only one who has power to do these things and more abundant good with us, we praise you through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and majesty to you both now and from generation to generation and for evermore. Amen.


The above is my own adaptation of the prayer found here.


1 Comment
Adekunle Mofolasayo link
1/30/2023 08:03:25 pm

Prof, in as much as I believe in the powers of prayers. I think it is high time Christians begin to be a part of the government to make policies that would be Godly, community friendly rather than being capitalistic in policy.
Christians votes counts and therefore, Christian leaders should encourage the Church to go out in their masses to vote out the leaders that are drifting the world into war, hunger and economic instability in the midst of the abundance in which the Lord had blessed the world.
A good example of this in sensitive government to sufferings of the common people in Nigeria government, who are currently being sponsored to eradicate Christianity and make the Nation an Islamic Nation.
If we are to learn from the Saints then some of us Christians should be ready to lay down our lives for the Christian generations to come or else, Christ might not come to meet Christianity in our Nation. Apparently the Church culture in Nigeria for today has gone far away from the real gospel of the salvation of soul, kindness. empathy. compassion and love for humanity, rather they are more into prosperity gospel which is not helping issues at hand

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