CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY PROMOTED BY PAUL

EXHORTATION TO LIVE "QUIET LIVES IN ALL GODLINESS AND HOLINESS" OFTEN MISAPPLIED AS AN ADMONITION PROMOTING CHRISTIAN DETACHMENT FROM POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT

In his first letter to his spiritual son Timothy, the apostle Paul instructs him in 1 Tim. 2:2-3, urging him and those over whom he has influence, to first see to it "that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people…" He then specifically identifies those with governmental authority when he continues by saying, "² for kings and all those in authority…"

Paul goes on to explain why he is requesting that prayers be made for all men as a whole, and this governmental subgroup in particular, when he says, "…that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." We pray for the well being of our governmental leaders so that they will govern wisely and in such a manner as will allow us to live quiet and peaceful lives. The balance of the passage addresses the act of 'praying for all men and our leadership,' and not to 'living quiet and peaceful lives' when he says, "³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

The implication here is that God is pleased with such prayers because it is His will that all people, including those possessing governmental authority, "be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth." The point being that God wants kings and all those in authority to be part of the kingdom of God, not at all implying that God's people should live lives that are detached from governmental involvement. God's desire is that all people, particularly our governmental leaders, "should be saved" according to the apostle Peter in this passage. 

That being said, it is in fact our lack of participation in the political process - our overwhelming apathy as "the Church" to things happening outside the walls of our respective houses of worship - that has landed us where we are today as a society. In the words of James, "faith without works is [quite] dead."