Prayer and Polls

1 Timothy 2. In eleven days we will vote a new man into the highest office in the land. Now I realize, and hope you do as well, that we are not electing a messiah that will solve all of America's problems. However, as a child of God, you will give an account, not for the outcome of the election, but for standing for that which is right. God is not going to hold you accountable for the results, but He will hold you accountable for not standing for the truth. Neglecting to vote is apathy, and that is wrong. Jesus told us that we are salt and light. We are to influence and impact society and its values. And being informed on the moral issues (not the economic ones) and where the candidates stand on those moral issues is your Christian obligation. Then you go into that booth and vote your convictions, your Christian values--that is but one way of how you can be salt and light.
Here in ch.2, Paul is writing young pastor Timothy. Times were getting harder. The wicked Nero was on the throne in Rome. So Paul tells Timothy to pray for all men, for kings and all who are in authority (v.2). The Ephesian church had evidently stopped praying for their governmental officials. So Paul instructs them to pray, not so much for the preacher (here) but for the president. Why? "...[so] that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." v.2b. Why pray for our government? Why pray for our election? Why pray for our elected officials? Because without a godly government, you can't have a peaceful situation where you can proclaim the gospel. Orderly government is part of God's provision, even in a wicked world --see Rom.13:1-7. Thus, our obligation is to pray and to continue to pray even long after the election is over.