Editorial June 10, 1991 Issue

Prayers for wise leadership

Elaine Natale

There never seems to be a time when the world isn't struggling with war and civil conflict. Millions of people are directly affected by the decisions of a few, and people yearn for their leaders to find a peaceful and just course.

It isn't always easy for individuals and nations to perceive the right course and follow it. Issues can be so complex that sometimes even sorting out the lesser error from the greater requires more than ordinary wisdom and foresight.

Prayer for the guidance of both nations and institutions is needed. A New Testament epistle (I Timothy) reminds Christians of this duty: "... supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made on behalf of all men: for kings and rulers in positions of responsibility, so that our common life may be lived in peace and quiet, with a proper sense of God and of our responsibility to him for what we do with our lives.... his purpose is that all men should be saved and come to know the truth" (J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English).^{I Tim. 2:1–4. The King James reads, "I exhort therefore, that ... supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.... who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."}