FROM THE editors February 23, 2004 Issue

The prayer that makes a difference

Editor

The Bible is filled with stories of people oppressed by unfair and even cruel governments. They include, for example, the account in the Old Testament, of the Israelites and the many trials they faced under the bondage of their Egyptian masters. Yet they were liberated. And later, when Jesus was born, King Herod, in his jealousy over the birth of a new "king," ordered the slaying of every male child under the age of two. But Jesus was spared when his family fled to Egypt. Herod could not kill the Christ. In another example, the Apostle Paul was commissioned by tyrannical authorities to persecute Christians, which he did—until he became a Christian himself.

Some governments still carry our injustices against their own citizens, restricting personal and political freedoms. But over the centuries, evil has consistently been defeated by good.

But can just one person bring positive change to corrupt governments? Anyone who has worked for a large government agency or corporation knows the feelings that faceless bureaucracies can create: lethargy, resignation to the status quo, the debilitating fear that one's career and well-being hinge on other people's decisions. Is it possible to have a real voice in governance—at home, in schools, in church—as well as in the decisions that governments make?

Send a comment to the editors

This is the end of the issue. Ready to explore further?

Online features Audio