It’s a mark of our current age that Canadians generally do not have much respect for the authorities of the land. Christians, I sense, share this lack of respect. Flowing from this lack of respect is also considerable distrust of civil authority. Whether federal or provincial or local, civil authorities are seen as the Enemy – or perhaps in league with the enemy. The same distrust goes for other movers and shakers of Canada’s thinking and direction, be they institutions of education, the media, or finance.

It is undoubtedly true that so many actions and policies and decisions of Canada’s power brokers have contributed to diminished confidence in them, and in turn contributed to growing disrespect and distrust to the One who controls the rulers of the land. Jesus Christ, after all, is Lord of lords and King of kings – and hence ultimately is King of Canada. Pharaoh of Egypt, Sennacherib of Assyria, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Caesar of Rome were men of enormous power and influence in their day, but Scripture speaks of them as tools in the hands of Almighty God. The people of Israel living in the days of Pharaoh or Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar or Caesar were not meant, according to God’s revelation, to be fearful of the directions taken by these mighty men, but were instead to relax in the confidence that the Lordtheir God had the world and its politics securely in His hands. That reality is even truer in the dispensation of Christ’s triumph over sin and Satan on the cross of Calvary and His ascension into heaven. Pauldescribes the Saviour’s position in the world like this: God “has seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…” (Ephesians 1:20f). Jesus Christ, then, is currently gathering His church in today’s world, and rulers and kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers are so many servants He is pleased to use to promote His church gathering work. Paul tells the Christians of Rome that “the authorities that exist have been established by God,” and adds that “the one in authority … is God’s servant to do you good” (Romans 13:1,3,4). Instead of fear or anxiety on account of a nation’s administration, Christians around the world have reason to be relaxed and optimistic. That is the simple consequence of confessing Christ’s sovereignty.

It’s the awareness that a given governing authority is an instrument in the hands of the world’s King –Christ governs through him– that determines too how we speak of that ruler. Whether we agree with the Prime Minister’s direction or his government’s policies may not affect the respect we have for him, simply because Jesus Christ made no mistake in deciding to use Mr Harper as Prime Minister of Canada in order to make His kingdom come in this land. As we need by definition to accept and respect the Saviour’s choice for the highest office of the land (and the same is true for the province and the municipality), so we need, by extension, to accept and respect the persons the Saviour put in the land’s high office. This is why the apostle could give the emphatic instruction to “honour the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17) – though the emperor of the day persecuted the people of God. This respect, of course, shows itself through how one speaks of the governing authority as well as in one’s ready obedience to the laws of the land.

Meanwhile, as governor under the King of kings, the Prime Minister of Canada (and it’s true of the Premier too) has an enormous responsibility to govern in a fashion that pleases the ascended Christ. That requires not just that Mr Harper acknowledge Jesus Christ as King and that he knows Christ’s revelation in Scripture, but it requires too so much wisdom in understanding the problems of the day and analysing them well. Prime Minister Harper needs the guidance and insight of the Lord’s Spirit to carry out his office to Canada’s (and the world’s) benefit. For that reason he needs our prayers so very much. Timothy as minister of the Lord’s church in Ephesus had to see to it that, above all else, “requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1,2), and at the time that meant specifically the Caesar of Rome. This instruction was based on the recognition that “kings and all those in authority” determine to large degree whether their subjects “live peaceful and quiet lives” or, conversely, live in unrest and tension. So then, the King of kings needs to be petitioned persistently that He give wisdom and faithfulness to the earthly powers that be, so that those powers carry out their God-given offices in a fashion that serves the coming of Christ’s kingdom. Our Prime Minister and his officials need so much wisdom and strength from the Lord God, and it’s our privilege to pray regularly and faithfully for God’s blessing upon him. We do well, in obedience to God’s instruction, to pledge to give ourselves to this task. “The prayer of a righteous man,” it needs to be remembered, “is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

In our democratic system of government, every elected politician campaigns on a platform of promises of some sort, and so pledges to make moves that will improve society in some way. Once elected, those who voted for the successful candidate look forward to the improvements the candidate described in his platform. Time and again citizens are disappointed.

That’s not surprising. Through our fall into sin we offended God Most High, and so His curse weighs heavily on the human race. No civil authority is able to move God’s hand of curse from any sinner, let alone from the sum total of sinners that make up the population of Canada. Only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross could achieve that goal – and in fact Christ has satisfied for sin. As victor over sin, He ascended into heaven and now sits at God’s right hand as Lord of all earth’s lords. His victory and ascension form the great “change we can believe in”, and so we remain confident that our nation (and, indeed, the world) is in good hands. That being the case, we shall respect and obey those whom the Lord has placed in authority over us.

We commit all in Canada who received a position of authority and influence in our nation to the hands of the almighty King of Canada – Jesus Christ.