Pastor John MacArthur writes that Christians should pray for politicians they disagree with because “God’s Calling for Us.”

According to John MacArthur, “God’s calling for us” is to pray for those in government who we disagree with.

Pastor and author John MacArthur said on Sunday that praying for political leaders, including those they disagree with, is God’s desire for the church and a potent spiritual “weapon” to improve society.

MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in the Los Angeles suburbs, made the remarks while preaching from 1 Timothy 2, in which the Apostle Paul implores Christians of the first century to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Believers are urged to pray for the salvation of government officials in the same chapter.

MacArthur said that praying for government officials was a recognition of the efficacy of prayer.

We have to realize that this is our divine destiny, he continued. “It may be difficult, and there may be many things about our rulers that we despise, but to not pray for their redemption would be to disobey God and our calling. This includes not just governors but all leaders, from the president on down and all across the globe.”

MacArthur has noted that praying for government officials is “a component of our mission.”

Pray for the rulers if you desire a tranquil, serene existence in human society, he said. “We all know that a country’s leaders have a profound impact on its culture and norms. We are to pray for people in authority over us, since this is what God has commanded. … All men, and particularly those in positions of authority over us, need our prayers for salvation since a change in leadership may have far-reaching cultural effects. We know that sin has repercussions, and we know that divine judgment is at work when things don’t go the way we’d want them to. Still, the promise is that if we pray for the conversion of rulers, the world as we know it will be transformed.”

When Paul penned 1 Timothy, Nero was the Roman Emperor, as MacArthur pointed out.

“What makes it so odd? Nero was an unimaginably terrible leader “This, MacArthur said.

Christians suffered at Nero’s hands.

“Paul is saying just that. Please pray for Nero’s salvation, as well as the salvation of the magistrates, judges, proconsuls, and governors under his rule “I quote MacArthur:

MacArthur used Stephen’s prayer in Acts 7 as an illustration of the efficacy of prayer by suggesting that Paul’s discussion may have been the consequence of Stephen’s intercession. In verse 60, while Stephen is being stoned to death, he asks God to have mercy on his murderers. Saul, one such persecutor, was converted to Christianity in Chapter 9 and thus became known as Paul.

Stephen prayed for Saul to be converted, and it seems like his plea was answered in chapter nine. Asked MacArthur. “Within a two-chapter time frame, Stephen pleaded for the forgiveness of those responsible for his death. Paul’s redemption was the answer to his prayer.”

Similarly to Nero, Paul was a miserable person before their discussion, MacArthur said.

MacArthur stated, “He is not someone you would want to pray for any more than you would want to pray for Nero.” To contrast, “But God rescued Paul.”