I hope everyone experienced an outstanding Feast of Tabernacles! We had a wonderful spiritual festival in Hawaii, which we spent with our son and daughter-in-law and their four children.

We are returning to our regular work here at the home office and compiling reports about the Feast that we will be sharing with you. The next United News with most all the Festival reports will be going to press shortly.

Today we are recording two more Beyond Today television programs by Darris McNeely and Steve Myers.

The Pastoral Development Program is to begin Monday and will continue through the following Wednesday. Twelve men and their wives will be here for intensive training. Earlier this week we finalized the agenda and classes and look forward to spending a great deal of time with the new men who will shepherd God's people. In addition to those from the United States, we also have attendees from Canada, South Africa and Zambia.

Now would be a good time to pray for this country

While campaigning in Iowa a few weeks before the November election, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence made this remarkable comment: "I would encourage you, if you are inclined to do as the Pence family does from time to time, to bow the head and bend the knee. It'd be a good time to pray for this country."

Should we in the church be doing this? The Bible does have specific statements about our roles and duties with regard to the governments of this world. They are simple and straightforward and, perhaps to some, a little surprising.

The first comes from the apostle Peter: "For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority--whether the king as head of state, or the officials he appointed...Fear God and respect the King" (1 Peter 3:13, 15, New Living Translation, emphasis added throughout). Paul echoes this in Romans, where he writes originally to people living in the capital of the empire: "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God" (Romans 13:1, NLT).

Of course, there are also specific commands that when the laws of men defy the laws of God, we always obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

When both Peter and Paul wrote those statements about authority, the Roman Emperor Nero was in power. A short time after these biblical statements were made, Nero began torturing some Christians. According to the Roman senator and historian Tacitus (Tacitus, Annals 15:44-45), Nero falsely accused these Roman Christians of setting the city of Rome itself ablaze and subsequently (and horribly) setting some Christians on fire as living human candles, using them to "light his nighttime circus games" (Ben Witherington, New Testament History, page 338).

Can you imagine what the early Christians thought when they heard or read those words of civil obedience from Peter and Paul in that era? That was obviously a very hard command. Considering our various presidents and prime ministers, that may also be hard today.

Do we honor our human leaders? Or do we tear them down?

Properly respecting authority upholds the positive rule of law in this human world, helping to prevent the world from sliding into barbarous anarchy. That is why Abraham Lincoln called for "reverence for the laws," even to the point that in the United States he said it would become "the political religion of the nation." In the chaos of anarchy, there is great suffering.

The second principle of a Christian's positive engagement with human government is an unpopular one, but nonetheless true: pay your taxes. If you live in a country where you can civilly remonstrate against oppressive taxation, you are free to appropriately exercise your rights of citizenship as Paul did. However, Jesus Himself commands us: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). Paul makes it even more clear: "Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority" (Romans 13:7, NLT).

A third principle of a Christian's engagement with human government is that we are commanded to be a light to this world (Matthew 5:14). You can't be a light if you are hidden under a basket, out of sight to the world. Jesus Himself said that people are supposed to be able to see our good works, as they glorify God! We often (and appropriately) teach that we are not to be of this world, but do we also appropriately teach what Jesus said in His open prayer to God about us? "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world...As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them INTO the world" (John 17:15, 18). Note what Peter continued when he taught about our role: "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1 Peter 2:15). We are to live as servants of God, wherever we are, and we should living in such a manner that people ask us about the hope that is within us! (1 Peter 3:15).

Regarding human leaders, the Bible shows how many kings and human leaders conducted themselves badly. Such behavior is not new, and it will certainly happen again. The Bible also records that some rose to prominent positions of public service in human governments, like Joseph and Daniel. They stand today like spiritual beacons!

Consider some key elements of what God commanded the Jews in the famous "70 years" prophecy when they were taken captive to Babylon. They apply to us today. As the prophet Jeremiah recorded in a formal letter: "Thus says the Lord of Hosts...seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord about it; for in its peace you will have peace" (Jeremiah 29:7).

Are we truly yielding ourselves to becoming lights to this world? Are we praying for and appropriately respecting our leaders? Are we seeking peace and pursuing it, especially among our people?

What Governor Pence suggested back in October is not bad advice at all. Now would be a good time to pray for our country. May God's will be done!