Who runs the show?

World news continues to throw out indicators of chaos and deception at the highest levels. The G8 leaders met, and revealed how difficult it is to agree about very much. They need our prayers.

While Edward Snowden is on the run from US authorities, who want to charge him with breaking the terms of his CIA secrecy contract, many of the rest of us are shocked to know who has been spying on us. 

In the midst of all this, we may wonder who runs the show, and whether we can have any confidence in our human leaders.

Unfortunately, such a cynical view may encourage us to withdraw from wider society, and this doesn't make it easy to play a positive role in serving our communities.

Can the Bible help us? I believe it can, as we seek to listen to God's word.

The Psalmist was confident, in spite of the present political weakness of ancient Israel, of who was running the show in the world of his day. Looking back, he is confident of God's supreme authority over all.

  'Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
    Shout to God with joyful praise!  
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
    He is the great King of all the earth. 
He subdues the nations before us,
    putting our enemies beneath our feet. 
He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
    the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. (Psalm 47.1-4)

St. Paul, in very different circumstances, made the same point. 

'Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.' (Romans 13.1, 4)

These words are remarkable, when we know how much Roman authority made life difficult for the first generation of Christians. 

For the Bible is also clear that all authorities have a tendency to abuse the power and responsibility entrusted in them, and so it is legitimate to hold authorities to account. 

But as I face my week of work, I am encouraged to know that all authority is in the nail-pierced hands of the Risen Jesus, who longs that people like us trust him to live his life through ours. In the mess and muddle of our world, followers of Jesus can make a difference.

Will you make that your prayer?

Best wishes,

Richard