FHC HOME     Return to Pamphlet List








Prayer, Proclamation,

and Protest

by

Earl & Diane Rodd




What is the Biblical response to a governor-appointed official who is antagonistic towards Christian home educators? The Bible calls us to defend the helpless. Yet, those who find the authorities are an enemy may first have to adjust their attitudes and behavior to the teachings of Jesus.







Prayer, Proclamation,

and Protest




Families Honoring Christ

"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart
and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

Earl & Diane Rodd
6044 Pine Creek St. N.W. North Canton, OH 44720

Phone: (330) 305-9318

1st edition - April 2000

2nd edition - May 2000

Permission is granted to copy this article for personal sharing
but not for sale or other commercial purposes.



FHC is an Ohio based ministry providing information, encouragement
and fellowship to Christian families, natural and spiritual.




Unless otherwise noted, All Scripture quotations are from the

New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1988,

The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.



See fhc.rodd.us for further information including online versions of this and other booklets. Additional copies of this booklet may be ordered from FHC by writing to the above address. A full listing of other books and booklets on related topics is also available from FHC at fhc.rodd.us.

Prayer, Proclamation,

and Protest



What is the Biblical response to a governor-appointed official who is antagonistic towards Christian home educators? The Bible calls us to defend the weak and helpless. Those who find the authorities are an enemy may first have to adjust their attitudes and behavior to the teachings of Jesus.

Matthew 5:43
43. "You have heard that it was said, '\You shall love your neighbor,\ and hate your enemy.'
44. "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you
45. in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and {the} unrighteous.
46. "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?
47. "And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more {than others}? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48. "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In JESUS' INSTRUCTION to those who have an enemy, the following principles are very clear.

  1. An enemy is to be loved.
  2. An enemy is to receive prayer.
  3. Love and prayer coming from the persecuted reveals the sons of God.
  4. Love and prayer for an enemy are part of the process leading to perfection.
  5. List the name of your human enemy________________________________________.
    1. Remember

      Ephesians 6:10
      10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
      11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
      12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.}

JESUS ALSO INSTRUCTS US HOW TO PRAY.

Matthew 6:5
5. "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
7. "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8. "Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

  1. Pray in secret.
  2. Pray correctly.
  3. Father knows the need.

Matthew 6:9
9. "Pray, then, in this way: #'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
10. 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11. 'Give us this day our daily bread.
12. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]' #
14. "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

FIVE BASIC PRINCIPLES FROM THE LORD'S PRAYER

  1. God's kingdom and His will are to be on the earth.
  2. Heaven reveals what Father desires on earth.
  3. Each day's bread (need) will be provided.
  4. Deliverance from evil is connected to God's kingdom, His power and His glory.
  5. Forgiveness towards others is of primary importance.
JESUS SAYS SELF-DENIAL MAY BE NECESSARY

Matthew 6:16
16. "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites {do,} for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
17. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face
18. so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

  1. Fasting in secret may be necessary.
  2. Fasting is seen by Father God.
  3. Fasting will be repaid by God.
PAUL REVEALS FURTHER TRUTH ABOUT PRAYER

Romans 8:26
26. And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us} with groanings too deep for words;
27. and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to {the will of} God.

  1. The Holy Spirit helps our weakness.
  2. We do not know how to pray according to the will of God.
  3. The Holy Spirit inside us groans in intercession that doesn't have words.
  4. The Holy Spirit inside us searches our hearts to reveal His mind..
  5. The Holy Spirit inside us intercedes for the saints in the perfect will of God.
GOD'S PERSPECTIVE AND PURPOSE IN PERSECUTION NEED TO BE REVEALED.

Luke 6:22
22. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
23. "Be glad in that day, and leap {for joy,} for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

Human beings may do four things to those who love and obey Jesus.

  1. hate
  2. ostracize
  3. cast insults
  4. spurn your name as evil
Jesus reminds us of the truth about those who are persecuted.
  1. The persecuted are blessed.
  2. The persecuted are to be glad and leap for joy.
  3. The persecuted will receive a great reward.

Luke 6:27
27. "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28. bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

  1. Enemies are to be loved.
  2. Enemies are to experience good from those they hate and persecute.
  3. Enemies are to receive blessings.
  4. Enemies are to receive prayer.
Christian home educators need to take the teachings of Jesus seriously before any phone call is made or a letter is written to any government official. If we want to be ambassadors of God's kingdom, we must follow the procedure of His kingdom which is much higher than the republican form of democracy that the US and individual state constitutions uphold.

Christian home education is not a man-initiated agenda. It is an offensive strategy of love for the world that comes out of the Father-heart of God. The family is God's idea not man's, and thus Christian home educators need to trust in the spiritual weapons of God's kingdom and see persecution as an opportunity for God's kingdom to be advanced.

Ephesians 3:14
14. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,
15. from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;
17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; {and} that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19. and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.
20. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21. to Him {be} the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

THE APOSTLE PAUL'S TEACHING

Paul, who endured persecution and prison, teaches a little more concerning prayer for authorities and for all men.

I Timothy 2:1
1. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties {and} prayers, petitions {and} thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2. for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5. For there is one God, {and} one mediator also between God and men, {the} man Christ Jesus,
6. who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony {borne} at the proper time.
7. And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
9. Likewise, {I want} women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments;
10. but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness.

  1. Biblical prayer leads to tranquility, peace, godliness and dignity.
  2. God accepts this kind of prayerful attitude.
  3. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  4. God wants all men to know Him exclusively.
  5. All men are to know there is only one true God.
  6. All men are to know Jesus is the only way (mediator) to God.
  7. God expects men to pray in holiness devoid of wrath and dissension.
  8. God expects women to pray with discretion and godliness that is reflected in their external appearance.

JESUS' TEACHING ON CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER.

Mark 11:20
20. And as they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots {up.}
21. And being reminded, Peter *said to Him, "Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which You cursed has withered."
22. And Jesus *answered saying to them, "Have faith in God.
23. "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be {granted} him.
24. "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be {granted} you.
25. "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.
26. ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

  1. A mountain or a problem that is raised up against God's kingdom needs to be removed.
  2. Doubt and unbelief in the heart of the one praying may have to be removed first.
  3. Belief in the perfect will of God needs to be received, stated, believed, and restated.
  4. Prayer must be immersed in forgiveness towards all enemies.
PAUL ADDS A LITTLE MORE.

Philippians 4:4
4. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
5. Let your forbearing {spirit} be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  1. Rejoicing is to be evidenced.
  2. Forbearing, patience is to be evidenced.
  3. No anxiety is to be permitted.
  4. Thanksgiving is to immerse the prayer and supplication.
  5. Peace is the guard to the heart and the mind.
JOHN ADDS A LITTLE MORE.

I John 5:14
14. And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15. And if we know that He hears us {in} whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

  1. Confidence is our portion, our inheritance from God.
  2. God hears what is in agreement with Him: His good, perfect acceptable will.
  3. We know that we have the requests that we ask that are in agreement with His will.
All this is necessary to confidently obey Jesus' teaching that we not judge another in an ungodly manner.

Matthew 7:1
1. "Do not judge lest you be judged.
2. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3. "And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4. "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5. "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

According to the US Constitution we have the gracious privilege and the grave responsibility of public address of grievances. However, Christians must not air their public grievances as the world does.

Jesus prayed

John 17:16
16. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17. "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

Paul teaches

I Corinthians 2:12
12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God,
13. which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.}

Public protest and loud out-cries may be lawful, but are they profitable? This life is a training ground for God's kingdom, so we must obey God's higher laws in all matters that have to do with government officials, elected and unelected.

PERSECUTION IS ONE MEANS OF EVANGELISM.

Mark 13:9
9. "But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to {the} courts, and you will be flogged in {the} synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10. "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

This particular opportunity to be a witness may come, and the promise of Jesus concerning that time is exhilarating.

Mark 13:11
11. "And when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but {it is} the Holy Spirit.

  1. No anxiety concerning "words" is to be permitted.
  2. The Holy Spirit Himself will give the "words" that are to be spoken!
If persecution comes Jesus not only gives the promise of the Holy Spirit's presence but also of His words coming forth with that which will be specifically designed for that moment. We must believe the teaching of Jesus even for letters and phone calls. The victory in this kind of battle is the Lord's, and it comes through His Divine strategy not through mere human effort.

Zechariah 4:6
6. Then he answered and said to me, "This is the word of the \Lord\ to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the \Lord\ of hosts.

Not only government officials but also close family members may bring persecution to us.

Mark 13:12
12. "And brother will deliver brother to death, and a father {his} child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

Persecution and hatred for the name of Jesus may come, but endurance is the mark of God's saving grace that comes in those difficult times.

Mark 13:13
13. "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.

As the teaching of Jesus, Paul, and John becomes a part of us, Christian home educators can confidently write or call knowing that the Holy Spirit, God on the earth today, within us and all around us, will co-ordinate the "words" so that the whole problem brings glory and honor to Jesus Christ. It is His kingdom, and His face that all need to see.

May each Christian home educator be found to have a glorious testimony of being filled to overflowing with the wonderful presence, words and power of the Holy Spirit who alone can convict the world of unbelief towards Jesus. The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to the unbeliever and to the believer, and the enemy will be put to flight.

The following addresses and phone numbers are to assist those who live in Ohio. The phone numbers are the switchboard to connect to the individual office of a government official. Those who live outside of Ohio will have to search for the information pertaining to their own state.

When calling these numbers ask for the individual legislator you wish to contact.

State of Ohio House of Representative Phone 614-466-3357 Senate Phone 614-466-4900 Governor's Office Phone 614-466-3555 Website for the legislature. You can find the text of bills under consideration here. <br><a href="http://www.legislature.state.oh.us">http://www.legislature.state.oh.us</a><br> <p> The law of Ohio, called the revised code, is available at website: <br><a href="http://orc.avv.com">http://orc.avv.com</a><br> <p> The index to the state of Ohio is at website: <br><a href="http://www.state.oh.us">http://www.state.oh.us</a><br> There are links to find contact information for elected officials. <p> Ohio State Board of Education Phone 614-466-3641 Ohio Depts Building Fax: 614-752-3956 65 S. Front St., Room 804 Columbus, OH 43215-4183 http//www.ode.state.oh.us <p> The following phone number is the capitol switchboard. They can connect you to the office of your congressman or senator. <p> United States Congress Phone 202-224-3121 Same number for the House and the Senate

Copyright by Earl & Diane Rodd