The writer is thinking of...
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The writer is thinking of the well-being of the church, and how to maintain it in the face of persecution. Thus, prayers are to be made for all people in positions of authority, even if, perhaps especially if, they are bad leaders. In this way, the people may lead a "quiet and peaceable life." Prayer must be all-embracing, because God seeks to save all. It isn't right to withhold prayers for anyone. The President needs the prayers of both Democrats and Republicans; the Pope needs the prayers of both Protestants and Roman Catholics. To put it in reverse, each needs to pray for those he supports or agrees with and for those she doesn't. If we apply this to the truly deep divisions between people, the racist must pray for the race she hates, and the homophobe must pray for the homosexual. And we might ask how much the new peace initiatives between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and Arab nations in the Mideast was brought about by the prayers of millions of believers. -- Johnson-Hoy
