I was reading about Thomas Jefferson's first presidential
inauguration, which took place on May 4th, 1801. It took place at the time
when the capital of Washington DC was being constructed and had yet to be
completed. The unfinished city served as an appropriate setting for such
an outwardly simple man to assume his presidency. As then, we can be
grateful now for the peaceful transition of government. As Jefferson took
office, a Washington lady noted in her diary, "The changes of
administration, which in every government and in every age have most
generally been epochs of confusion, villainy and bloodshed, in this our
happy country take place without any species of distraction, or
disorder."
Recounting many of the natural and human advantages of the
still-new nation, Jefferson described his ideal of government in his
inaugural address: "With all these blessings, what more is
necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people? Still one thing more,
fellow citizens-- a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men
from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to
regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not
take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of
good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our
felicities. Indeed, the president would consider the need to downsize the
government."
When we consider that this government is charged with the
external and mutual relations only of these states; that the states
themselves have principal care of our persons, our property, and our
reputation, constituting the great field of human concerns, we may well
doubt whether our organization is not too complicated, too expensive;
whether offices and officers have not been multiplied unnecessarily, and
sometime injuriously to the service they were meant to promote.
The challenge of government seems to change little over
the centuries, in spite of the various and diverse situations.
Scripture long ago set forth broadly government's role in
the divine plan of humankind, "for the punishment of evildoers and
the praise of those who do right" (1Pet. 2:14). It bears the
sword--the divine right of punishment -- as a minister of God for good
(Rom.13:4). We pray for "all who are in authority, in order that
we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all goodness an dignity" (1Tim.
2:2)
Government exists, then, to preserve peace and promote
order and well-being in society through the punishment of evildoers and
the recognition of its benevolent citizens. And so we pray for George W.
Bush as he assumes one of the most influential offices among men. We pray
that his administration may promote rather than injure the country he
prepares to serve. We pray that simplicity and austerity may overcome the
bloated halls of government. we pray that justice and virtue may be heard
again in the executive chambers. We pray that this government may not
burden the working citizen, but free him for industry and improvement,
rewarding those who take the initiative to better not only their own lives
but their neighbors' as well.
Our eyes are upon the new president, not only during the
inauguration, but during his entire term, and our prayers are for him,
that he might cooperate with the divine plan to be, in truth, a minister
of God. As God desires, let us pray for the leaders of our nation and all
nations.
Douglas L. Post