A lot of Americans are fed up with the presidential election campaigns, what with candidates tearing each other apart and practicing some "overblown rhetoric," Billy Graham writes on his website.
Some people may assume that God is fed up with the whole process, too, and has decided to abandon the presidential election in November 2016 altogether. However, Graham begs to differ.
"God cares about everything that affects our lives — including who our leaders will be and how our society will be governed. That's one reason why He commanded us to pray for our government and its leaders. Would He have told us to do this if He didn't care about good government? Of course not," he says.
Graham shared the Bible verses 1 Timothy 2:1-2 that highlights God's concern in governance: "I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made... for kings and all those in authority."
Although every election has its downside, Graham says, people should not let this "blind" them on the importance of the elections. It is unfair, especially to the nation's honest and able leaders, if voters' minds are already shut off from the whole process, he adds.
"Our system may not be perfect — but it's far better than that in many other nations," he says.
The evangelist expresses concern, however, that America seems to be pushing God out of people's lives.
Graham says prayer is what America truly needs especially now when the 2016 presidential election is drawing nearer. "Pray for our nation, especially as we look forward to elections a year from now. Pray especially that God will raise up leaders who will stand for justice and morality, and will seek God's will in all they do," he says. "Pray, too, that our nation will turn to God, and that we may experience true spiritual revival."
