Our political life is being driven by a rumour-hungry media says Margaret Rodgers.

Who would ever hope to enter politics? Probably no one after the exposés of political parties that have been brought to voters' attention over the last two months. However there will always be those who seek after power, though recent events indicate that may prove to be a mere chimera.

Scripture encourages Christians to pray for those in authority. Early Christian communities lived in political orders inimical to them, but they were told to live as obedient and responsible citizens while recognising their citizenship of God's kingdom. 

Paul said all authority comes from God, so leaders are God's servants for the people's good. He instructs his readers to pray for those in authority, "kings and all who are in high positions', and to be submissive to rulers. Clearly, Christians serve God and not men, yet Scripture says "rulers' should be accorded the respect due to those exercising God-given responsibilities.

Many questions immediately arise: eg What if the ruler is evil, or anti-Christ? Should a law that is effectively contrary to God's Word be obeyed?
The biblical authors never wrote about an ideal society, but against the background of the society in which they lived. Their words are applicable to every social order. All human institutions are fallible, and so are the "rulers' and the people.

In our political framework, rule and authority is God-given through the exercise of the due democratic process. Voters scrutinise policy, and hopefully after prayer for wisdom and guidance, cast their ballot. God uses us as his instruments in the election of those who are "God's servants for our good'. Then comes our duty to pray for them.

Over past weeks, people have been dismayed at political events. This year two leaders have left office, one attempted self-harm. Everything has been dissected by relentless media analysis. If a mere scrap of what we've been told is accurate, we are left appalled at the "whited sepulchres' our political parties appear to be.

There seems to be a brutality at the heart of Australian political life that is dominated by hunger for power. We are all imperfect, sinful people. But politics is a rumour mill, with power-driven political enemies spreading false stories, sometimes with a mere grain of truth, to any who will listen. While receptive journalists continually regard themselves as participants in political affairs rather than reporters and analysts.

Recently, I sat through question time in the House of Representatives. It was mind numbing. Personal insults, playing to the gallery and cheap shots at the other side of the House were the order of the day, while the "Dorothy-Dixers' directed to Ministers by selected backbenchers did nothing to elevate the level of debate.

Examinations of policy and ideas ought to dominate every session of Parliament, not cheap personal shots at those on the other side.
Of course it's not totally a bleak landscape. There are men and women in politics whose primary motive for their participation is service of the people and not personal power. But at times they seem very thin on the ground, or unfortunately silent and conforming to the demands of the party machine.

Perhaps we should all be encouraging more gifted biblical Christians to aspire to political life in the major parties. It's not a matter of God and Politics as liberal secularists fear, but of the committed exercise, based on biblical principles, of a civic duty to serve the nation and people.

Political life can be ruthless, all consuming, and often lonely, since it entails lots of time away from family and friends. We must not neglect to pray for leaders and those who represent us.