Prophetic Backbone on the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ended its term this week, issuing the final rulings for this season. Those included rules on donor privacy and election integrity, both cases where conservatives declared victory.

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We’ve seen major turnover in the highest court in the land in recent years as former President Donald Trump added three new Justices to the bench.

With those additions, many in the Body of Christ have breathed a sigh of relief. Those victories seemed to be a few bright spots in what has been an otherwise dark time in American politics.

However, I believe the Lord is cautioning us against sitting back on our laurels when it comes to the high court. Consider this:

Be careful if you think you stand, lest ye fall.

If the Supreme Court is where the Lord has given us victories, will we take them for granted or press in even more to pray until the whole war is won?

Inside Intercessory Intelligence

You may wonder, what is the danger? These are lifetime appointments and there is a 6-3 majority, if Chief Justice Roberts is to be considered truly a part of that majority.

In my years in Washington, I’ve seen a dynamic at play that has corrupted many good, freedom-loving officials in the Capital City. In fact, it may be what’s to blame for Roberts’ own drift from Constitutional principles.

You see, many Americans see D.C. as a few important buildings with a handful of elected leaders. But actually, as I’ve explained in previous articles, D.C. is a larger community with hundreds of thousands of individuals all with varying levels of expertise stationed at different levels of influence and authority.

There are lobbyists who represent oil interests to federal regulators. There are back rooms where labor union leaders coordinate with LGBTQ activists. There are happy hours where members of Congress mingle with CEOs.

Both light and darkness have their networks, always operating, always pushing one way or the other.

However, the darkness has more in numbers, and over time the constant pressure can cause us to bend or grow weary in doing good.

What does this look like in Washington?

There is a nearly inescapable Happy Hour culture in the city. Capitol Hill staffers love to gather at Tortilla Coast, a little spot just near the House office buildings. Even closer to the Hill is the Capitol Hill Club, a place where members pay pricey fees to rub shoulders with Senators and Representatives. On rooftops or meeting rooms in places, like the Hamilton or Trump hotel, the wine flows freely and servers walk around with bacon-wrapped dates and other treats. Power and connections are intoxicating.

These places, among others, are where deals are made, favors are requested, and the social pressure to move to the left is never ending.

The justices of the Supreme Court are not immune to this. Every happy hour or D.C. event leads to another casual comment or offer of friendship from a far-left influencer, always pressuring the Justices to “see the light” of liberalism.

I believe our prayer assignment is to pray for those Justices, that they remain steadfast as they walk against the current of the city in which they live.

Prophetic Backbone

This calls for a new kind of Kingdom resolve, something we see Jesus point to in John the Baptist.

“As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?’” Matthew 11:7

Jesus goes on to say:

“‘Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.’” Matthew 11:9

What can we learn? In dark times, the Kingdom of God calls for a prophetic backbone. We cannot be ones swayed like a reed in the wind. As a prophetic people, we must have the resolve to stand for truth no matter how hard the culture pressures us to give in.

As the prophetic body of Christ, we must pray our Supreme Court Justices carry that same inner fight.

Let our appointed Justices who God has placed to stand for truth, justice and liberty for all, maintain the backbone of a prophet. We must pray that they are not slowly bent by the constant pressure of the oppressive, far-left atmosphere of Washington that shames, ridicules and pressures all who stand for Godly values to “give in already,” or to “get with the times.” There are voices that say Constitutional principles are “outdated” and even “based in oppression in hate.” As a Christian in D.C., I can tell you there are those who say “come on, really?” or “let’s get with the times” when standing for what would have been considered mainstream just a few years ago.

In fact, they are often shocked to meet someone who actually believes the Bible and lives according to it, especially when it comes to holding a Biblical sexual ethic.

Even worse, Washington, D.C. is full of highly progressive churches that have abandoned the authority of the Word of God and teach a total departure from the Christian principles of our nation all in the name of “love” or “tolerance.”

Over time, this pressure grows. Thankfully, we have the authority in Christ to stand against it, and to help our Justices be a prophetic voice in a dark time.

With that in mind, let us pray:

-Father, we pray for the Constitution-upholding, freedom-supporting Justices of the Supreme Court, that they would stand strong amidst the social pressure of D.C. to slowly cave in to liberalism over time.

-Lord we pray that you would release a prophetic backbone to the church and to your people that you have placed in positions of influence in D.C.

Verses to pray into as you intercede on this issue: 

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” -Galatians 6:9

I’d also encourage you to read Hebrews 11 to see the people of faith who stood to the death in a dark time. Let us have that same inner resolve to do the same.

What other prayer points come to mind as you pray for those in this Washington culture that is intoxicated with power? Share your prayer points below!