Prayer does not equal support

Published 11:00 am Thursday, June 25, 2026

I found it somewhat amusing that Nancy Butler referred to me as Mr. Akers (quite respectful) and used the pronoun “he” while referring to me as the author of my latest letter to the editor, assuming, I suppose, that I identify as a male (“Not all authority deserves grace,” published June 17).

That’s really going out on a limb for someone with a left wing perspective such as the one he/she seemed to be espousing in his/her/they letter.

Alright, so I confess, I thought I’d start this “shameful drivel” off on a rather sorry attempt at humor to avoid being overly defensive after Nancy Butler’s suggestion that I am a “morally deficient, smug little fool.” There again, since we’ve never met I have no idea why she thinks I am little, although I guess I could take it as a compliment.

But on a more serious note, I do hope to correct one or two of Nancy’s assumptions.

Nancy claimed that I felt obligated to support anyone in a position of authority because they are in a position of authority. That is not what I said in my previous letter. I do follow the biblical mandate to pray for those in authority, but sometimes those prayers are along the lines that their objectives will be thwarted. For instance, I might pray for a politician who believes “a woman’s right to choose” means that a woman should have the right to end an innocent life growing inside of her, to change their mind and respect all human life, born or unborn.

Another mistake Nancy made was to interpret my stance that feeling wonderful about being forgiven of my confessed sin means that I believe it absolves me of all earthly accountability. There again may I point out that that is NOT what I said, nor even implied.

My core belief as a follower of Jesus Christ is that I am to LOVE!

First and foremost I am to love God with everything within me. Secondly, I am to love my neighbor as myself. I believe that Nancy falls into that category since the paper said she lives in Enumclaw. It almost seemed, based on her recent letter, that she wanted to become my enemy. If I considered her as such (which by, the way, I don’t), I would still have to love her according to the teachings of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5:44. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

That’s pretty inclusive. So, yes, scriptures like that are what prompt me to pray for all mankind, including politicians I may strongly disagree with.

I would be glad to meet Nancy in person. Perhaps she would find I am not the terrible blight on humanity that she thinks I am. Maybe we could meet at Brewskis with a Newsie?

Mark Akers

Enumclaw