Christianity and Democracy

Mark 12:13-17; Romans 13:8-10; I Peter 2:13-17

GOLDEN TEXT: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2

THE spirit of “one for all and all for one” which characterizes true democracy certainly should he found in the circles of loving Christian fellowship. The Golden Text is a beautiful statement of Christians’ interest in each other. It is our privilege, as Christians, to bear one another’s burdens. In doing this, we are to rejoice in the thought, not only that it is something we want to do, but also that it is God’s will that we should do it. It is the “law of Christ,” the law of love, which governs the new creation class.

The Christian community of fellowship, the church or congregation, is also democratic in the sense that it has the privilege of governing its own affair’s. Some denominational churches practice this method of church government to a considerable extent. In its simplest form the scriptural arrangement is for a congregation to elect its servants by the stretching forth of hands; and to decide any issues affecting the group as a whole in a similar way. Christ is the Head, and He has appointed no human being to set in His place in this capacity.

If we view Christianity from the standpoint of the Kingdom of Christ which the Scriptures promise, then it is not democratic. A true democratic government is one “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Man has long ago demonstrated that he is incapable of governing himself. That is why the authoritarian government of Christ’s Kingdom is necessary to straighten out the tangled conditions which have been wrought by man’s selfish misrule of himself.

It is true, of course, that of all the various forms of manmade rulership, democracy is undoubtedly the best. Better than any other form of government, it contributes to freedom of thought and action and encourages the development of all that is best in the human heart. Unfortunately, due to the imperfections of those elected to represent the people, it also, in the name of freedom, provides opportunity to exploit human selfishness.

Christ’s Kingdom will be nearer to a dictatorship than it will be to a democracy. But it will be a dictatorship of righteousness and love. All the things which we lute about the selfish dictatorships of today will be suppressed, and all the worthwhile things for which men have longed, and worked, and prayed, will be guaranteed to the people by the Kingdom of Christ. This will be done in the only way it possibly can be done, and that is by taking the authority out of the hands of imperfect men.

Christ will be the chief Ruler in that Kingdom. His interest in His subjects was demonstrated when He died that the world might live. His church, gathered from the world during this Gospel age, will reign with Him. Their interest in the world shall also have been demonstrated by their willingness to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, laying down their lives for one another and for the world. Christ and His church will be divine, invisible rulers, but representing them will be the resurrected ancient prophets and other worthy ones of the past. These will serve as “princes in all the earth.”—Psalm 45:16

Thus the “law shall go forth of Zion [the glorified Christ] and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [the ancient worthies as the visible representatives of the Kingdom].” (Micah 4:2) It will be God’s law. No conclave of fallen men will be assembled to frame that law. The rules and regulations by which the people will be governed for a thousand years have already been made, and made in heaven. Those honored with the privilege of administering them will be such only as have previously proved their worthiness of this privilege by themselves obeying the great principles of divine law. These principles, briefly stated, are, supreme Love for God, and a love for our neighbors equal to that which we have for ourselves.

No selfish and aggressive desires of fallen man will be permitted to interfere with the perfect functioning of that divine government. Consequently, nothing shall hurt nor destroy in all that “holy mountain [Kingdom].” (Isaiah 11:9) The meek, the humble, the kind, the obedient, will be prospered; and all those who continue selfishly to oppose the Kingdom rule will be “destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:23

But that Kingdom is not functioning in the earth as yet. Christians are not now reigning with Christ. It is still our privilege and duty to be subject unto the powers that be. We are still to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s,” as our lesson states. (Rom. 13:1-7) Nor is it the business of the Christian, by meddling in politics, to attempt to change Caesar’s mind as to what he may think to be the best way to run the world.

What we render unto God does not belong to Caesar, such as our love, our devotion to the great principles of His law, our service of the truth and the brethren, and our adoration and praise. In rendering these unto God we are fulfilling the terms of our consecration to do His will and thus are proving ourselves worthy to reign with Christ in His Kingdom which is soon to be established.

QUESTIONS:

In what sense is Christianity similar to the spirit of democracy?

Will the Kingdom of Christ be a democracy?

What is implied in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s? Does this interfere with living the Christian life?

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