What Christians believe about democracy

[Jeb Stuart Thurmond]

According to democracy, the best way to run a society is to have a "marketplace of ideas" where everybody debates everybody about what the government should do, until the best ideas win, resulting in the majority of people having the best answer to any situation. Meanwhile dissent, and rules limiting the power of those in charge, is treated as an important way to keep the majority from getting out of hand.

All of these ideas are contrary to what the Bible teaches.

What the Bible says about listening to differing opinions:

We are to shun those who are different, not speaking with them beyond the basics ("shine my shoes" etc.) (Romans 16:17:,1st Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 6:14–17, 2 Thessalonians 3:6)

We must do this because mixing with different people results in the WRONG opinion winning the debate:

...for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods - from 1st Kings 11:1-2 "the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim" Judges 3:5-7

God clearly tells us what we are to do: Nehemiah 9:2

And why should people be worrying their heads with all this government stuff anyway? God says we are not to plan for tomorrow:

Matthew 6:34 Take no thought for the morrow."

Matthew 6.25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

What the Bible says about Majority Rule:

Read Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 13:23-24

Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it

The majority are wrong. A nation that follows the majority is on the path to destruction.

Rev 14:1-5 - Out of every human being that has ever lived, only a tiny minority are good enough to escape damnation: 144,000. Jesus only cares for a tiny minority: billions of people are going to hell. Time for government to ask What Would Jesus Do?

Jesus himself was murdered by democracy, as the Jewish Multitudes overwhelming voted to kill him in Matthew 27:25. What Would Jesus Do? Never trust the majority again, that's what.

What the Bible says about dissent and the "loyal opposition":

Disagreement brings nations to ruin: Matthew 12:25, Luke 11:17.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. - 1 Peter 2:13-14 (KJV Here)

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. - Romans 13:1-3 (KJV Here)

To show dissent against an authority is to show dissent against God. All this dissent and campaigning for re-election is a burden for leaders:

17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. - Hebrews 13:17 (KJV Here)

This is for all authorities, no matter how tyrannical or totalitarian. Even if you're literally a slave, you're to treat your owner as if you are being whipped by Jesus Christ Himself:

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men - Ephesians 6:5-7 (KJV Here)

What the Bible says about limits on the powers of authority:

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:31) settled a court case by deciding to have a baby chopped in two (1 Kings 3:16-28) In a "democracy", he would have been stopped by red-tape like "The Constitution".

[Billy Bob Jenkins]

Re: Why Christianity and Democracy are incompatible by nature

That's what makes America, as a Plutocracy, so great.

The rich are obviously smarter than the rest of us. That's why they are the rich. They earned every penny of their billions through superior praying. It has nothing to do with the power of compound interest. Poor people, like myself, deserve to live the lives of slaves for our miscalculations. I neglected to pray for money and power, and this is what I get.

I am thankful to be ruled by my betters.

[Mary Etheldreda]

Re: Why Christianity and Democracy are incompatible by nature

It's a shame women have the vote in this nation. It serves nothing but to inspire feminism and the sin of pride.

I vote according to my husband's orders. I should think all faithful Christian women would.

[Jeb Stuart Thurmond]

Re: What Christians believe about democracy

What the Bible says about listening to differing opinions:

Jesus Is Savior.com on what to do when someone disagrees with you:

1. Try them . . .

1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

2. Mark them . . .

Romans 16:17, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

3. Rebuke them . . .

Titus 1:13, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith . . ."

4. Have no fellowship . . .

Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

5. Withdraw thyself . . .

2nd Thessalonians 3:6, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." (See also 1st Timothy 6:3-5).

6. Turn away from them . . .

2nd Timothy 3:5 " . . .Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

7. Receive them not . . .

2nd John 1:10-11, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." To our day false teachings are fostered by misplaced hospitality.

8. Have no company with him . . .

2nd Thessalonians 3:14, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."

9. Reject them . . .

Titus 3:10, "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject . . ."

10. Be ye separate . . .

2nd Corinthians 6:17, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you . . ."

—The above adapted from an article by: G. Archer Weniger, D.D.