Democracy or Theocracy
A discussion for believers and nonbelievers alike
Jesus refused to lead the physical resistance of his brothers against the Romans, saying that his kingdom was not of this world but for us to pray that it comes, so that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. The context of this exchange took place in a theocracy not a democracy, so praying for God’s will on earth may sound like the world will be a single theocracy. However, Jesus said he would return after the fulfillment of the times of the nations and set things right as it were. How is the times of the nations fulfilled? Does this mean nations should all be preparing for theocracy?
When asked by two of his followers if they should bring down fire on those who were not following him, Jesus said no. This went against the theocracy that Moses set up. It means that God’s will is not to punish us for not believing in Jesus but for not keeping his principle on loving the enemies of our conscience. For Jesus depicted the Good Samaritan in a story, one who loved his enemies. He used him as an example of good behavior for his followers, and the Samaritans did not believe in him. Then, he said that the judgment of the nations will rest on whether we love “the least of us”, enemies foremost. Some do it through their faith in him, others do it without faith. This is the fulfillment of the nations. We have been given a space of generational time to come together and learn how to govern our national conscience with his principle.
By all signs, it looks like time is almost up. Should we be preparing for a theocracy or did Jesus allow for democracy when he said not to harm nonbelievers? God does not give us free will and a mind if He does not want us to use them as we choose. Also true though, He has subjected us to a conscience of goodness to guide us, which blinds us when we choose to go against it. We are happily blind for a while in our choices until, sooner or later, we suffer the consequences of being around others who chose the same.
In my other posts, I use Name to refer to God or Life and Word to refer to Christ or the meaning of Life. This is my way of acknowledging the democracy we have been blessed to be born into, one where we can enact laws based on our choices despite whether we believe or not. I am concerned, however, in regard to whether we collectively choose to follow the principle.
I believe that, even in a democracy, Jesus would still not lead a physical resistance, at least not until no other options were available. Even then, it would only be for self-defense. For he told his twelve disciples to buy a couple of swords, a number for self-defense. Teaching the principle was his primary way of arming his followers against all blindness in the world. Loving an enemy is a way of disarming their hatred if they do not love us as enemies of their conscience. If it is not a sincere love, we will not stay on the spiritual battlefield long enough to help them if at all possible. If we want ours to be a sincere love, we learn the knowledge to stay on the battlefield long enough to mature it. For nonbelievers, this is using the meaning of Life to accomplish the same.
When we are afraid to step onto the battlefield, sometimes it is because our hatred for the enemy is not stronger than death and we can sense that theirs is. Do not be coerced into stepping out because, as a result, your hatred may just achieve that strength. Step back and learn the principle, preparing yourself for love stronger than death. Democracy cannot mature without an army of such citizenry. For love does no harm. But when an army of hatred wins, it has only sown the seeds for the next war and maturity finds no air to breathe.
There is no such thing as desperate times. There are only desperate people. Fear is not a sign of defeat when we know how the fear (yirah) of Name perfects holiness. With knowledge of Word, we know that it occurs when we choose the principle and Name cleanses the eyes of our conscience to see the purity of His agapé (love) in Word, who is everyone’s life, blind to it or not. In our world conscience, what we see we possess.
Thanks for replying. I’m against any belief system, religious or not, running things. Democracy should allow us to follow our own beliefs, but we need a common belief that unites all of us and the only viable one is to love even the least among us as “enemies of our conscience”. Love does no harm, is not selfish, but stands up for what is right.
To me there really isn't a debate to be had here. The only way you are going to be able to have whatever relationship you want with the divine is under a government that respects your religious freedom. Allowing even your own religion and own sect to run things promises that one day the state will disagree with you about your religion.
So if you care about your personal well-being the selfish purely selfish thing to do is support freedom of choice. If you care about other people you should support this as well.