August 15, 2012
Qualifications
In 2008 my sister-in-law unabashedly stated that she voted for Obama
because, “I wanted to be able to say that
I voted for the first black American President.” Politically speaking I
guess we’re all entitled to have our own standards. Spiritually speaking, it’s somewhat
of a relief that the Apostle Paul gave us instructions for picking leaders in
the church by narrowing down the eligibility field. “…I am writing you these instructions so that…you will
know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Tim
3:14-15 NIV) Seriously, if it were left up to us, can you imagine what type of
individuals we might put in positions of leadership?
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3 comments:
Actually, yes. All I have to do is look at the congress and the current administration. That may be part of the reason the Biblical model seems to be monarchy, not democracy.
Grace and peace.
Pumice;
-----I think much of the reason we see such shameful lawlessness in the Congress, the Administration, and might I add the Judiciary, is precisely because we have become convinced we are a democracy. Having been thus convinced we now act as a democracy such that any old ideology is electable, even that which runs counter to our own Constitution. We are no longer what we were made to be, a constitutional republic. In that, the governing body is always constrained by the terms of agreement even if the people object by popular vote. The agreement has the final rule until the people themselves change it.
-----The church shares that one point about ruling terms with a republic. Its ruling terms are the Word of God. Yet, intentionally or not, many people in the church participate in its elections as if they are being polled for their own opinions and desires as opposed to their biblical estimations of the ballot matters. Politically speaking, we are not even completely entitled to our own standards, if our nation continued to function constitutionally. Spiritually speaking, we are entirely bound to the instructions given the church, hopefully by their shaping of our standards. Even though there appears to be some democracy operating in the church, it is still meant to arise from the Monarch’s effect upon the voter through the ruling terms He gave in His Word.
Steve
Steve,
:D! Very well done. You explained our country's founding condition as a republic, rather than a democracy, well. It made me smile. I have often been met with quite a bit of opposition and shock when I have said that we are NOT a democracy. sigh.
I have found it difficult to explain the difference as effectively and clearly as you have done. Just so you know, I'm going to steal your argument. :)
Benjamin Franklin would be pleased.
Deb
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