Christian Theocracy Achieves
Unanimous Decisions
“The
LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”
(Psm. 103:19)
The
kingdom of God has a unique form of government unlike anything on earth… yet we
can understand what it is, from governments that have existed throughout
history. The earthly kingdoms we are familiar with are forms of
government ruled by a king, president or prime minister and backed by officials
that are either chosen or elected by the people. All other forms of government
such as a republic or democracy are variations on this theme, with
self-interest being the motivation of all man-made earthly governments. The kingdom of God, on the other hand, is a
theocracy. What it means is that it is a government ruled by the One True
God, or by someone ordained and controlled by God. However, God's
theocracy goes much deeper than that.
As an
example The United States of America has been defined by Abraham Lincoln as a
government of the people, by the people and for the people. A theocracy
goes much further for it is a divine government of God. It is a government or kingdom from God that
will encompass the whole planet and one that is actually and truly for the
people…all peoples of the whole earth. A government ruled by laws from
God that bring about and maintain peace. A government that does not take
anything… but only gives, which is the reason man cannot establish such a
rule. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. . . .” (Jn. 18:36)
At the
very beginning of time it was God’s plan to rule the world. He had established Israel as a prototype
Kingdom of God (Ex. 19:3-8). Israel had
accepted theocracy as their form of government: “Then
all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we
will do.’ So Moses brought back the
words of the people to the LORD.” (Ex. 19:8)
When Israel wanted an earthly king, both Gideon (Judg.
8:22-23) and Samuel (1 Sam. 8:1-8) told the Israelites that God was their
king. “But the thing displeased Samuel when
they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’
So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that
they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me,
that I should reign over them.” (1 Sam. 8:6-7)
Saul was anointed the first king over Israel with the words "Is it not the LORD has anointed you commander over His
inheritance?" (1 Sam. 10:1). The rule of God was
sovereign over the rule of the king. When these earthly kings followed
the reign of God, they were blessed, but when they forsook Yahweh as their
exclusive sovereign and acknowledged the sovereignty of other gods, they were
driven out of their promised land (2 Kings 17:13-18).
The
Majority of the People are often Wrong
A casual look at the Bible shows
that the majority very often turn out to be wrong.
The majority
of people rejected Noah's preaching and died in the flood.
The majority of people perished in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The majority of Israel worshipped Aaron's calf
in Exodus 32.
The majority of Israel rejected the ministry of
the prophets such as Jeremiah.
The majority of people rejected Jesus Christ
during His earthly ministry.
The majority of people alive today reject Jesus
Christ as the Savior of the world.
Just as
monarchy, which is the rule of government by a sovereign king, is the rejection
of theocracy or the rule by the One True God, so is democracy that is the
government through decisions made by the majority of the people. From the Scriptures we discover that some of
God’s mighty heroes are in the minority.
Consider
Moses’ lone and solitary voice of warning to the children of Israel not to go
up to the mountaintop to fight the Amalekites and the Canaanites. “But they
presumed to go up to the mountaintop; nevertheless, neither the ark of the LORD
nor Moses departed from the camp. Then
the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and
attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah.” (Num. 14:39-45) Big
numbers of people and the majority mean nothing to God. “The ark of the LORD” represents
His very presence. Having only the
presence of God is much more powerful than having the people’s majority.
Consider
Joshua and Caleb returning with ten other spies that looked over the land of
their promised inheritance. The land was a veritable fortress. There were
walled cities and warriors of great size in the land. Joshua and Caleb did not
deny this. They believed, however, that their God was bigger than these
obstacles and that the giants before them would simply become their prey.
Not
so, the other ten spies. They judged by appearance. They looked at themselves
and were made weak. In their own strength they perceived that they would fail
and their own strength was all they had. They had not learned how to exhibit
confidence in an almighty God. The rest of Israel gave way to the same fears.
Some
have estimated that Israel consisted of nearly 3 million people at that time.
Joshua and Caleb stood against the opinion of 3 million of their brothers and
sisters. What arrogance, what pride for these two to believe that they were
right when so many said that they were dead wrong. In fact, those who said they were wrong had wished them to be
dead. It is said that they spoke of
stoning them. Christians that have different views from their peers that form
the majority face the same hardships as Joshua and Caleb. Remember that Jesus Christ and us form the
majority.
Consider
David when he was yet a youth. He was sent to the site of battle to carry food
to his brothers and to bring back news of their welfare to his father. He found
all of the army of Israel hiding behind rocks as the champion of the
Philistines came out daily to challenge and taunt them. David heard that King
Saul has offered a reward to any Israelite warrior who would challenge Goliath
and slay him. He even had offered one
of his daughters as part of the reward.
David heard of this and was incredulous.
David
was not intimidated. He heard the taunt of Goliath and was filled with
indignation. His oldest brother Eliab
overheard David as he talked to the soldiers about the reward offered to kill
Goliath. David’s words were bold and Eliab became angry. Eliab felt justified to hide behind the
rocks every day. Goliath was huge.
David’s fearless words stung and Eliab began to accuse David of evil. (1 Samuel
17:28) After all, who did David think
he was. The entire army of Israel was scared before Goliath. David was surely
just exhibiting arrogance and pride. He was deluded to think that he could slay
Goliath. He was but a youth. The opinion of all Israel was against him. Why did
he think he was right? The One True God
was behind him.
No,
being in the minority does not mean one is in the right, but being in the
majority doesn’t either. One must look at the issues involved. One must see
what emotions and physical and spiritual forces are shaping opinions. Fear and
a desire for self-preservation were very evident in the majority in both cases
mentioned. Courage and confidence in God was present in the minority.
The
Early Apostolic Church never practiced Democracy
Why is
democracy not the correct polity for the Christian Church? It is the principle of democracy that
presupposes the majority of the people is always right; and it was also the
same wrong decisions of the majority that rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah;
drove Him out of the synagogue and also crucified Him on Mount Calvary.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive
Him.” (Jn. 1:11)
“Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard
these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him (Jesus Christ)
out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city
was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He
went His way.” (Lk. 4:28-30)
“But all this was done that the Scriptures of the
prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all
the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Mt. 26:56)
The Roman
governor Pilate wanted to know whether Jesus Christ was the King of the Jews. “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My
servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My
kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate
therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’
Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this
cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (Jn. 18:36-37)
“But
the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for
Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The
governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release
to you?’ They said, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate
said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be
crucified!’ Then the governor said,
‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they
cried out all the more, saying, Let Him be crucified!’ When Pilate say that he could not prevail at
all, but rather than a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands
before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’ And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on
our children.’ Then he released
Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be
crucified.” (Mt. 27:20-26)
The
majority of the people in Jerusalem wanted Jesus to be crucified and although
Pilate acknowledged the Lord’s innocence yet he succumbed to the rule of the
democratic majority and let Him be crucified.
Democracy does not always allow the truth to prevail because the
majority always rules. Truth is often
crucified by the wrong decisions of the majority. Democracy has not been on the side of true Christianity.
The Church
as we see it in the New Testament was built by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt.
16:18). Based on the theocratic form of
government it had unity of doctrine, organization, worship and work. In many modern congregations that are
governed by democratic principles we see quite the opposite. They have disunity and confusion, and we can know straightway that it is not of God. “For God is not
the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1
Cor. 14:33) “For where envy and
self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.”(Jas. 3:16)
One
of the chief causes of confusion within many Christian congregations lie in the
polity that relates to forms of government and administration. It is because they have adopted the worldly
and secular polity of democracy. “Democracy
is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Students
of social history were taught that modern democracy has its roots in pagan
classical Greece. It was revived in
France after the French Revolution.
Democracy in America borrowed ideologies from various sources but some American
historians, anthropologists and traditional chiefs addressed the
proposal the U.S. Constitution was based on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace
rather than on Greek democracy, as is commonly believed and taught. Democracy is absolutely foreign to true
Christianity.
Democracy
may be an ideal form of government for the nations of the world but it is
definitely not the correct polity for the Christian Church. Many Christians will
be shocked to find out that democracy is never taught in the Holy Bible. It is certainly not known or practiced by the
Children of Israel in the Old Testament and the Apostolic Christian Church in
the New Testament. The only correct
form of polity for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is Christian Theocracy
that means government through immediate guidance by the One True God. In Christian Theocracy the One True God in
the Lord Jesus Christ is the Supreme Ruler. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head
of the Church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
The Church “is built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in
whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the
Spirit.”(Eph. 2:20-22)
Weakness
of Democracy based on the Majority Rule
Democracy
is a form of government in which the majority rules. Let us read some quotations on democracy that shows some of its
weaknesses.
The great thing about
democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid. - Art
Spander
Fifty-one percent of
a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still
remain democratic. - Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
When great changes
occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority
are wrong. - Eugene V. Debs
Democracy
is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's
that again? I missed something. - Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus
Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love"
If men were angels,
no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither
external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. - Federalist
Papers
Democracy
is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or
majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change
because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people. - Giordano
Bruno
Democracy is the theory
that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and
hard. - H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)
Democracy is a
pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. - H.L.
Mencken (1880-1956)
The voice of the
majority is no proof of justice. - Johann von Schiller
Nor is the people's
judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few. - John
Dryden
Democracy ... is a
system of self-determination. It's the right to make the wrong choice. - John
Patrick
Democracy encourages
the majority to decide things about which the majority is blissfully
ignorant. - John Simon
It is bad to be
oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority. - Lord
Acton
In matters of
conscience, the law of majority has no place.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Democracy is not a
state in which people act like sheep.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Performance of one's
duties should be independent of public opinion. - Mahatma Gandhi
If an individual
agrees with everybody, he lacks conviction; if he likes everybody and is
everybody's friend, he is indifferent to one and all. - Nikolai Dobrolyubov
Democracy means
simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people. - Oscar
Wilde
The greatest fallacy
of democracy is that everyone's opinion is worth the same. - Robert
Anson Heinlein
Democracy is a
government where you can say what you think even if you don't think. - Unknown
How a Church can have
Sound and Unanimous Decisions
The
former prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru once said: “Democracy is
good. I say this because other systems are worse.” Mr. Nehru implied that democracy is
really not that good. He had never
discovered Christian Theocracy in which the One True God rules supreme. True Christian Theocracy takes God’s
instructions in the Holy Bible as the absolute guideline for all the people to
make unanimous decisions.
The
Church should strive for unanimous consent in all issues. The Holy Bible unequivocally stresses the
only way for the Church to function in unity, peace and harmony is for all the
members to have unanimous consent in any issue. Although the existing constitution and bylaws may require only a
simple majority vote, beware of potential division and wrong conclusions. Voting by even a two-third majority to solve
a problem often creates new and greater problems. A majority of spies agreed that the land of Canaan was filled
with unconquerable giants and refused to enter it. Only two voices contradicted the majority (Numbers 13:26 14:10). Only one voice disagreed with the four
hundred prophets who told King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat that it was God's will
to go to battle (1 Kings 22:1-39). In
both cases the majority was wrong.
Democracy with the majority rule was not God’s will.
The Children of Israel
became a theocratic nation after they accepted God’s words as the sole guide to
their religious, civil and social lives.
“Then
all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we
will do.’ So Moses brought back the
words of the people to the LORD.” (Ex. 19:8)
The
Early Apostolic Church was the model of unity.
“These all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His
brothers.” (Acts 1:14) “Now when the
Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
(Acts 2:1) “Now the multitude of those
who believed were of one heart and one soul: neither did anyone say that any of
the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” (Acts
4:32)
To
deal with the tasks over the care of the widows, the leaders gathered together
and presented a plan that was received with unanimity among the apostles and
all the believers (Acts 6:1-5). When a disagreement over doctrine arose in the
church, the leaders gathered to discuss the matter. Their decision was by
unanimous consent (Acts 15). In order to have unanimity, every leader must be
biblically qualified to serve and be in harmony with the Holy Spirit and with
each other.
When
the Early Apostolic Church functioned under the direction of the Holy Spirit,
the believers and harmony is for all the members to have unanimous consent in
any issue. Here are some scriptural
verses to support this position.
“So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)
One accord is a biblical term that denotes a unanimous decision in complete
unity, peace and harmony. The Early
Apostolic Church was able to be in one accord because they “continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread
and in prayers.” (Acts. 2:42) It could never
have been achieved if believers had given only their personal opinions about
any issue. They all had a common
guideline – the apostles’ doctrine – as the point of reference in making
decisions. The Holy Bible is the only
reference for all Christians everywhere and in all ages.
“Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with
the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men
among the brethren.” (Acts 15:22)
It seemed
to be by unanimous decision that the apostles and elders decided to accept
Peter and James' decision on the matter of the Gentiles. We see here, a committee chosen of the elect
men in the group to go and carry this good news of the church 's decision to
the church at Antioch. Perhaps, Judas
surnamed Barsabas and Silas went to assure the people of Antioch that this was
not just Paul and Barnabas' decision, but was also Peter and James' decision,
as well. This is the Antioch where the
followers of Jesus were first called Christians, and there were many Gentile
converts here. Remember, the church was
still being formed here.
“Now
I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all
speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be
no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind
and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10)
The Corinthian Church had not attained the
same level of understanding and discernment within its membership. Christian love, active discipleship,
healing, and equipping of the saints is much needed here. Congregations that have divisions must
strive to operate within the same opinions, purposes, resolves, and
decision-making.
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your
affairs that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:27)
The believers are encouraged to be united
as they “stand fast
in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel.” There is only one Holy Spirit who moves
and inspires every believer to have one mind to preach the gospel to the lost
world.
Practical
Steps towards having Unanimous Decisions
In
any assembly whether it is a congregational, board, staff, or committee meeting,
all may include at least some of the following elements:
Teamwork - The
whole chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians describes how a church or congregation can
work together as a team. “.
. . . there should be no schism in the body, . . .” (1 Cor. 12:25) Recognize each
member’s gift (spiritual, physical, intellectual or professional) and encourage
the person to get involved in a team project that he or she can contribute the
most. It must be emphasized that the
decision of a team consisting of expertise in the various fields is superior
and more efficient than a congregation that knows little about the issue at
large.
Information
– Always remember that the Holy Bible is the main guide towards making
unanimous decisions. Misinformation,
disinformation or lack of information can lead to wrong decisions that can be disadvantageous
or even disastrous to any congregation.
We
are living at a time when Information Technology (IT) makes it possible for
rapid transmission of information from one congregation or member to another
with greater ease than at any time in the past. Information must be disseminated in an efficient way to every one
that is involved in the project and in decision-making.
Fact-finding
- After receiving the information investigate thoroughly by research into Bible
dictionaries, concordances from various places such as public libraries to
check for facts and truth. The search
in the Internet can also be very helpful but countercheck with other reliable
sources for verification.
Planning
- Here is a wise saying: “If you fail
to plan, you plan to fail.” Always plan
ahead for the future especially in a building project. If the project involves a building extension
the correct procedure is to first consider the future plan that had already
been unanimously approved by the previous congregations, church councils or building
committees. It requires a 100%
unanimous decision to overrule a previously approved unanimous decision. Any split decision may result in strife and
conflicts within the congregation that must be avoided at all costs.
Project
planning need not be confined to the church board. It may be extended to others who can contribute their views,
concerns, solutions and expertise. To
enhance the effectiveness of planning meetings, design an agenda that
highlights future needs and identifies desired contributions and goals.
Decision-making
– Unanimous decision is God’s way and the Church’s only way of achieving
perfect unity, peace and harmony. Unanimous decision is the proof that the Holy Spirit is working with
the Church when He makes everyone in the congregation have the same mind, goal
and purpose. Unless a congregation makes
a commitment to take unanimous decision as its policy there will continue to be
disunity and divisions within the congregation.
In
a meeting the formal process requires the release of an agenda well in advance.
Be very careful not to include items
that are divisive, controversial and counterproductive to the harmony of the meeting. The agenda should include fact-finding,
analysis of biblical and other information, summary of information into usable
form, and an evaluation of possible outcomes.
Always emphasize unanimous consensus.
Do not force the issue by coercion but use Christian love and friendly
persuasion. If unanimity cannot be
achieved, take a pause and get everyone to pray until the desired result is
reached. Do not rush, there is always
another day! God wants perfect unity,
peace and harmony. He can wait! We should also wait!
“Trust
in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Pro. 3:5-6)
This Article is the base for a response to a question during a Bible Study Discussion
conducted by Paul Wong for a Congregation in Houston, Texas on May 16, 2003
For comments please write first to: ark@pdq.net
May God bless you.
Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the
President of ARK International.
His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in Houston.
The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.
 |
|
|
|
