Throughout the world, but particularly here in America, we have a problem. This problem has to do with politics, sin and spirituality. But, most of all, our problem has to do with authority. ...
Democracy and the Kingdom of GodPaul Rasavage
Throughout the world, but particularly here in America, we have a problem. This problem has to do with politics, sin and spirituality. But, most of all, our problem has to do with authority.
Political Science 101 — a Spiritual Perspective
In a Democracy:
We vote to place leaders in office.
We can vote any given leader out of office.
The powers of those we vote into office are limited.
We vote on which laws to implement and which to repeal.
Everything in a democracy is dictated by the will of the majority.
If we don't like something, we vote to try and change it.
In a Kingdom:
The King rules for life.
The King makes the laws — without the need for anyone's assistance or permission.
The King's authority is binding and absolute.
The King rules in complete, unlimited authority over all of the subjects within His kingdom.
The King's subjects are all fully and completely dependent upon the King for everything.
If we don't like something that the King has decreed — too bad.
Deduction
In a Kingdom, the King rules over His subjects.
In a democracy, the majority rule over their elected leaders.
Therefore, a Kingdom is not a democracy and a democracy is not a Kingdom. In fact, they are mutually exclusive, so we must never confuse the one with the other.
Back to the point of all of this.
Our Problem
Many, if not all of our current spiritual problems have resulted from trying to force the square peg of democracy into the round hole of the Kingdom of God. That is, we try to leverage the 'will of the majority' into changing whichever of God's Kingly rules we don't particularly like at that given moment in time.
Change the Law to Accommodate the Sin
In a democracy, any law is subject to change, based upon the will of the majority.
No law is absolutely and forever sacred or untouchable. In and of itself, this very notion should have been a warning to us as Christians. Disaster looms.
For us as Americans, it has become very easy to change the law to accommodate the sin. That way, over time, we can eventually do away with sin altogether.
A Case in Point
The crisis within the Catholic Church in America has nothing to do with celibacy. It has everything to do with sin and human weakness. Moreover, these examples of scandal, which the media tout are pedophilia, are in truth, sins of homosexuality.
Yet, the media, champions of the gay cause and self-avowed enemies of all things Godly, dare not call it what it is — grown men seeking sexual pleasure with other males — otherwise known as plain, old fashioned, media-promulgated homosexuality.
Eliminating celibacy won't cure the problem. Eliminate the gays from the ranks of priestly candidates early on is a crucial step. This is a step which the Vatican has already stated it has taken and reinforced with renewed vigor. Eliminating the temptations to sin would go much further, yet the media would never stand for that.
Another "Success" Story — Abortion
In God's Kingdom, the law is: "Thou shall not kill." Up until the 1930's, every single Christian denomination was unquestionably anti-abortion. Today, only the Catholic Church remains steadfast against this atrocious killing machine forced upon us by those who claim to be the majority. The rest of Christianity has 'voted' to make the killing of our nation's progeny legal and legitimate — something once considered a horrific evil is now good and beneficial.
Disaster looms.
Sin? What's that?
What we are doing by arguing away sin is, in effect, trying to exert our will over God's will. Worse yet, we have convinced ourselves that we can actually do this!
All of this legal-spiritual doublespeak is based on the presumption that we have the power and the authority to dictate and implement changes to God's laws as we see fit — and do it with impunity.
Disaster looms.
For the sake of convenience, expediency and self-gratification, the application of spiritual democracy, in particular, to further idolatry — the satanic trinity of greed/power/pleasure, as well as to rationalize the injustice and oppression of the poor and weak by the rich and powerful has gone far in removing these behaviors from the category of 'sin' and has allowed them to flourish and bear much evil fruit and briar in the garden of our once blessed homeland.
Many things once considered terrible evils are now embraced as the greatest good.
Disaster looms.
After many years of patient desensitization and concerted effort on the part of those who would relish the spiritual destruction of our nation, the democratization of the Kingdom of God has insidiously permeated every facet of American spirituality.
Because of our rebellious attitude, we find ourselves due for a reality check — big time.
We are like a blind, deaf man walking precariously along a set of railroad tracks in the dead of night, lost, dazed and confused, completely unaware of the freight train bearing down on him at breakneck speed. The train's engineer does not see the man in the dark and the man is totally unaware of the imminent danger he faces.
The saddest aspect of all of this is the realization that we have been rendered blind and deaf at no one's hands but our own. Disaster looms.
Let me spell it out for you, folks, in case you haven't realized it by now — Democracy has no place in the Kingdom of God.
In God's Kingdom, the King always knows what's best for His subjects. Despite our best efforts, we cannot do the King's job better than Him. What the King says, goes. Period. And that's the way it should be.
If you want a spiritual democracy, then the Kingdom of God is not for you. If you want to be ruled by the King of Heaven, then consider your humble place in the immensity of the Kingdom, bow down before His Majesty and acknowledge His supremacy in all things.
Then, get back to what you are supposed to be doing, mind your own business and follow the rules of the Kingdom, always keeping in mind that the job of King is already, henceforth and forever, filled. Authority, all of it, is His alone.
Paul Rasavage is a freelance author living in the Cascades of the Pacific Northwest, a lifelong Catholic and devoted husband of 26 years, and father of three, including a Carmelite Nun. Paul is also founder of the Serenellians, a Catholic apostolate that ministers to individuals who desire to break free of their addiction to pornography as well as provide support and guidance for their families and loved ones. The Serenellians web site can be found at www.PornNoMore.com.
© Copyright 2005 by Paul Rasavage
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/rasavage/050308
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