Democracy and Christianity

[Dragons87]

You know the way democracy is rising to become the dominant political constitution in the world, especially when the supposedly most Christian nation the United States keeps advocating it.

However, I want to raise a point for discussion: the Christian faith and its institutions is inherently undemocratic, as in we don't choose our leaders, whether in life (God is the supreme king) or in Church (especially the Catholic Church).

What do people think of it? Should it just be the same, that Christianity remains autocratic while we participate in democratic politics? Or should be democratise our churches or autocratise our politics?

 

[praying]

You know the way democracy is rising to become the dominant political constitution in the world, especially when the supposedly most Christian nation the United States keeps advocating it.

However, I want to raise a point for discussion: the Christian faith and its institutions is inherently undemocratic, as in we don't choose our leaders, whether in life (God is the supreme king) or in Church (especially the Catholic Church).

What do people think of it? Should it just be the same, that Christianity remains autocratic while we participate in democratic politics? Or should be democratise our churches or autocratise our politics?

First off I think this thread would better served in the Christian Ethics forum then here.

Democracy is hardly the dominant political force in the world and hasn't been truly instituted in Iraq (if it is even possible for one nation can institute democracy in another)


http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2128.html Review the list to see just how many "democracies" there are.

Do I thnk we should democratize the church, in a sense it already is. With the expception of the Catholic church, most churches choose their leadership either via direct member election or via member elected representatives who in turn choose the leadership and direction of the church.

 

[Dragons87]

First off I think this thread would better served in the Christian Ethics forum then here.

Ok. I raised this question here because it is indeed about a current event. Currently in Hong Kong we're undergoing a political reform, where there are calls for universal suffrage for our executive and legislative bodies ASAP. The central government in Beijing is clearly resisting this, and our local government is really caught in between. Now, the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong has come out publicly, as a Church leader, to call for universal suffrage on behalf of the Catholics in Hong Kong (ironically, our local government head, the guy torn in between, is also Catholic). But the bishop's comments have drawn fire, calling his comments hypocritical when the Catholic Church itself is undemocratic.

So. Current issue.

Democracy is hardly the dominant political force in the world and hasn't been truly instituted in Iraq (if it is even possible for one nation can institute democracy in another)


http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2128.html Review the list to see just how many "democracies" there are.

There're a lot... If there is one political ideology actively spread around the world today, it is democracy.

Do I thnk we should democratize the church, in a sense it already is. With the expception of the Catholic church, most churches choose their leadership either via direct member election or via member elected representatives who in turn choose the leadership and direction of the church.

Yeah. The Catholic Church, really.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

The Bible has lots of examples of the people choosing leaders. The judges who were to serve under Moses, were chosen by the people of each tribe. Elders in NT churches were chosen and recognized by the people they served, not appointed by outside church leaders -- or even local ones.

 

[artjack]

I dont mind it is only for the time being which ever you chose. Does it realy matter to us! we dont know the reasons for it or how corupt either is. I mean if you have to do it in seceret! I thought that was for praying.

 

[ebia]

You know the way democracy is rising to become the dominant political constitution in the world, especially when the supposedly most Christian nation the United States keeps advocating it.

However, I want to raise a point for discussion: the Christian faith and its institutions is inherently undemocratic, as in we don't choose our leaders, whether in life (God is the supreme king) or in Church (especially the Catholic Church).

What do people think of it? Should it just be the same, that Christianity remains autocratic while we participate in democratic politics? Or should be democratise our churches or autocratise our politics?

The early Church did elect it's bishops. Many denominations do elect their bishops or other leaders. Then you have the Church of England where democratically elected polititians choose the church's bishops.

 

[SixClowns]

God gave us free will to choose to follow him, that is a one on one decision. Democracy is an additive one on one decision where majority rules with regards to selecting leaders.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

You know the way democracy is rising to become the dominant political constitution in the world, especially when the supposedly most Christian nation the United States keeps advocating it.

However, I want to raise a point for discussion: the Christian faith and its institutions is inherently undemocratic, as in we don't choose our leaders, whether in life (God is the supreme king) or in Church (especially the Catholic Church).

What do people think of it? Should it just be the same, that Christianity remains autocratic while we participate in democratic politics? Or should be democratise our churches or autocratise our politics?

In the NT church, elders were chosen and recognized by the congregations. Even in Jerusalem, the apostles told the people to chose from among themselves men to be deacons.