Is a Theocracy Inherently Evil

[artybloke]

Just cos your god is evil doesn't mean the real one is.

 

[99percentatheism]

Just cos your god is evil doesn't mean the real one is.

Art,

Your idea of god sounds more like Stephen Stills ushering in the age of Woodstock . . . than the Son of God Christ Jesus bringing us a new heaven and a new earth.

And we are all too painfully aware of what the hippy generation has wrought upon the earth.

 

[wannabeadesigirl]

In order for a theocracy to work in a heavenly manner each person within that theocracy would have to believe the same theology, the same subtheology, and worship the same way as everyone else.
Considering the fact there are multiple ways of worshiping God within the Christian faith it would be a very short period of time before the denomination in power would start getting "revelations" from God about how the other denominations ought to be dealt with.


So until Christ comes back and everything's all figured out I'll say nay to the human made theocracy.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Your god seems like a rather nasty bit of work. I think I'll pass on him, and go seek out the truth Spirit of Love in Christ.

Agreed.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Naturally, if you want to change the law, you'll probably be killed.

See right there you immediately reduce God's beautiful creation down to robotic lemmings.

Also, are you equating the Kingdom of God with the Mosaic Law?

 

[brightmorningstar]

Democracy seems to be the best compromise. Is theocracy evil? It depends on what the beliefs are. Is heaven a theocracy?
Certainly the hatred of theocracy by secular liberalism makes it a much better option than secular liberalism

 

[brightmorningstar]

In order for a theocracy to work in a heavenly manner each person within that theocracy would have to believe the same theology, the same subtheology, and worship the same way as everyone else.

And we have examples of that in the Bible.

Considering the fact there are multiple ways of worshiping God

but looking at the Bible God likes them all.

So until Christ comes back and everything's all figured out I'll say nay to the human made theocracy.

So how do you envisage His Kingdom Come, His will be done, on earth as in heaven? Especially when the secular doesnt believe in Him or His will and purposes and often introduces sin which leads to death.

Surely democracy is the best compromise.?
It seems to me as a Christian that the idea secular values mights prevail, as dissapointing as it is, is the the best compromise, but for the secular, the idea that the Christian values might prevail is not acceptable.

I think before theocracy one ought to kick secular liberalism into touch.

 

[wannabeadesigirl]

I'll lay out the theology that matters. Deuteronomy is the national law (basically). Deut 4:2 states you can't add or subtract laws. I'd say, if you can restrain yourself from working on your farm on Saturday, and not bash the "I AM" in public, it should be pretty easy. Naturally, if you want to change the law, you'll probably be killed.

It wouldn't work in today's modern society, and certainly not within the church. I'm not even talking about the hundreds of other faiths and cultures represented in America. I'm talking solely about the multitude of different denominations within the Christian church alone.

Everything about each denomination and each church even, from it's communion practices to theology about the nature of God, is different.

Some churches serve grape juice with wafer crackers. Some churches serve wine and baked bread. Some denominations believe God picks and chooses who enters heaven. Some denominations believe it's mans choice.

So which one do you think would be put in power to start this theocracy? No matter which one you choose you can find at least one other denomination that would have issue with it, would then be found of being "heretical" and "blasphemous", and then according to the laws of Moses be put to death. Since the Bible talks about the church being like a body, composed of many parts, I'm pretty sure the annihilation of one denomination would be like chopping an arm or leg off.

Everyone that is seeking his kingdom, really needs to investigate whether or not the British Crown descends from David, and if the Celto Anglo Saxons are in fact the lost sheep of the House of Israel. (10 lost tribes)

How do you figure? The genome types between the Germanic descended peoples of Britain aren't even close to the oldest Jewish groups in Israel today.

 

[God's Fighter]

Nice to see this thread is alive again. Interesting responses, it seems the consensus is that it wouldn't work. Is that under the definition that denominations would then exist and one denomination would take the seat of power? I find that strange of a concept myself. A theocracy would be unified under one faith, governed by God's laws (from a christian perspective). God's Word does not mention these denominations, nor as a matter of fact does it attribute the Body of Christ as many denominations. I find that to be false. Not calling in any specific denomination(s) faith in question, but rather the idea that denominations are even scriptural or to be considered a ruling party.

A theocracy worked for the Israelites and were governed by the Law God gave moses. So how is that any different with the Bible. Also consider that we live under the new covenant and are told to love our enemies and that we would be persecuted. Under the words of Jesus does it sound like we would be a military persecuting power?

Food for thought.

 

[brightmorningstar]

It wouldn't work in today's modern society,

As if today's modern society is working.

about the multitude of different denominations within the Christian church alone. [/quote[ I can only think of about half a dozen, 'denominations'.

Everything about each denomination and each church even, from it's communion practices to theology about the nature of God, is different.

'Everything'? hardly. I hardly see any differences. For example what is said and understood during eucharist/communion is pretty much exactly the same in an Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic or AOG church.

Some churches serve grape juice with wafer crackers. So? Some churches serve wine and baked bread. Some denominations believe God picks and chooses who enters heaven. Some denominations believe it's mans choice.

So? Which bread or wafers used in any church is like the bread Jesus would have broken?
Jesus said do it in remembrance of Him, His body was broken for forgiveness of sin. It is sin that leads to death, and Christ, not bread and wine, that saves.

Some churches that are so concerned about ceremony are also ones celebrating sin.

Actually its democracy that gives the chance for theocracy. I am not aware of any democracy in the NT, nor in priciple can there be a perfect world with everyone a believer, and as humans who fall short anyway, it would hardly be perfect. In a democracy if the majority were Christian, one could have a sort of theocracy. Seems ok to be compared with secular liberalism though.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Nice to see this thread is alive again. Interesting responses, it seems the consensus is that it wouldn't work. Is that under the definition that denominations would then exist and one denomination would take the seat of power?

Yes, I believe so. IMO the human concept of a theocracy will always fail because I think ultimately it sees one faction subjugating the others through force of will. When I think of a theocracy I immediately think of the crusades and the blot that they are on Christian history. The driving factor behind the crusades was essentially trying to form a literal kingdom that was governed by a human-religious authority.

Contrast that concept with God's Kingdom which doesn't have such harsh language associated it. God's Kingdom is a restoration of the creation, all things are made new and all the citizens of the Kingdom truly desire to follow their leader out of love. It's the complete opposite.

When I look up theocracy in the dictionary this is the definition I get:

theocracy |THēˈäkrəsē|
noun ( pl. theocracies )
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
​

That doesn't quite sound like the Kingdom of Heaven to me.

I find that strange of a concept myself. A theocracy would be unified under one faith, governed by God's laws (from a christian perspective). God's Word does not mention these denominations, nor as a matter of fact does it attribute the Body of Christ as many denominations. I find that to be false. Not calling in any specific denomination(s) faith in question, but rather the idea that denominations are even scriptural or to be considered a ruling party.

I agree with your sentiments.

A theocracy worked for the Israelites and were governed by the Law God gave moses. So how is that any different with the Bible. Also consider that we live under the new covenant and are told to love our enemies and that we would be persecuted. Under the words of Jesus does it sound like we would be a military persecuting power?

Food for thought.

Agreed, from what I'm gathering though the general notion of a theocracy—at least in this thread—resembles a military conquest of disagreeable factions (be they separate Christian denominations or other faiths entirely) who are subdued under the religious authorities of their conquerors.

If we want to call the Kingdom of Heaven a theocracy, okay, I can roll with that. Nevertheless, God's Kingdom is being brought forward by loving acts of compassion and generosity compelled by the love of Jesus, not subjugation and oppression through violence and military conquest.

 

[drjean]

When I think of a theocracy I immediately think of the crusades and the blot that they are on Christian history.

While I think of a theocracy failing for the same reasons, when I think of the crusades I think of the ones by the muslims against Christians that nearly wiped us off the planet, thus the return attacks by the Christians against the muslims... the only crusades that people are taught about, not the ones that caused this defense. (Plain English, history shows the muslims crusaded against Christians first and everyone else who wouldn't convert, killing them. Christians had to do something!)