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• This topic was discussed in an SUV as Zombie, Chucky and Kingpin, journeyed home from a Vancouver event. Seems to me, a reasonable view of democracy as a biblical, Christian (moderate conservative, in my case), is that he/she is biblically commanded to obey the state in regards to the maintenance of law and order.
• This would include, social order and economic order.
• Concerning Romans 13, F.F. Bruce writes that human government is a divine ordinance and has the powers of coercion and commendation which it has been given by God. By Christians obeying the state, they are serving God. Bruce (1987: 221).
Bruce reasons that the Apostle Paul, in Romans, does not deal with the issue of unrighteous government here, but as with Acts 5: 29, Christians must obey God and Christ and should not obey the state when the state claims divine honours. Bruce (1987: 221). In other words, the state is not the equivalent of God.
• Cranfield explains that in Romans 13, Paul is not asking for an uncritical obedience to the state, but rather that God has placed the state in authority over persons. Cranfield (1992: 321).
• Mounce writes that in Romans 13, there is a divinely sanctioned role of government and that Christians are responsible to that government. It did not make any difference that the governing authorities were secular. God is the sole source of authority and established the authority for the state.
• Concerning 1 Peter 2 13-15, biblical scholar, Barclay reasons that the concept of anarchy by the Christian is far from New Testament thought. Barclay reasons what belongs to Caesar (the state) should be given to it, and what belongs to God should be given to God (Matthew 22: 21). Barclay (1976: 205).
• I reason that non-Christians, within western democracy can basically agree with the concept of the state maintaining law and order, without embracing biblical Christianity.
• Seems to me, in a western democracy, within law and order, there are many philosophical worldviews permitted. Views within that law and order, are required to be held respectfully (at least non-offensively, if not obviously respectfully), while all citizens, residents and non-residents, respect the legal rights of others where philosophy, ideas and premises, disagree.
• Within law and order, those that hold to biblical Christianity should therefore not be culturally bullied to comply with philosophies, ideas and premises that disagree with his/her worldview; nor should a biblical Christian by intellectual bullying, attempt to force or coerce others that are non-biblical Christians to hold to philosophies, ideas and premises that he/she disagree with within a worldview.
• In other words, culturally within western society, legally held views and opinions should not face bullying and cultural attempts to place them out of existence, because these are understood as negative by opponents.
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The societal priority should rightly be maintaining law and order within democracy, not maintaining political correctness within democracy.
• At the same time, attempts at forcing or coercing some other secular or religious worldview and/or political/religious agenda on the unwilling, is not democratic.
• I leave future, prophetic, divine rule up to the infinite, eternal, perfectly holy, triune God (Revelation 21-22). This will be done without sin and evil, unlike any human attempts at rule.
BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976)
The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
BRUCE, F.F. (1987)
Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992)
Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995)
The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990)
The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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