However, as effectively as our democratic system works in the civil realm, we run into problems when we attempt to apply the same principles to the kingdom of God. The Lord is not the head of a democracy, a republic, or any other form of representative government. He is not interested in our choosing for ourselves "how" His business ought to be run, nor is He at all inclined to have decisions made by majority rule. He alone has the right to determine what is and is not appropriate for His people. His vote is the only vote that counts!
The Bible warns us of what happens when people try to manage God's business in their own way (1 Timothy 4:1-3). All of the dangers Paul mentions in these three verses are symptoms of the same underlying condition — disdain for God's authority.
When individuals (or churches) decide that they know better than God does how they ought to conduct themselves, they not only disobey His commandments, but they invent their own rules and bind them upon others (Matthew 23:1-4). Think of all the false doctrine men have concocted for themselves and for others, simply because some group decided that they could alter God's plan to suit themselves.
Because many members of the Lord's church are ignorant of the Scriptures, they are easily persuaded to "go along with the crowd" when others decide to abandon God's truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Scriptures caution us not to be swayed by what "everyone" else is doing or wants to do (Exodus 23:2). The wise king wrote, "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Proverbs 1:10).
Dear reader, if we learn any lesson from secular politics, it should be that the majority is often not in the right, and quite frequently is in the wrong. When it comes to principles of faith, God's direction is always the correct one, no matter how many others may disagree.
Remember this: The Lord always constitutes a majority, even if it's a majority of two — He and you!
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
Comments
Post a Comment