Of Democracies and Republics

As we begin to celebrate Independence Day in America, we are reminded that elected representative government is a good thing.  No where in the world has a country prospered as much the United States of America under its Constitutional Republic-mind you, this country is not a democracy.  The definition of a republic is: a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law. This means that there are people who are entitled to vote and elect representatives that are responsible to the voters because of the law. And all law has its roots in the supreme authority of God's law.

A democracy, however, is something different.  And it is a term loosely used by politicians and citizens alike.  A democracy is defined as: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.  You see the difference?  Democracy does not necessarily involve the rule of law.  There is no requirement to vote, no true accountability to the voters.  A lot of issues are at stake in debating democracy and a constitutional republic.  One issue for sure is the qualification of voters-anyone can vote in a democracy, only those qualified can vote in a republic.

A democracy is what President George W. Bush helped establish in the so-called Palestinian Territories. And the people elected a terrorist group, Hamas, to represent them, legitimizing Hamas in the eyes of the world.  Hamas was supposed to join in peace efforts with Israel.  Instead, Hamas has picked a fight with Israel, has killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and has attacked Israel's children by lashing out at schools and hospitals.  Hamas was responsible for the horrible and unnecessary deaths of three teen boys, one an American citizen. And so far, polls show the "Palestinian" people standing solidly behind the actions and threats of Hamas. The current US president hardly acknowledges these atrocities.

The US made a major miscalculation in forcing "democracy" onto the Arab peoples of the Middle East and Northern Africa because in a democracy, the rule of law is secondary to the rule of the mob. A free society must be governed by moral people according to law, otherwise Hamas happens.  The rule of law can only be based in God's law because God is the supreme authority, who never changes.  America's republic was successful because it is based on God's law and largely has required moral people to hold office, but look what happened when the "president" only enforces the laws he favors.  Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  Bondage is sin as is lawlessness and we can be slaves to sin or dedicated to the liberty in Christ.