Thoughts on democracy
“We the People”
These words, “We the People,” begin the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. When they were first penned at the end of an arduous and costly Revolutionary War, at a very contentious Constitutional Convention, they were words that officially began the new government of the United States made up of just 13 colonies. In a world where the governments were often defined by one word such as king, queen, emperor, czar, etc., this new country would begin with “we the people, by the people, for the people.” A democracy was born.
“To Establish Justice”
In a very unjust world, where people often existed to serve the monarch, in this new country, the government would exist to serve the people by establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, securing the blessings of liberty for the people and their posterity and to defend those people from common enemies. These words in the Preamble lay out the simple, yet almost divine purpose for these United States. Justice, peace, liberty, defense — words that have always defined the purpose of American democracy.
But just like a monarchy is only as good as the king (why so many eventually fail), so a democracy is only as good as the people (why in some parts of the world democracy never seems to take root).
In my way of thinking, a democracy has no specific morality or values other than its process of electing its leaders. Even the ideas of liberty, justice and peace have to be defined by the people who choose to live by these values. In other words, I think democracy has worked so well in America because of the core values, ideals, and yes, deep faith in God of the average American. If the church wants to influence America — be salt and light as Jesus commanded — then we must influence the core values, ideals, and yes, deep faith of the average American. Justice is a core value of Christianity. Peace is a core value of Christianity. Liberty, freedom, is a core value of Christianity.
Michael Novak put it this way, democracy is a three-legged stool — political freedom, economic freedom and moral responsibility. If one is lost, then the stool falls over. For me, the only sure assurance of moral responsibility is through the faith reflected in Christianity. The best way I can affirm the country I love is to vote and preach a good sermon on Sunday. Because “We the People” is only as good as the people we are. America has worked because of the moral values that guide us, moral values with a foundation in biblical faith, a faith that begins and ends in Jesus.
Category: Weekly Thoughts
