Ron McKinzie says what I know to be true sometimes better than I ever can. Blessed Economist is on the links to the left. I am convinced that the idea you can VOTE in church is the seed of all kinds of rebellion. Even a forum for idea input sends the wrong message. If the Man of God with strong Apostolic Gifting casts the vision and implements it with the assurance of the Prophetic voice behind him there is nothing that will stop that train from moving down the track. It's only when the idea of votes and consensus is considered that it falls off the tracks. Been there Done That. Doesn't work. Read Ron's take:
God is king of the Kingdom of God, so he rules in the Kingdom of God. This means that the Kingdom of God is the same as the rule of God. Christians believe in the Kingdom of God, so we should be supporters of theocracy and not democracy. The rule of God is the best, because it is the only way to blessing.
Most people assume that democracy is a superior form of government, but democracy is rule by the people (demos kratos = people rule). The problem is that sin and the fall means that people can make terrible mistakes so democracy is dangerous. Many of the worst political dictators were voted into power by large majorities. Democracy generally results in the majority group in a society ruling over minority group that loses their freedom.
Winston Churchill’s statement is often quoted, as if it were true. He said,
Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.This statement is incorrect, because the best form of government has never been tried. The best method of government is theocracy. Theocracy is the rule of God (theos kratos = god rule). Theocracy is the same as the Kingdom of God. Kings rule over kingdoms.
God is king of the Kingdom of God, so he rules in the Kingdom of God. This means that the Kingdom of God is the same as the rule of God. Christians believe in the Kingdom of God, so we should be supporters of theocracy and not democracy. The rule of God is the best, because it is the only way to blessing.
Sadly, the American Church must bear much responsibility for exporting a flawed governmental system to the world it has sought to evangelize.
When the infant church in America began to experience the blessing of God, leaders sought a new form of government out of which they hoped this new church would flourish. Looking to secular society, these men saw the "Bold Experiment" of a Republican / Democratic form being developed. Without consulting God - much as Israel did when demanding a king (Saul), the church adopted a secular form to contain spiritual life. The result is more than 200 years of painful "limping."
In thirty-five years of working with the "institution" of the church, I've found that most church problems are government problems. If we would trust God, as Ron has urged, many church problems would dissolve for lack of fuel.