Thought for the Day, 19 January 2005

The Rev. Joel Edwards

GOD AND DEMOCRACY?

In former communist Russia, Vladimir Putin faced his biggest protest ever, as thousands of pensioners stopped the St Petersburg traffic on Monday. "Hitler stole our childhood," they protested, "and Putin is stealing our old age."

In the run up to the first ever post-Saddam elections in Iraq, Iraqis around the world are preparing to play their part in the democratic process.

And you simply cannot miss the fact that here in Britain, the political wagon-train is rumbling out on to the open road. Tomorrow, the world's most powerful evangelical Christian will be inaugurated as the President of the United States.

East or West, North or South, all our political regimes which have either embraced or flirted with democracy have one thing in common: they have all wrestled with what precisely we do with God. As Voltaire once remarked, "To believe in God is an impossibility. Not to believe in God is an absurdity."

But they have another thing in common. None of them have quite worked it out. The alliance between God and democracy has always been problematic.

So for example, under Old Testament theocracy, the first Old Testament king of Israel, Saul, was chosen, appointed and anointed by God. A pretty clear-cut deal you would have thought. But as the story unfolds, Saul is then put through the democratic process and approved by the people.

Divine approbation is no substitute for public approval. God never comes into an equation to let us off the hook. Which is why I have never really understood the desire to put a wedge between God and democracy.

God may not do democracy for us, but he is involved in it with us.

For without his incessant voice of provocation, our conscience can become eerily silent. And - even in a liberal democracy - the weak falls prey to the powerful and persuasive. The vulnerable become marginalised in our complicated party policies. Our children neglected in the crossfire of statistical warfare.

And politicians cease to be servants.

Jesus did not have the privilege of the ballot box. His political options were very limited. But his words and work has left every democracy an enduring legacy.

When his disciples scrambled for a place of power and influence in the future kingdom, he made a statement which could just as well be engraved on every red box. "He who would be the greatest among you," he said, "must also be your servant."

That is democracy at its very best.