God’s position in society

CAPE

LET me begin by stating in response to “Politics without religion” (Weekend Argus, February 16) that I don’t believe that theocracy is the saving political model for any nation.

That’s not to say that I don’t believe we all need divine intervention.

To say we are doing better than ever before, that we are on the road to a bright and hopeful future, could not be further from the truth. By doing better than we’ve ever done, does the writer mean the senseless rape, murder and mutilation of our daughters at the highest rate in the world? Or does he mean the growing rate of unemployment and starvation? Or the blatant theft of state coffers by people entrusted with state funds to serve the nation? Maybe he is referring to a growing level of alcohol abuse, or is it the fact the nation’s daughters are getting pregnant faster than they are getting educated, or the fact that murdering babies in legal and illegal clinics is easier than getting a student loan?

We haven’t even got to the incorrect comparison he made of some Arab states, referring to them as theocracies instead of dictatorships. Maybe a theocracy is not the answer. Maybe Jesus for president is not what I am voting for, but to say that we need Him would be an understatement. CHRISTIANITY is not Islam and a Christian-centered government cannot be compared to an Islamic government.

Israel under the rule of King David and King Solomon is a perfect example of a theocratic order.

Submission under God’s authority and obedience to His rule brought Israel peace, security and prosperity. But when the people rebelled against God famine, insecurity and bondage arose.

If you view the statistics from the 1960s onward, the time when Christian principles were being removed and secularism was introduced, you view a distinct downward trend in the security and stability of US society.

Wilful ignorance to the contrary will always deny the evidence that God is real and living.

Suggestions that “we are better than we have ever been, we are on the road to a bright and hopeful future” underline an attitude of ignorance and misconception.

All anyone needed to do was read the newspaper in the past month to know we are in dire straits.

“Religion” will bring bondage and shackles, but the living God is not about religion, tradition or ritualism, but about relationship with Him. Secularism will bring its own bonds.

Who ever said the Catholic Church was instituted by God, except the Catholic Church?

Man- instituted hierarchies and their failings should not be laid at God’s door.

Religion will, however, never be removed from politics. An individual’s beliefs will always influence their judgement and conduct, be they Christian, Muslim or atheist.

I believe we will be better off under a theocracy of the true and living God. The problem is, a theocratic government will not change people.

A theocracy will not replace our poor governance, but we have a democratic opportunity to do so at the next election. NOWHERE in my previous letter (“What SA needs is a theocracy”, Weekend Argus, February 9) is the word religion found. However, this creates a strong basis for my theory, because it’s not about religion, but a relationship with this seemingly unknown and often despised God.

Everyone is invited to have a unique faith-based relationship with this holy, great, loving and eternal God. God welcomes all nations irrespective of religious persuasion.

History will always and has always spoken for itself. Is it the blatant exclusion of my God that defines history and the current deteriorating world activity? But all hope is not lost – an inclusive theocracy will largely enhance a modern constitutional democracy.

Please show me a politician who can claim the attributes of honesty, integrity and willingness to serve. The few who possibly had these good attributes soon lost them to go along with the free ride.

I also beg to differ: the Vatican under Catholicism is not a theocracy, it’s a religious state driven by a pontiff, with man-made rites and recitals. The key thing is having a meaningful relationship – not religion – with this often neglected and despised God.