If I insist that our nation was formed upon Biblical principles, I’m defining history accurately [1].
But when its moral fabric continues to unravel, it’s tempting to try to tighten the tourniquet to stop the bleeding at any cost. And the most proven method of trying to force moral clarity on a man is to raise his bar for acceptable conduct while, at the same time, suppress his inherent need to make choices for himself.
And that’s when a theocracy begins.
[theocracy: a system of government in which priests [or jurisdictions] rule in the name of God or a god.]
We tend to envision the bondage of theocracies with women in burkas or mandated prayer sessions five time a day. But the ramifications transcend borders and ideology.
Because we might also establish theological hurdles in our congregations, denying “membership” in the Christ’s ecclesia [Body] without signatures or public declarations of belief and compliance. Or perhaps we welcome contractual partnerships [like 501C-3’s] with unlawful taxing authorities to ease the burden of compliance.
We might even demand the observance of corporate prayer in public institutions rather than encourage willful participation.
But wherever theocracies are enforced, eventually, we somehow arrive at the ridiculous conclusion that righteousness [through Jesus Christ, for example] cannot lawfully exist in the absence of some form of jurisdictional allegiance. And that’s when the framework of genuine faith begins to collapse.
Because freedom is lost when faith is regulated.
The foundation of any serious relationship with Jesus Christ is formed upon the principle of choice. For without having the latitude of free will, [2] the result of any decision made lacks both substance and sustainability.
When that inherent desire to self-determine is either surrendered or preempted, its value is severely compromised—if not squandered completely.
If the wheels of choice fall off the wagon of faith, relational pretense litters the trail.