by jimwalton » Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:18 pm
All political systems have their flaws because they are run by flawed people. Totalitarianism actually works well if you have an intelligent, selfless, beneficent ruler. So also monarchies. Democracy works well with knowledgable, selfless people who seek the greater good. I'm not sure socialism has ever worked anywhere; it's good in theory, but never works in praxis.
By the same token, all of these political systems fail in the face of greed, pride, power-mongering, and favoritism.
Of course, as the comment said, God did warn the Israelites that kings can be harmful. It's true—they can be. The kings of Israel were all horrible. There were some, but not many, good kings in Judah.
> once a king is in place, we are expected to submit to the authority that is in place, hence render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
True, but this has conditions. There are times in the Bible when the prophets, as well as the Apostles and Paul, did not submit to the governing authorities. It's a larger discussion.
All political systems have their flaws because they are run by flawed people. Totalitarianism actually works well if you have an intelligent, selfless, beneficent ruler. So also monarchies. Democracy works well with knowledgable, selfless people who seek the greater good. I'm not sure socialism has ever worked anywhere; it's good in theory, but never works in praxis.
By the same token, all of these political systems fail in the face of greed, pride, power-mongering, and favoritism.
Of course, as the comment said, God did warn the Israelites that kings can be harmful. It's true—they can be. The kings of Israel were all horrible. There were some, but not many, good kings in Judah.
> once a king is in place, we are expected to submit to the authority that is in place, hence render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
True, but this has conditions. There are times in the Bible when the prophets, as well as the Apostles and Paul, did not submit to the governing authorities. It's a larger discussion.