It's far enough from an election year (at least in the U.S.) that it feels safer now to discuss this among Christians.

Voting... the electorate expressing their wishes, and those wishes having final say by universal agreement. The popular vote has recently made history in many contexts. Just to name a few:

Egypt
Iraq
Liberia
Brazil
Poland
Germany
Afghanistan
Algeria
Scotland
Somaliland (granted, you must "demonstrate adherence to Islam" to be on the ballot here)

Voting is one of the main cornerstones of democracy as a form of government.

(As a side note, it's humorous and humbling that in the country considered to be the leader of the democratic world, we've botched our own elections like the one a few years ago when we actually put into office the person with literally less votes than the "losing" opponent who actually had "the most" votes. I wonder how many aspiring democracies took a moment to scratch their heads; and how many self-propelling autocrats took a moment to nod, "I could work with that. The popular form, but without the essense.")

Irony aside, the main question I want to get to is this: Is there a scriptural foundation for democracy as a form of government? Let's not confuse democracy with capitalism, these are separate issues and questions. My question here is: do we find in scripture a basis for democratic government as the right / best / preferred / prescribed form of government? If so, what is the scriptural basis, and does that mean democracy is something the church should advocate? Or conversely, if not, then what DOES the Bible say, if anything, about democracy? What does the Bible say about government? How should the church be involved (ranging from none to whatever) in promoting or endorsing any given form of government, or a particular political party?

I ask this question because I think that a significant part of the American church has a preoccupation with democracy as if it were intertwined with the gospel, but not necessarily demonstrating the willingness to honestly search the scriptures for any basis that preoccupation.

And there is a big difference between "let's find us some verses that endorse democracy" versus "let's find what appear to be the principles -- if any -- in scripture, that might guide how people should govern themselves as nations and install their leadership."

I assume there are some published, scholarly, and interesting explorations of these questions, by people who have really set their minds to this. I have not read any of these books. (Please post comments with any recommendations!)

I did read most of "God is Not a Democrat; God is Not a Republican" by Jim Wallis, and I found it very prophetic and helpful; simply Biblical, and honest, with a context of contemporary American politics and scripture. It quite reasonably studies these themes and articulates from scripture the argument that neither political party in the U.S. could be said to represent the core principles of the gospel, such that a Christian who subjects his or her life to the lordship of Jesus would find some clear congruence or endorsement of either the Republican or Democratic party. It's just not there, although both parties do have at least some core values that you could say are scriptural principles.

Democracy is only a few hundred years old in a very long history of people primarily being governed by leaders they didn't choose by popular vote. Some of those leaders served the good of the people; many others served their own interests.

I like Democracy, more or less. It feels good, right, and fair, if conducted with integrity. But so far I haven't found any broad scriptural principles that endorse or prescribe Democracy. On the other hand, I can think of several actions taken and values endorsed by every recent U.S. administration that are an offense to the principles Jesus taught and exemplified in his life. (And we should pause a few times before we think we know which administrations rise to the surface in their offense of the gospel as if there were others that don't.)

Flawed leadership or the presence of injustice in systems of government doesn't indict Democracy, even if it might give us cause for concern.

In some historical books in the Old Testament, there is a description of something like Democracy. For example, in I Chronicles 13, under David's leadership, "The whole assembly agreed to do this [to bring the "ark of our God back to us"] because it seemed right to all the people." But this is a far cry from prescribing Democracy; it's an account of what happened. There are also many other accounts of the majority (of God's chosen nation, mind you) opting for something that was a great offense to God, such as the golden calf incident.

Democracy is just how leaders get there, if that's the established process; how they actually lead is a whole other matter. And in modern times we can't pretend to have any legacy of leaders accomplishing the things they promised during their campaign.

But here's the weird thing. Call it socialism, communism, or any other loaded term for those so-called "evil" forms of government, but when I read about the early church, these forms are closer to what I see described and lifted up. Not as forms of social systems that were somehow imposed top-down, forced on people, but rather a beautiful, voluntary, grass-roots expression of the genuine love and servanthood that is exactly what Jesus taught. Love God with everything you are and love your neighbor as yourself.

In Acts 4, the apostles were the leaders (appointed; not elected) but that wasn't the focus. The focus was on the community meeting any and every need in their midst.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. [When was the last time you noticed this dynamic among groups of Christians -- is it common, or rare? Why?] No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Democracy is so intertwined with Capitalism (aka the much nicer sounding "free market system"), which is not a biblical value, and while it can be benign or maybe even good, it also exposes individuals and groups to the temptations of greed and selfishness that very often prove to be too much to overcome.

Pilate, hardly an advocate of democracy, did interestingly enough opt for the cover of the popular vote to dissuade any personal responsibility for crucifying Jesus. "Hey, majority rules, that's what we always say in the Roman Empire, folks, aren't I right?" He ordered Barabbus to be freed, Jesus to be crucified, and then he went to wash his hands and conscience. I'm not complaining, and it would be absurd for a Christian to do so, but it was Democracy that got Jesus crucified.

Democracy isn't immune to the damage that can be done by irrational crowds or irresponsible leaders.

I find hope in this: one of the many times when Jesus was challenged by the "religious right" of his day -- the established order that thought it had religion nicely (if mistakenly) defined thanks very much -- in the incident of the denarius coin and whether to pay taxes to the corrupt and not-democratically-elected emperor, he cleverly and truthfully instructed people to "render unto Caesar that which is Casesar's and render unto God that which is God's."

He didn't directly answer the question. It hinted at compliance with earthly leaders and governments, but highlighted the higher importance of allegiance to God the creator and true owner of everything we have and are.

Here are two encouragements. (If you're a student you can think of these as homework without a due date. ;-)

1) Let's agree until proven otherwise that we will not assume that Democracy is taught in scripture as the recipe for ideal governments -- not that there is anything wrong with Democracy in and of itself. Let's just not pretend that it's a pillar of the Christian faith when it's not.

2) Let's focus on the main things: where is our allegiance, as individuals, as communities / churches / neighbors, and as nations? Is our highest allegiance to God, more than to the flag or anything else? Do we render unto God everything that is truly God's? Only a small minority of the population of the United States could probably be proven guilty, based on available evidence, of trying to center their life's allegiance on God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We're not a Christian nation, and not surprisingly we certainly don't look like one to the rest of the world. (Sadly, some unknown large number of people have for the time being rejected Christ because they have rejected the observed behavior and values of the United States, assuming that the nation is representative of the Christian faith.)

While I think God does want us to be engaged in our earthly citizenship, it needs to take a back seat to daily examining our allegiance to God and God's word, and then acting daily on what we learn.

The same creative forces that pushed up the majestic Himalaya mountains have shaken the people who live in this area of the world.

"You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry-now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner o be unfurled against the bow. Selah"
- Psalm 60:1-4

The devastating earthquake in South Asia on Saturday morning is estimated to have killed at least 20,000 people in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. The final numbers may be much higher.

Oh, God, will you meet each person in the midst of this misery. Be near, not far. Please hear and heed the cries of those who follow you and those who do not. All were created by you and have always been under your watchful eye. You know in advance about terrible earthquakes and what they will do. Meet each surviving, stunned person in this hour of great need. Bring your "peace which passes understanding" into the hearts and minds of people who have lost their family members and friends in a few devastating moments.

While Pakistan is better off than many other countries, it is considered a poor nation (the palatable term is "developing nation"), and the tiny percentage of Christian citizens are among the poorest of society. So you can imagine that their homes are most likely among the structures that were not strong enough to withstand the earthquake.

In these mountains, in the boarding school I attended as a 6 year old and again in high school, kids just like I had been were running down the stairs of the same old dormitory building, as plaster popped off the shaking walls, the kids expecting the building to come down on top of them. It didn't, thank God. But in countless buildings and mountainside villages, buildings did come down, with people trapped inside.

According to several Old Testament writers there have been earthquakes for a long time. These writers attributed various causes of earthquakes including: demonstration of God's unfathomable power; God's anger at people worshipping artificial gods; the degradation (falling apart) of the earth; the demonstrated volatility of the earth compared to God's power to uphold it if God chooses; the warning against human arrogance and boasting in human strength; God's name being made known to enemies; the earth and its people trembling at God's awesome presence; the earth in submission to God's power.

While some of these Biblical writers imply that phenomena like earthquakes are a tool for exacting judgement on the wicked (in Job's case literally shaking the wicked out of the earth), massive natural disasters are usually known to be fairly indiscriminate in their death toll, and followers of Jesus do often fall prey along with the rest. Why does the trembling earth cause so much destruction and suffering to God's created and loved people?

I appreciate the freedom before God to freely ask, embracing these kinds of questions, since many Bible writers have set the precedent, demonstrating this luxury of dialog with God in pain and confusion and disbelief. I don't find much comfort in sanguine theological answers, but even careful theological insights, if not concocted in sterile theology laboratories, can provide helpful clues toward the truth and the answers we seek to understand.

I would suggest that our best response is to trust in God and follow Jesus with everything we've got no matter what the circumstances -- in pain, suffering, joy, fear, comfort, life, death, persecution, health or sickness. There are an ever growing cloud of witnesses who swear by this approach and would do it all over again, choosing to trust and follow.

And secondly we should be right in the thick of meeting human suffering with help, comfort, relief, and empathy; meeting human hatred with love and sacrifice; meeting human need with food, water, reassurance, unconditional love. All in Jesus' name.

Earthquakes can be a sign of God's power, a sign that something bigger than "natural" phenomena is at play. In Acts 4, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

There's shaking, and then there's also not-shaking.

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." - Psalm 125:1

May God give us love and faith and compassion that does not waver.

You can't get more basic than breathing.

God created Adam from dust and then "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. (Gen. 2:7)"

The air in that first garden must have been so fine. Not like the stuff we breathe today.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, on one of the occasions when he appeared to the disciples he said,

"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
(John 20:21)

The breathing of life from God into creation is a beautiful thing, and so is the way Jesus chose to breathe out the gift of the Holy Spirit, our advocate from God who lives and dwells in us.

This kind of breathing is quite a contrast to the quality of our breathing in the 21st Century. Not only is our air polluted, but almost a fifth of the people living today smoke tobacco, which for most will eventually take their life even if it's just 1-4 cigarettes a day.

An expert at Oxford University predicts that in this century a billion people will die from smoking tobacco if the international community doesn't help significant numbers of smokers to quit.

Smoking currently kills about 5 million adults a year, and 30 million new people take up the habit each year. Over a third of the 1 billion population of China (the biggest tobacco consumer in the world) smoke, and many of them are youth. Smoking is also on the rise in India, which comprises another fifth of the world's population.

Just as Christians are called to conform to the mind of Christ and to live transformed lives, we are also called to  help others around us to encounter Christ and change destructive behaviors. Smoking is just one on a very long list of destructive behaviors we humans are known to engage in, but the magnitude of tobacco's effect on individual lives and whole societies is significant.

So what are some ways that Christians can respond to this challenge? Here are just a few.

• If you know someone who smokes, gently and lovingly encourage them to stop and offer your help in any way they are willing to accept.
• Learn more about international trade and who the leading tobacco companies are, and study effective ways to speak out and influence the global tobacco industry for selling a product that kills. Let them know we don't think it's OK.
  
• Be willing to help transition tobacco growers to produce other types of crops. It will cost money and mean huge changes to some peoples' lives who are part of the supply chain. Stopping this train is not a simple,  overnight choice.
• Consider ways to help reduce the demand, rather than just making it slightly harder for people who are already addicted smokers to purchase cigarettes. This has to do with education but also with reduction of predatory marketing and promotional efforts, often targeted to youth.
  
• Pray for the World Health Organization and for leaders of countries all over the world, to collaborate effectively together in reducing the number of people who smoke.

78 countries, including China, have now signed a World Health Organization treaty which came into force in February this year, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The treaty calls for prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors and banning tobacco-related advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

I think that the biggest challenges are A) making a big dent in the temptation and economic incentive for unscrupulous businesses to sell such a harmful product just because people will buy it in massive quantities and B) fostering accountability and support within social communities to help smoking cessation on a grand scale.

Helping those who smoke to stop, and greatly reducing the number of people who would start.

Smoking is a spiritual matter, because our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Remember the way that Jesus physically breathed the gift of the Holy Spirit into those first people who decided to follow him.

This is not about legalism and targeting easily identifiable sins (eg. smoking) while we harbor other sins (pride, greed, selfishness, ambivolence, etc.) that are just as abhorrent to God.

It's about striving after healthy living in every part of life as we follow Jesus, and being salt and light in a world that often doesn't act in its own best interests.