CHAPTER 1

An Opening Statement

I remember much about the weekend I was installed as pastor of"The Little Red Church;" but the thing that replays most often inmy mind is a one-sided talk my dad had with me on the way tobanquet ceremonies held that weekend. During that conversation,Daddy, who at the time, had no church or Christian association,challenged the years of study and training I had received. He said,"If you want to do well in this church, you have to learn the playersand play the game. The Church is all about politics." Because he wasmy daddy I didn't debate him. I could have, but I didn't. I wanted to,but I didn't. I should have, but I didn't. Instead, I nodded in sarcasticapproval, hoping the conversation would end. A few seconds later,it did. I remember the silent response I gave in my head, and I'venever shared it until now. When he told me that the Church was allabout politics, I said to myself (almost under my breath) "That's theproblem!" Politics, I thought, is the tool of democracy. The Church,while it definitely has democratic procedures, is not a democracy,but a theocracy. The word democracy has as its prefix "demo,"meaning "society of people." It's the same prefix that shows up in thewords "demography" and "demonstration," both involving people.A democracy is, simply put, a government ruled by the standardsof its people. The word "theocracy," on the other hand, has as itsprefix a portion of the word 'theos,' which is the Greek word forGod. It's the same prefix that shows up in the words "theophany"and "theology," both having to do with God. In short, a theocracy isa government ruled by the standards of God. I chose not to respondto Daddy that day for fear I would have been disrespectful. The goodnews is that God Blessed my prayers and Saved Him. The bad newsis that Daddy is not able hear this explanation. I think that now, hewould appreciate it.

A few years ago, while helping my daughter Ariel prepare for her8th grade United States Constitutional exams, I thought it would beinteresting to compare the language of democracy to the language oftheocracy, the U.S. Constitution to the Bible and the First Amendmentto the First Commandment. Surface observations showed me thatthe language of democracy and theocracy both yield popular phrases.The most popular democratic phrase in the Constitution is "we thepeople." It is a phrase that is repeated throughout the Constitution;intending to declare citizens of this land will expect and enforce. Thecomparable theocratic phrase in the Bible is "thus saith the LORD."This phrase declares what God, as the Maker and Ruler of Heavenand earth, expects and will execute. The first phrase is limited tothese lands. The second transcends all lands, both on earth and inHeaven.

More in-depth observations taught me something very interesting;which system of government is flawed and weak, and which systemis comprehensive and strong.

The opening words of the First Amendment demonstrate thedeficiency of democracy. They state that "Congress shall make no lawrespecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercisethereof ..." These statements are better known as the "freedom ofreligion" clauses of the Constitution. Now, let's look at the sufficiencyof God's First Commandment in Exodus 20:1-3:

"And God spake all these words, saying,

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land ofEgypt, out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (KJV)

Ted Pike, noted historian and leader in the National Prayer Network,says in his documentary The Other Israel, that "God gave the Hebrewsthe loftiest, the most upright literature and ethics the world has everknown; yet when they turned their back on Him, they produced theTalmud, a work that has aptly been called, 'a monument to humanfolly.'" The Law of Moses was replaced with their own oral traditionsand they revered it above God's Word. In essence, they did whatsome churches have done with Robert's Rules of Order, The HiscoxStandard Baptist Manual and constitutions and bylaws.

These kinds of creations clearly give way to Biblical defiance.When thinking about the U.S Constitution, we have to wonder ifit complements God's Word or contradicts it. It may be argued thatthe nation's "founding fathers" didn't expect "religious freedom" topull people away from the God of the Bible. The interpretation ofthe First Amendment; however, has the potential to open too...