Lord Save Us From....Politics?

     Ok, I'll admit, I'm a bit of a politics-junky.  I watch O'Reilley, argue with TV debates, and will happily give my opinion on any current events issue you can think of that has more than one side.  I suppose that's part of wanting to be a journalist; the nuances of politics intrigue me!  The way they affect our nation and the world, the way people talk, or argue, about them, and especially how I view politics and what I can do to affect them.  Sure, I can't do much to change the nation as a sophomore, but who knows?  In the future the media will still be important like it is today-one good article could change a person's, or persons', views!
     What fascinated me about this video was how the secular world views American Christians and their politics.  I especially like what one person said, "Democracy is untidy and emotional."  Was he ever right! Just turn on the news at any time today, and you'll hear something nasty about our government's policies, even though democracy is supposed to be the pinnacle of human government!   The video quoted a favorite saying of mine from the British WWII Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."  The meaning of this statement is astounding.  What Churchill is asserting is that man cannot come up with a perfect government, and that our emotion-torn democracy is the best we can do!  Believe it or not, this is not a new idea.  The ancient philosopher Socrates once outlined the degredation of human governments.  He starts with an aristocratic government, or, a government ruled by the highest members of society, such as the nobles.  Socrates says that that will fail because the common man will want control, not just the nobility.  So, the military takes over and the society is now timocratic, meaning a government by soldiers and militaristic men.  But of course, the nobles feel left out after a while, so they compromise, and become oligarchic: a government comprised of both wealthy common men and nobility.  However, an oligarchy has only a few leading members hwho decide everything for the nation, so the people begin to get cranky.  They revolt, and establish a democracy, which we know as government "by the people, from the people, for the people".  Everyone gets a vote, and the government does what the people say.  Great setup, right?  Socrates says, "Wrong."  See if this sounds familiar: the people begin to get seperated in their views, and factions arise.  They all want what they want, and they want it now.  People argue over which type of person should hold the highest office based on their political views.  Then, they complain that the government is getting oppresive, pushing laws like, for example, more taxes, more military, healthcare; things like that. The people want FREEDOM, not big government.  So, they hold a few tea parties, shoot a few congressmen, and eventually overthrow the government.  In its place, Socrates says, a tyranny will arise.  The people wanted freedom?  They got it.  So much so, that they cannot control it, and the nation is in chaos.  All it takes is for one person to step up, promising to take care of it all, and BAM!  Insta-dictator.  
    Here's what fascinates me: Socrates placed democracy as the second-worst form of government there is, and that the inevitable end of democracy is in tyranny.  Why?  Because, as our founding fathers knew, man is SINFUL, and cannot build a perfect government alone.  Perhaps that's why people see Christians as such a threat to government.  We know that man is sinful, and that only God can administer just rule to guide a nation.  Our attempts at pulling our government towards that ideal scare some people, I think.  People don't like being told they are basically evil.  They like it less when we say that a nation of imperfect people makes an imperfect government.  They don't want our problems to be based on their own sinfulness.  It must be some one else's fault, right? 
     The video quoted people saying that Jesus wouldn't really care about politics.  I especially like what one man said: "He'd be all groovy with it."  I disagree.  I believe God cares a good deal about politics and government.  Before Christ's birth, the known world was conquered by Alexander the Great, creating one of the largest empires ever.  When Alexander died, he left his empire to crumble beneath squabbling mini-kingdoms.  Rome took over what Alexander had left, establishing a united, peaceful empire for Christ to be born in.  One nation, one language: the perfect place to spread the Gospel for the first time.  God clearly orchestrated the politics of ancient Rome to ensure a good start for the Gospel.  And I believe God cares about our current politics as well.  Despite the negative turns our government has been making, God has always had His hands on America, and I believe He will keep them on us for a long time yet.