POLITICS AND DEMOCRACY
The word "democracy" comes from the Greek and means "rule of the people." This means that the people—as the word suggests—hold supreme governmental power. In a democracy, political decisions are made according to the will of the majority of citizens. A distinction is essentially made between direct democracy (see Switzerland) and representative democracy (see Germany, France, or the USA). Ancient Greece serves as a model, considered the first country to practice democracy; at that time, only full male citizens were entitled to vote. In many countries around the world today, including all Western industrialized nations, democracy is the formal form of government.
Even though many people view democracy as the best and most progressive system of government, it harbors some risks and shortcomings: A representative democracy depends on the trust of citizens in their elected representatives, whose task is to represent the interests of their constituents. Although every democratically elected government is sworn to act for the good of its citizens and to avert harm from them, this claim is not always fulfilled. Instead, politicians repeatedly abuse their power for their own benefit or to the detriment of the citizens. The reason is that people who live without God are usually guided by selfish interests. The Bible says that all people are liars. This does not mean that people never tell the truth, but rather that everyone is fundamentally unpredictable. Consequently, politicians can only be trusted to a limited extent; this is repeatedly true in reality.
In addition, people are susceptible to corruption. In some countries, state and government corruption is more obvious, in others less so. In some cases, political influence is exerted indirectly; for example, through party donations or promises of lucrative positions. In return, laws are passed in favor of the respective clientele, even if these contradict the will of the majority. This creates dependencies that compromise the political neutrality of state institutions. It is not for nothing that politics is popularly referred to as a "whore." The influence of large corporations and powerful lobbies on political decisions is also difficult to deny, but at the same time, it is not always so easy to prove. However, it is highly unlikely that someone would donate millions of euros to a party without expecting some form of return. Occasionally, corruption scandals and financial affairs come to light, even if they often remain without consequences.
Many politicians are primarily concerned with gaining and maintaining power, or rather, expanding their own power and enriching themselves (at the expense of others). This goal often takes precedence over actual political obligations. Throughout human history, the pursuit of power and control has led to the rise and fall of many nations and caused the deaths of countless people around the world. Politicians need votes to achieve their political goals. Before an election, all sorts of promises are made to gain people's trust. However, these promises are not always kept after the election. Sometimes their own principles are even completely abandoned. On the other hand, there have been and continue to be politicians who remain true to their principles. However, this does not mean that their principles are desirable (see National Socialism or Communism). Ultimately, no one knows what goals a party running for election actually pursues. No one can say whether it is concerned with the welfare of the citizens or with its own or others' interests.
Secondly, there are countless opinions and worldviews in the world. Given this fact, the question arises: how do we know what is objectively best for everyone? After all, not everything decided by the majority is necessarily right or good for everyone. The same applies to compromises negotiated within the framework of democratic discourse. Depending on the balance of power, there will always be groups of people who are excluded or disadvantaged. At the same time, it must be remembered that a government – even if it pursues charitable intentions – can also make wrong decisions, which in turn can have negative consequences for people. The bottom line is that democracy remains a permanent struggle for power and interests, which benefits some more than others.
Although every democratic state is obligated to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens guaranteed by the constitution, practice shows that repeated attempts are made to undermine or circumvent fundamental rights and freedoms and to push through one's own political agenda by any means necessary—even without the consent of the population. Occasionally, entire elections are manipulated to maintain power. On the other hand, voters' opinions and decision-making processes are also influenced in various ways, for example, through political campaigns or media coverage. Ultimately, every democratic election remains a step into the unknown, sometimes with irreversible consequences.
God is our Father, who loves us humans. He is the only one who always has the good of all in mind. God is truthful and faithful. There is no one but Him whom we humans can trust completely and whose promises we can rely on 100%. For God keeps His promises. Furthermore, God is never wrong and never makes bad decisions. Furthermore, unlike humans, God is absolutely incorruptible. God's concept for a peaceful and just world is simple and ideal. In contrast to current world politics, God's social model benefits all people without exception. God expects us to love Him by wholeheartedly obeying His commandments and giving Him glory in everything. In return, God grants us His blessings, which affect every area of our lives—be it health, security, fertility, or harvest. A life under God's rule would bring peace, freedom, prosperity, and security to all people. Conversely, disregarding God's commandments and orders always leads to war, chaos, and social injustice; as we currently see in the world. With God as ruler, power struggles among people and disputes over the correct political opinion would cease once and for all.
God promises His blessing to every nation that keeps and preserves His commandments and ordinances. The nation of Israel during the time of King David and his successor Solomon illustrates how a nation under God's blessing and protection can flourish economically and culturally within a short period of time. Conversely, the Bible teaches us that any nation that turns its back on God's commandments will sooner or later perish. Furthermore, life with God does not end with death, but continues with the resurrection of the dead under God's just rule for all eternity—and this in a world in which there will be no more death or suffering of any kind. This life, which God promises to all who believe in Jesus Christ, cannot be offered by any state in the world—democratic or not.
Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you (...).
If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
In the shelter of your presence You hide them from all human intrigues; You keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.