Theocrats and Crooks

Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message

Theocrats and Crooks

September 5, 2018

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 820)

As we go into the midterm election season with a profoundly divided electorate  and as we hear ever more disturbing reports of the quality of our national leadership, it is important to remember that as Christians in a democracy, we have a moral obligation to try to vote in good people who, in the words of the Prayer Book, will be dedicated to truth and “ever mindful of their calling to serve” the common good in the fear of God. 

Some calling themselves Christians have provided the core support of what appears increasingly to be a profoundly corrupt leadership:  some even say that it was God who called these liars to their powerful roles.  I am reminded of a statement that C.S. Lewis made about corrupt leaders on the one hand, and religious fanatics as leaders on the other: 

“I am a democrat because I believe that no man or group of men is good enough to be trusted with uncontrolled power over others. And the higher the pretensions of such power, the more dangerous I think it both to the rulers and to the subjects. Hence Theocracy is the worst of all governments. If you must have a tyrant, a robber baron is far better than an inquisitor. The baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity at some point be sated; and since he dimly knows he is doing wrong he may possibly repent. But the inquisitor who mistakes his own cruelty and lust of power and fear for the voice of Heaven will torment us infinitely because he torments us with the approval of his own conscience and his better impulses appear to him as temptations. And since Theocracy is the worst, the nearer any government approaches to Theocracy the worse it will be."

(On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature. Copyright © 1982, 1966 by C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd.)

No one party has a monopoly on corruption or lying, or of sincerely exploiting religion or a sense of being in the right to do horrible things.  We should not let this cloud our vision when voting however:  don’t vote for liars, crooks, or tyrants who claim that “Jesus is on our side.”  

Grace and Peace.  
Fr. Tony+