C.S. Lewis

On Sundays, I plan to write about anything of interest from that day's sermon and Sunday School lesson. In addition, I'm going to add in a C.S. Lewis "quote-of-the-week" from one of his classics, Mere Christianity.

“There are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government of the commonwealth, and so wise that the commonwealth needs their advice. That is, in my opinion, the false romantic doctrine of democracy. On the other hand, you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows. That I believe to be the true ground of democracy.”

This observation is in line with everything from historical data to the predictions of Public Choice economics, from what the Biblical record reflects about Biblical history in particular to what the Bible indicates about human nature in general. That said, many people today still have inappropriate levels of faith in the efficacy of government (especially within democracies)-- whether on the Right or on the Left (depending on their agenda).

May we learn to question the ethics and practice of government more thoroughly-- that we would not do (well-intentioned harm) to others as well as to Justice, Righteousness, and Truth.