Why is voting system (democracy or elections ) in church administration biblically wrong?

[RajaFranklin]

  We all agree, it is far better that a country be ruled by democracy (rule of majority by election or voting) than by dictatorship or autocracy. However, according to the Bible, for God’s people both in old Testament and New, God does not want democracy but theocracy (governing of the state by immediate divine guidance) i.e., God directly guiding all the appointments of the officials of the church government.

           For example, it was not by majority vote but by divine appointment that Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, etc. were chosen to lead the people of God.

            Saul, the first king of Israel, was the people’s choice. “Behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired”(I sam 12:13). This king was an utter failure. Look at how God was highly displeased with that choice:  So we see how God is displeased with democracy, as He Himself wants to lead His people and be their king. David was chosen and anointed by God (I Sam 16:1-13), and his throne was made an eternal thorne.

         This truth is again made very clear in the New Testament. Please read carefully: “It hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren , by them which are of the house of chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith , I am Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and  I of Christ. Is Christ divided?”  (I Cor 1:11-13). Paul says here that when people of God follow human leaders (“I am of Paul, and therefore I want to vote for my leader”), it means  “Christ is divided ” or, the body of Christ is divided.

         Paul further says that the church that follows humanly chosen leaders will be infested with envy, strife, division, and carnality. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (I cor 3:3,4). How sad it is to see that some churches show all the above carnal natures during their elections! Often the church is divided. Some elections turn so bad that chairs are hurled at one another and the police has to be called.

          The people   (religious people of Jesus’ day) chose Barbbas unanimously and rejected Christ, delivering Him to be crucified. Now also the voting system will not do anything better.

            Although God had chosen paul to be an overseer of the church, the disciples were reluctant to accept it (Acts 9:15,26). If there had been an election for the over seer’s post, paul who had done so much evil to the Christians could have been easily voted out. In many case, the Corinthian church members who always found fault with him and complained that “his bodily presence is weak, and “his speech contemptible” (II cor 10:10) would have rejected him while voting.

             But, as the elders fasted and prayed, they were guided by the Holy Spirit to lay hands on Paul and Barnabas to send as overseers to the churches in different countries (Acts 13:2-4). There was absolutely no question of voting.

               During the early days of the first century church. St. James seems to have been the superintendent or president of the whole church(see Acts 15:13,19). There was no casting of lots or elections held for this appointment.

               How many church leaders can confidently say, “The Holy Spirit has made me an overseer (see acts 20:28), and not the majority vote”?

             God’s intention for man was and is that he be guided and governed by Him alone. If we look at Eternity , both in the past and in the future, we  can see God ruling. God , in His wisdom , has set up the same pattern for God’s people in the old and New Testaments. Every aspiration of man to usurp that authority in the past was put down, and awaits judgment. God expresses His sovereignty by directly appointing leaders for His people. In the millennial reign also God appoints chosen people to rule over the population. We do not see any instance of God allowing a choice by the majority.

            In Isaiah 33:22, we read of God being the lawgiver and judge. It shows that a theocratic government is God’s will for God’s people. God makes the law (legislature), He is the judge (judiciary), and He is the king (executive). All the three functions of the government rest in Him alone. Our Lord is therefore called “The blessed and only potentate (sovereign), the king of kings and Lord of Lords”(I Tim 6:15). Daniel 2:43,44 speaks of God removing all the kingdoms of the world including the last form of human government (democracy , typified by the feet made of a mixture of clay and iron in the image), and setting up a government according to God’s plan-a theocratic government.

           From above, we can understand that God does not want elections or committees of councils in the church, to conduct its affairs. The choice of leaders belongs to the Lord, and He will make the people of His choice overseer over His people if we follow the scriptural example.