On Democracy

G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis said that the doctrine of original sin is the basis of a democratic form of government – where power is spread out over the people – because it is the only reason we can give for not absolutely trusting a ruling elite. In other words, the best argument of democracy is not that men are good enough to govern themselves, but that men are so bad none can be trusted with absolute power. (John Piper, emphasis mine)

This small observation in John Piper's sermon on original sin in Romans 5 is a demonstration of just how important it is that the Gospel is the foundation for all of life. Our materialist friends (who believe that the material world is all that exists) may advocate for democracy loudly - but they will do so on entirely different grounds. Their assumption is that there is enough goodness in humanity that we can figure out how to work together. The Christian, like Lewis and Chesterton, arrives at democracy from entirely the other direction. Therefore it is absolutely imperative that as we raise our children we teach them the foundations of the Gospel so that they understand where we agree with others, and why we agree with materialists on democracy and yet come at it, and practice it, very differently.