Using the root composition of the word it simply means: Civil
rule by God. This is something different than democracy: rule by
the people. Most people have a negative view of theocracy. This
explains it’s use both within and without fundamentalist
Christianity. For example, the New York Times published a
full-page ad last December paid for by the political left. It
said our government “is moving each day closer to a theocracy,
where a narrow and hateful brand of Christian fundamentalism will
rule”. More than once I have heard a Christian fundamentalist
give their opinion “I don’t want a theocracy (Old Testament civil
law).” Roger Williams is perhaps the most well known historical
figure holding this position.
Another view states Theocracy is inescapable. In Gary DeMar’s
essay, http://www.americanvision.org/articlearchive/12-03-04.asp,
he uses examples to explain what he means. He opens with the
French revolutionary democracy which is linked with the phrase
“The voice of the people is the voice of God”. Gary closes with
the example of Nazi Germany: a secular theocracy. Hitler defined
morality in his own way answerable to no one. Those Germans who
were complicitly murdering Jews were not just following orders.
They had come to believe what they were doing was “right”. They
believed they would not be in judgment of hell fire upon their
own death.
There is a third view. Theocracy is impossible. In support one
may argue that civil governments are put in place by humans. The
human or humans may claim to be god, but God, Himself, doesn’t
rule, the human does.
These three views of “Theocracy” do not void the word’s meaning.
In fact, I believe it reinforces the idea that the act of civil
governing, making decisions of what is right or wrong,
determination of civil punishment, etc. is essentially a
religious act.
Those inside the fundamentalist camp need to answer these
questions. If you don’t want a theocracy, then how can you
maintain belief in Divinely inspired Scripture which defines
morality (ethics)? If you are going to defend public displays of
10-Commandments monuments why not defend them as being the basis
of our current civil law system instead of having only historical
relevance?
Those outside the fundamentalist camp need to be asked: without
God how can there be any concept of right and wrong?
Both camps, indeed every one of us, needs to ask: who or what is
the ‘god’ who determines who wins when there is a disagreement
about right and wrong? What causes me to change my mind
concerning civil morality, law and punishment? Is it public
opinion? or the Bible or someone I respect or forget it ’cause I
don’t ever change my opinion about such matters?