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Vine & Fig Tree
defends
Theocracy
No, it doesn't mean "government by priests"
and Anarcho-Theocracy

Are you ready to think? Do you have an open mind?

Introduction

Vine & Fig Tree advocates "Theocracy." Our goal is to turn America into a Christian Theocracy. 

This frightens most Americans, and rightly so. When most Americans think of "theocracy" they envision a nation dominated by priests or ayatollahs. In the post 9-11 era, "Taliban" might be the word most frequently associated with the word "theocracy." 

There is a world of difference between Osama bin Laden's version of a Muslim theocracy and the prophet Micah's version of a Christian Theocracy. 

Micah's world of "swords into plowshares" and everyone safely "sitting under his vine and fig tree" is a world without terrorists, mullahs, priests, and politicians. In fact, Vine & Fig Tree advocates the complete elimination of the institutional church, as well as the complete elimination of the State, its borders and its military.

We believe America's Founding Fathers wanted America to be a Christian Theocracy, and we believe they would have supported our agenda if they could see our world today.

A Definition Surprising in its Simplicity

"Theocracy" comes from two Greek words, Theos, God, and kratein, to rule.
A Theocracy is where God rules, or governs.
Nothing here about priests; nothing here about the Taliban; nothing about a policeman standing on every corner.

• A society where priests rule is better called an "ecclesiocracy" or "hierocracy."
• A society where a king rules is called a "monarchy," and the Bible says this form of government is a rejection of Theocracy (1 Samuel 8).
• A society where lots of little kings rule -- but are called "princes," "presidents," "ministers," "commissars," "representatives," "senators," "CEO's," or anything else -- is still a violation of the spirit of 1 Samuel 8, and is thus not a "Theocracy."

A society ruled by priests or politicians might be trying to become a Theocracy. You can determine that by judging the hearts of the people, the priests, and the politicians. We'll give that society credit and call it a Theocracy because they are trying to let God rule. But it won't be a perfect Theocracy until they eliminate (by resignation or by voting) the priests and the kings. Jesus Christ is Earth's only legitimate Priest, the only legitimate King.

A "Theocracy" in this sense does not require new, audible revelation from God. It can be governed according to the revelation of God recorded thousands of years earlier.

"God Bless America"

We heard this phrase a lot in the days following 9-11. But do we really want God intervening in human history, changing things, ruling things, undoing what man has done? Isn't deism more comfortable: God creating the universe but stepping back, refusing to get involved in any way, letting man the new god have his own way? 

Are we a nation of hypocrites?

God Bless America, by Irving Berlin

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies ,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home."

From: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/symbols/songs.htm#GBA 
see also USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2001-09-18-god-bless.htm 

Every "solemn prayer" is a request for God to take charge. Every prayer is a request for Theocracy.

Theocracy: A society without priests and kings, all people reconciled to God and to each other, living in harmony and prosperity, blessed by God, governed by God.

Theocracy vs. Providence

In a sense, God rules everywhere. Communist China can be said to be a part of "God's Government" or Theocracy, and the eye of faith can see God's judgments in China.

But the normal sense of the word "Theocracy" is a political state which officially acknowledges the authority of God and allows God to call the shots, politically speaking. We distinguish between "Theocracy" as a social state and "providence" as God's government over nations which do not have a Theocratic form of "government."

Dictionary Definitions

Was America Ever a Theocracy?

• Evidence from original sources
• Evidence from more recent, secondary sources.

Conclusion

(continued from here)

If a "Theocracy" is where God makes the rules, then America was (or was dedicated to progress along the path of being) a benevolent, clergy-free Theocracy after 1776, a nation "under God." The Declaration of Independence declared that it was a Theocracy; a nation officially acknowledging "a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence." The thinking of philosophers like Locke was embodied in the Declaration: "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" reflected the belief that America was bound to obey God's will. That "God rules" America was clearly stated by every agency and branch of government on state and federal levels. As the Supreme Court in Holy Trinity vs. United States (1892) put it, "there is a single voice making this affirmation."

The real question is one of consistency:

Is America being consistent with its Theocratic claims?

The national motto is "In God We Trust."
Really?

Thus the question is not whether America is a Theocratic nation.

The question is, Are we consistent Theocracts, or are we backsliders and apostates? And if we are not consistent, can we really expect God to Bless America?

Vine & Fig Tree
12314 Palm Dr. #107
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
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