I was asked recently how I could possibly believe that some countries becoming democracies might work against the cause of Christ at work through churches in those countries. 

The assumption is that the seedbed of Western Christianity has historically been in democracies, so that is the political platform which works best for the furtherance of Christianity worldwide. 

It worked well for European societies and, by extension, those 'New World' countries birthed by the expansion of European societies because the European countries were already 'Christian' - at least by religion, if not by ethic. 

When we, through 'nation-building,' democratize a country whose religious frameworks aren't evenly valued/protected, there quickly ceases to be a plurality of religions as the majority religion will inevitably 'vote' to protect their own identity. 

If that majority religion isn't willing to abide a distinct separation between a 'secular politic' and 'religion' then some version of a 'theocracy' takes over. 

Theocracies are historically not benevolent societies to minorities. It seemed to have been a constant tussle for God with His 'theocratic/monarchical' nation, Israel. He consistently reminded them, through different eras, of their obligation to aliens and foreigners in their midst. 

In the New Testament the Apostles found a similar 'politic' with the Roman Empire placing the Jewish religious system of law/governing as the determinate value (as long as it didn't interfere with Rome or Roman citizens) in the affairs of Judea. 

We have seen, and will continue to see, countries who had a long history of Christian minority involvement because of the benevolent patronage of one 'strong-man' or another - once democratized, drive Christianity 'underground.' 

This is certainly not to say that I am opposed to democracy! It is a luxury beyond my wildest dreams to have been born in a democracy to a couple of loving, devoted followers of Jesus! 

What I am very concerned about is the imperative of John 17 where Jesus is praying that God will protect His children in a hostile world. As Christians we are to be more focused on bringing His Kingdom to hurting, dying masses of humanity - one soul at a time, so that they can find hope in eternal life, than we are to be intent on bringing any particular 'body politic' to their country. 

We are the "Body of Christ," citizens of a Kingdom whose King is eternal. We are "the Church," triumphant even through eras of great persecution and slaughter. We are inheritors of a "city with foundations whose architect and builder is God." 

One of these days we shall see the King coming in all His Glory and Power...every eye shall behold, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that He is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the omnipotent, the eternal, the everlasting I Am. 

That, my friends, must always be our focus here in this life as the Body of Christ - the Church.