Sometimes Democracy Doesn’t Work

We often have discussions in our office about the best way to do things. We get into massive discussions about how we should work and what protocol we should follow. The problem with these discussions is that EVERYONE has an opinion!

I am sure this happens in your work environment as well. Everyone has an opinion, no one is totally happy with the conclusion and inevitably there is tension and irritation.  Whether it’s concerning relationships, family decisions, group work at school, the way things are run at your place of worship, or even the fundamentals of our faith, there will be deep discussion as to what is the best way of doing things, and these deep discussions have been going on for centuries.

In fact, I wouldn’t blame someone for looking at us in these situations and saying: “You can never make up your mind! You always have so many different opinions. There is always a compromise that won’t suit everybody”.

To these outside observers your family may look like it is unstable, your faith may look weak and shaky or your work environment may look like it is utter chaos.

But is it really utter chaos?

Perhaps not, perhaps it is democracy at work. Isn’t true democracy in action when everyone is able to share their thoughts and understanding, where everyone gets to make up their own mind?

Yes, but then democracy says we follow the majority.

What if the majority is wrong?

Honestly, I think when it comes to the law of the land or the rules of the office the answer is yes, you have to do what the law of the land says and you have to follow the office protocol.  Democracy in those places is good and right and correct. Even if the majority are wrong in your opinion, it is still the authority and therefore we need to respect it.

But when it comes to your own work style, your own mind and faith decisions, sometimes democracy doesn’t work. Sometimes it is up to us to decide what we believe, how we are going to run our lives, how we are going to act and think.

I love the wisdom, and consequently the freedom that Jesus gives us when He says ‘Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial’.

Isn’t it our prerogative as a responsible citizen/organization/country to allow each person to work out what is best for them and then release them to follow it whole heartedly?  Allow them to discuss the right and wrong, have the negotiations and then let each person decide what they are going to adopt as their own value?

In these vital and lifelong decisions perhaps it is best to make the decision personal and not go with the majority, but choose the way that calls to your heart and is beneficial to your life.