Secretary of State Hilary Clinton recently traveled to Paris to discuss with allies how to boost democracy in newly-liberated Libya.

The United States successfully championed democracy in Europe following World War II and in eastern Europe following the Soviet collapse of the 1990’s. Less so in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How are Christians to view democracy? Do we encourage our fellow Christians in the Middle East to support democratic movements, perhaps at cost to themselves?

Democracy is a relatively new issue. Christianity was born in a theocracy within an imperial empire, both at times hostile to the new religion. It endured barbarian invasions, feudalism, the rise of a cultural Christianity within that feudalism, and the rise of the modern European states.

In the late 1700’s, a secular state arose without a state religion, the new United States. However, most of the people within that state were at least nominal Christians, and Christians exercised great influence.

Christians came to think of the United States as a “Christian” nation. Nevertheless, it was a republic, with freedom of religion and  democratic institutions. What happens if a clear majority of Americans no longer follow Christian teachings?

Does the Christian minority have a right to try to impose their beliefs by law? If so, how are Christians different from other groups who want to impose beliefs through the state? Some Shia Muslims or Indian Hindus, for example—or Islamists in Libya?

Our kingdom is not of this world. Else, Jesus said, his followers would fight as the world’s kingdoms fight. But the first followers didn’t. Christianity advanced in those first centuries through witness, preaching, and above all forming communities of love and purpose.