how democracy damages faith

We cannot respond to God's love correctly without recognizing His sovereignty.  We love because he first loved us; we do not choose it - we cannot choose it, for we cannot choose to recognize sovereignty.  A king that requires his people's recognition of his kingship is no king at all.  Democracy has ruined our understanding of God. 

But why - if God is both a sovereign and good king - does he not harness evil?  First, "if a man is thinking of claims and counterclaims against God, he has not yet understood who God is." (C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock)  In putting God on trial, we assume another principal of democracy, namely the idea of "checks and balances."  We even pray as if we are going to make sure that God does the right thing and meets the needs He might otherwise overlook; we are not the check on God's power - and neither is evil.  There is no sort of karmatic balance.  If God is not absolutely in control of evil, we're in trouble.  God, who did not create evil, is in charge of evil, but if He destroyed it now, He would have to destroy us with it. 

"One day, He will destroy evil once and for all, but for now he does what we cannot and handles evil without being overcome by it, producing His will and good from it, the most magnificent example being our salvation through His Son."  (Ray Ortlund, 28.nov.10)  His love is an alternate, merciful expression of His sovereignty, not a withholding of it.  His love comes out of His sovereign control, and cannot exist without it. 

"The Lord reigns; his is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, He has put on strength as His belt. 
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 
Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting."

Psalm 93:1-2