From whence come our laws?

We know such an argument in favor of these vices would be nonsense, but how? Evolution? Survival of the fittest? Poppycock! These things are universally condemned because God has written His law on our hearts. Even the devout atheist must acknowledge that there is universally held moral standard by which his actions are measured. Otherwise, why should he try to be a “good” or “honest” person? Just as God has given us our capacity for rational, abstract thought, He has also given us an innate sense of good and evil. We can deny it, ignore it, and pervert it, but it is there in each of us.

Thinking Governmentally All men must be governed… either internally or externally. A lawyer asked Jesus; Which is the greatest law? His answer; Love God, Love your neighbor. The basis of all law is summed up in these two statements. Law governs our relations with each other. If I am governed internally (that Law written on my heart) I will not need to be governed externally. Why does the external law prohibit rape, murder, etc.? Because these things harm my neighbor. I’ve stated elsewhere that one of the primary purposes of civil government is for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the wicked. If I am not obedient to the internal law, then I might do harm to my neighbor. I may steal his car, or perhaps invade his country. Hence, the police and military, representing the state, are acting according to God ordained principles of justice in preventing me from harming my neighbor, as is the judiciary when it punishes me for those actions. SNF argues that the purpose of government is to maintain order- I contend that order is a result of the implementation of justice in accordance with God’s principle of governance.

Where do Bad Laws come from? From bad people. If we were not fallen people in a state of sinful rebellion against God, we would need nothing more than His internal standard to guide us. As it is, the effects of that rebellion corrupt everything we do, even in making laws intended to reflect God’s ideal of justice.

So, should we establish a theocracy? Christ’s kingdom is not of this world… He desires to rule in our hearts, to restore that inner dominion of God’s authority in our individual lives. In as much that not all men are governed by the internal law of God, therein becomes the need for external control… civil government. A government with laws based on biblical principles would not be a “theocracy”, which is the canard anti-theists love to throw around. Since part of the internal law deals with our relation with God, a theocracy would seek to codify that relationship with regulatory burdens that could never be fully met by sinful people. Think “Leviticus.” When drafting laws based on biblical principles, we’re not talking about making every immoral act punishable by law. We are talking about generating laws that work to the end of protecting the innocent from the acts of the evil. Take adultery. SNF agrees this is an act that is “morally bankrupt.” Should it be illegal? Well, not only is the act of adultery “wrong,” but it does indeed cause real harm to another person. Ask any faithful spouse if the infidelity of their loved one did not do immense emotional damage. Ask the children of a broken marriage how they feel about their parent’s infidelity. Should an adulterer go to jail? I don’t think so. Should the law ignore the infidelity when an adulterous spouse asks for custody, or fights alimony? No.

Bottom line- God established civil government to govern sinful men in a fallen world. The laws we derive by reason to administer justice serve to protect innocent people from the acts of evil people, and to punish evil people for those evil deeds. No man-made law is perfect, because man is not perfect.