You Can't Legislate Morality?

You can't legislate morality, a phrase that strikes me as curious. 

Especially given the first "Thou shalt not" dating back to the beginning of time with Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:17).

Was not God the first legislator of morality?

According to Merriam-Webster, "to legislate" simply means "to make or enact laws."

Which is exactly what God did in delivering the Ten Commandments to Moses who then delivered them to the children of Israel (Exodus 20:2-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21).

The very act of law-making and enforcing comes from God Himself, which is exactly why our sin nature and Satan so vehemently oppose laws that promote righteousness.

Thus all the theft, murder, petty infractions, and everything in-between that flies in the face of God's righteous standards for individuals who in turn comprise a society.

I suspect when folks toss out the phrase, "you can't legislate morality," what they are really saying is, "you can't change a person's heart."

True, only God can do that, and even He doesn't force a person to comply. He states the command along with the consequence and allows, even gifts the person with free will to choose to obey or disobey.

Parents, operating under the authority of God, are commissioned to legislate morality to their children. They hope against hope that their kids' outward conformity indicates a changed heart, but there are no guarantees that rebellion doesn't boil under the surface waiting to erupt when least expected. Even the Perfect Parent created kids that rebelled. Thus, the reason we entertain this discussion about legislating morality.

My husband and I felt this tension while in the active child-rearing years. While some children are more compliant than others, there's still that nagging thought that these kids are simply obeying because they have to, not because they really want to. Simply because they know they'll get punished if they don't toe the line.

But it's a step. Godly discipline teaches cause and effect, reward and retribution. When practiced consistently early in a child's life, it can lead to heart change, to a respect for authority. No promises, but great expectations. Because this is the system ordained by God, beginning in the family structure, and having vast ramifications for society at large.

So, legislate morality?

Seems a no-brainer to me. Otherwise, as in the days of the Judges, every man will do what is right in his own eyes.

And we know where that's getting us in our culture. If there are no God-given absolutes for morality, then anything goes!

God help us. He's the only one who can. May we who know Him serve as faithful instruments in His hands for promoting and encouraging, yes, even legislating morality.

Unless of course, we sanction someone killing another, even someone we love, even the most vulnerable among us, or stealing our property.

I don't think so. Nor do I think you sanction such horror.

Perhaps a review of the Ten Commandments would be a good, no a GREAT thing right about now. But tell that to the ACLU and watch the fur fly! Need I say again that Satan hates the Ten Commandments. Why? Because He hates the Law-giver.

God's righteous ones via the Cross of Christ stand for what is good and holy and true and pure. Like David of old writing in the psalms, God's law is sweeter than honey. We know that what God mandates is for our good that we might live in freedom and contentment, loving and rejoicing in Him all the days of our lives and on into eternity!

May I encourage you, dear reader? Spend some time meditating on the Ten Commandments. Ask the Lord to convict you of any that you need to work on with His help. I know I need to work on a few. After all, legislating morality starts with me. My heart. It starts with one person. Who then models that for another. And on it goes. Be that one!

Ten Commandments list

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall make no idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.