An important question is being raised in this election season once again – can we legislate morality? The popular opinion among our news media, cultural pundits and lawyers is that it is impossible to legislate morality. But hold the phone a second – what is legislation? What are laws? … think about it … wait for it … you got this … there it is – All laws legislate morality. Boom. That’s precisely and only why laws exist in our world. Those who say that we can’t legislate morality say this because they are pushing an agenda to alter the morality of our nation.

Now, I fully understand the limitations of law in creating moral individuals. Ultimately, if morality is not being learned outside of the external constraints that laws provide legislation will not flip that switch for people. However, through laws a matrix develops on which cultural morality can develop.

It was 1963, a culture where abortion was still murder, the “right” to sex without consequences was unthinkable, the divorce rate was 9%, and prayer was still allowed in public schools. Martin Luther King boldly declared, “The church must be … the conscience of the state.” Our role has not diminished, and our prophetic voice has to be heard again – our nation must pass laws that honor God.

Truth . . .

1. Yes, we legislate morality.
2. Who’s morality should we legislate? Not mine, not yours – God’s morality – Romans 2:14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. ¹⁵ They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them.
3. We need a revival in the church in order to create moral individuals. Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:5 NIV)
4. The church must still be the conscience of the state. 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. We are the prophetic voice in our world.