"You Can't Legislate Morality"

Warren E. Berkley
09/25/16 - Morality

Of course, if we are talking about making people change and adopt godly values merely by acts of legislation, it is true that morality cannot be legislated. Legislation doesn't necessarily or automatically change a person's basic values and attitudes. Yet, our civil laws should reflect correct principles of morality!

Two fundamental functions of civil government (as ordained by God) are: {1} the punishment of evil doers and {2} the praise of those who do good. {See I Pet. 2:13, 14}. How can government identify, apprehend, and try "evil doers," without laws against evil doing? How can government praise and protect "those who do good," without legislating against evil and in favor of good?

We can and must write, promote and enforce laws based on what is morally right. We must penalize immorality, so far as possible. God calls for "the punishment of evildoers" and "the praise of those who do good."