(This article was in last weeks bulletin and I just had to share it with everyone.)
by James Pasley
There are many misconceptions that we may have, but here is one that I hear fairly often that is completely illogical and certainly unscriptural.

The first is, 'You can't legislate morality.' If by this statement it is meant that making a law won't stop everyone from committing a particular act, then we would all have to agree. There will always be some who will rebel against morality. However, I don't believe that this is what is usually implied by this statement.

Let's examine it closely. Legislate means basically 'to make laws'. Morality means 'conforming to the rules of right conduct'. So, let's put it together and see what we've got. To 'legislate morality' litterally means 'to make laws that are conforming to the rules of right conduct'. In other words making it illegal to do wrong.

Anytime any nation, state, or local government makes a law it is saying this is right and breaking this law is bad, therefore all legislation is an attempt to legislate morality. And for the safety and order of any society it is absolutely necessary to set in law standards that define what is and is not right conduct. Obviously some things are more dangerous and more destructive to society and therefore punished more harsly. For example: It is illegal to use certain 'cuss' words on live broadcast TV, and it is ilegal to murder someone; but the punishments are quite different. The first might cause a fine, someone to lose a job, or the company to lose its licence. The second might cause years in prison or even execution. In both cases, however, the government is legislating morality. Which of those two laws should we do away with? If we can't legislate morality we better do away with both, and all of the laws against theft/robbery, drug/alcohol abuse, rape/sexual abuse/child porn, libel/slander, child abuse/domestic violence, kidnapping/terrorist activities, bribery, liability for malpractice, etc., etc., etc.

Can you imagine the kind of chaos and mortal danger we would be in if we did away with all of these laws that are 'legislating morality'? What would it be like if an entire generation grew up not knowing these things were wrong and not fearing punishment for any of these actions? Get ready, it could be closer than you think. Even with these laws some people do it anyway, but many more are held back by the fear of retribution. Certainly, there are some moral people who would not do these things even if there were no law at all, but those are the people the law was written to protect. Paul stated it clearly in I Timothy 1:8-10, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" Even though he was talking about the law of Moses, specifically, the principle is true of all law.

No, when people say: 'you can't legislate morality' they don't mean get rid of all the laws. What they are really saying is: 'don't call the things I want to do bad. Don't tell me I can't do what I want.' I know because they are the first to try to legislate their lack of morality.