Apostolic Friends Forum

Go Back   Apostolic Friends Forum > The Fellowship Hall > Fellowship Hall
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Notices

Fellowship Hall The place to go for Fellowship & Fun!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-05-2008, 02:04 PM
Praxeas's Avatar
Praxeas Praxeas is offline
Go Lakers!!!
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 24,201
Legislating Morality?

You've probably heard this before in regards to having certain laws...you can't legislate morality. But can you? You can't force people to be truly moral in their heart through legislation, that is true.

However why can't we legislate a moral code for society? We already do it with theft, murder, rape and other moral issues. Why CAN'T we legislate morality for our society? Why can't we have laws based on morality to protect both individual citizens and society in general?

I read a lot from Christians saying we should be less political. But I was thinking about all these polls they have asking people questions about gay rights etc etc...they never asked me. Why SHOULDN'T Christians say gay marriage is wrong by voting? Why shouldn't we let our voices be heard? It's not a matter of forcing them to be moral. It's a matter of speaking up and saying "this is wrong". We said murder is wrong. We said theft is wrong. We said Child porn is wrong. Voting on those issues does NOT equal NOT preaching them as well, which is usually the fallacious argument in return. Just because Christians vote against some thing like gay marriages does not mean they are not at the same time preaching in their churches against sin and going out and witnessing to individuals.

People are often driven by peer pressure and our society is beginning to think "gay is ok" because they hear it a lot. The gay agenda is LOUD but gays make up a very very small percentage of the population, yet we are allowing their will to be forced upon our society which is also trickling down to our kids in schools and through the media. Our world is big. There are no more central market places to meet and preach. People don't all open their doors when you knock. This is one reason TV makes sense. But on the other hand why not send a message to all Americans that their are still a substantial number of people that have not bowed to Molech. Why NOT vote against the Gay agenda? Why NOT vote against baby killing? If it is morally wrong and you have the ability to affect those laws, are we being good citizens of the Kingdom by voting FOR such things by default by voting for candidates or political groups that favor such things?

Or are we being good citizens by being silent ON those issues and allowing our society to believe it's ok? Recently when the California law was repealed that banned gay marriages a Gay Lesbian spokesperson quipped that Californians showed their approval...it was ironic because in fact we showed our disapproval. It was a liberal court that changed the law. But THIS is what the small gay agenda wants YOU to believe...that YOU are a small small marginalized minority and you might as well NOT speak up because there are not enough of you to matter.

We have been in a battle for the hearts and MINDS of American Citizens...and we are allowing small but very vocal groups to win and promote their agenda on our society through their political actions and through our media and through peer pressure...the sad thing is peer pressure is usually the larger group pressuring the smaller, but this is happening in reverse because largely Christians do nothing.
__________________
Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:


  1. There is One God. This one God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
  2. The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
  3. Every sinner must repent of their sins.
  4. That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
  5. That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faithwith the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
  6. The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-05-2008, 03:18 PM
Baron1710's Avatar
Baron1710 Baron1710 is offline
Cross-examine it!
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Waldorf, MD (outside of DC)
Posts: 5,715
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Praxeas View Post
You've probably heard this before in regards to having certain laws...you can't legislate morality. But can you? You can't force people to be truly moral in their heart through legislation, that is true.

However why can't we legislate a moral code for society? We already do it with theft, murder, rape and other moral issues. Why CAN'T we legislate morality for our society? Why can't we have laws based on morality to protect both individual citizens and society in general?

I read a lot from Christians saying we should be less political. But I was thinking about all these polls they have asking people questions about gay rights etc etc...they never asked me. Why SHOULDN'T Christians say gay marriage is wrong by voting? Why shouldn't we let our voices be heard? It's not a matter of forcing them to be moral. It's a matter of speaking up and saying "this is wrong". We said murder is wrong. We said theft is wrong. We said Child porn is wrong. Voting on those issues does NOT equal NOT preaching them as well, which is usually the fallacious argument in return. Just because Christians vote against some thing like gay marriages does not mean they are not at the same time preaching in their churches against sin and going out and witnessing to individuals.

People are often driven by peer pressure and our society is beginning to think "gay is ok" because they hear it a lot. The gay agenda is LOUD but gays make up a very very small percentage of the population, yet we are allowing their will to be forced upon our society which is also trickling down to our kids in schools and through the media. Our world is big. There are no more central market places to meet and preach. People don't all open their doors when you knock. This is one reason TV makes sense. But on the other hand why not send a message to all Americans that their are still a substantial number of people that have not bowed to Molech. Why NOT vote against the Gay agenda? Why NOT vote against baby killing? If it is morally wrong and you have the ability to affect those laws, are we being good citizens of the Kingdom by voting FOR such things by default by voting for candidates or political groups that favor such things?

Or are we being good citizens by being silent ON those issues and allowing our society to believe it's ok? Recently when the California law was repealed that banned gay marriages a Gay Lesbian spokesperson quipped that Californians showed their approval...it was ironic because in fact we showed our disapproval. It was a liberal court that changed the law. But THIS is what the small gay agenda wants YOU to believe...that YOU are a small small marginalized minority and you might as well NOT speak up because there are not enough of you to matter.

We have been in a battle for the hearts and MINDS of American Citizens...and we are allowing small but very vocal groups to win and promote their agenda on our society through their political actions and through our media and through peer pressure...the sad thing is peer pressure is usually the larger group pressuring the smaller, but this is happening in reverse because largely Christians do nothing.
I had a unique experience by going to a Christian law school. One of the classes we had was on the foundations of law. And we discussed this extensively, and what most of us came up with was this. You shouldn't legislate anything that is unenforceable. Laws against homosexuality probably are going to be ineffective, but laws against gay marriage are enforceable. Laws against adultery are generally hard to enforce and do we really want adultery police. In a nut shell what I took from the morality part of the class is don't legislate the unenforceable.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-05-2008, 03:29 PM
Cindy's Avatar
Cindy Cindy is offline
Texas Granny
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Mineola, Texas
Posts: 15,194
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron1710 View Post
I had a unique experience by going to a Christian law school. One of the classes we had was on the foundations of law. And we discussed this extensively, and what most of us came up with was this. You shouldn't legislate anything that is unenforceable. Laws against homosexuality probably are going to be ineffective, but laws against gay marriage are enforceable. Laws against adultery are generally hard to enforce and do we really want adultery police. In a nut shell what I took from the morality part of the class is don't legislate the unenforceable.
Sodomy laws are pretty much unenforcable right?
__________________
"To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while." Josh Billings

"Be not too hasty to trust or admire the teachers of morality; they discourse like angels, but they live like men." Dr. Samuel Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-05-2008, 04:09 PM
Praxeas's Avatar
Praxeas Praxeas is offline
Go Lakers!!!
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 24,201
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron1710 View Post
I had a unique experience by going to a Christian law school. One of the classes we had was on the foundations of law. And we discussed this extensively, and what most of us came up with was this. You shouldn't legislate anything that is unenforceable. Laws against homosexuality probably are going to be ineffective, but laws against gay marriage are enforceable. Laws against adultery are generally hard to enforce and do we really want adultery police. In a nut shell what I took from the morality part of the class is don't legislate the unenforceable.
I agree. It's very hard to enforce such laws.

BTW a ban against gay marriages does not necessarily mean it is illegal to be gay and married. A gay person can go to a gay preacher and do a wedding ceremony and they are not going to be hauled off to jail. It means the state does not officially recognize it as a marriage
__________________
Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:


  1. There is One God. This one God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
  2. The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
  3. Every sinner must repent of their sins.
  4. That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
  5. That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faithwith the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
  6. The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-05-2008, 04:35 PM
RandyWayne's Avatar
RandyWayne RandyWayne is offline
"Hello......"
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 8,248
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cneasttx View Post
Sodomy laws are pretty much unenforcable right?
If they ARE enforceable, then we are all in a lot more trouble then we realize. Not because of the "crime" per say but because their is actually someone trying to enforce it.... and seeing what else?
__________________
****************************************
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-05-2008, 09:13 PM
Aquila's Avatar
Aquila Aquila is online now
~Brother in Christ~
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,937
Re: Legislating Morality?

We just need to be Christians.

If gays "marry" we teach fellow Christians and make plain statements that God doesn't recognize these sinful unions. Then we seek to pray for the healing and deliverance of homosexuals.

Regarding abortion we teach that God views abortion as murder and make plain statements that abortion is an abomination never to be named among us. Then we seek to help women in crisis pregnancies and reconcile murderous women who have aborted to God through Christ Jesus.

If anyone tries to silence our teaching, we resist them and teach the truth anyway. If hardship becomes of it we rejoice in that we are counted worthy to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
__________________
"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." ~ Acts 28:30-31
House2House

"The only thing more worldly than Hollywood is religion." ~ Bro. Chris

"Give me ambiguity or give me something else!"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-05-2008, 09:42 PM
OneAccord's Avatar
OneAccord OneAccord is online now
"One Mind...OneAccord"
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,319
Re: Legislating Morality?

The problem with "legislating morality" is, who's morality are we legislating? The do have laws aginst rape, murder, incest and tens of thousands of other moral issues. But... has that stopped rapes from occuring? Did laws against murder stop two men from killing my first wife? The threat of capital punishment didn't stop them They can pass legislation on morality but they can't legislate whats in a persons heart. People are gonna do whats in their heart. A law doen't stop a rapist any more than a speed limit will slow a speeder down. The only way for morality to be legislated is for us, our own selves, to do the legislating. And we can only do that by submitting ourselves fully and completely to the Lord.

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
__________________

I don't need to be the man I want to be.... I want to be the man I need to be! -OA
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-05-2008, 09:58 PM
Aquila's Avatar
Aquila Aquila is online now
~Brother in Christ~
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,937
Re: Legislating Morality?

All laws can do is protect life, liberty, and property.
__________________
"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." ~ Acts 28:30-31
House2House

"The only thing more worldly than Hollywood is religion." ~ Bro. Chris

"Give me ambiguity or give me something else!"
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-05-2008, 10:01 PM
Praxeas's Avatar
Praxeas Praxeas is offline
Go Lakers!!!
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 24,201
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by OneAccord View Post
A law doen't stop a rapist any more than a speed limit will slow a speeder down. The only way for morality to be legislated is for us, our own selves, to do the legislating. And we can only do that by submitting ourselves fully and completely to the Lord.

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Should we make it then legal to rape?
I think you missed the point of the thread
__________________
Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:


  1. There is One God. This one God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
  2. The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
  3. Every sinner must repent of their sins.
  4. That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
  5. That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faithwith the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
  6. The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-05-2008, 10:16 PM
OneAccord's Avatar
OneAccord OneAccord is online now
"One Mind...OneAccord"
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,319
Re: Legislating Morality?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Praxeas View Post
Should we make it then legal to rape?
I think you missed the point of the thread
No, and no. No, of course, rape should not be legalized. And, no I didn't miss the point. We should speak up, we should vote... and laws should be enacted to affect the moral climate of this country and others. However, all the laws in the land won't change whats in a persons hearts. Gay marriages. Yes, they should be illegal.... and we should do all we can to ensure that it stays that way. But gays are still gonna do what gays do. Abortion? Yes, while Roe v Wade is being whittled down to nothingness, we should speak our piece in the ballot box. But, sadly, it won't stop the killing of the innocent.

Thats the problem with living in a free society. People don't know what it means to be free. Freedom isn't the ability to do what I wanna do when and how I wanna do it. Its about doing the right thing. Freedom is life...liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all...not just for a select few.
__________________

I don't need to be the man I want to be.... I want to be the man I need to be! -OA
Reply With Quote
Reply

  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
  • Submit Thread to del.icio.us del.icio.us
  • Submit Thread to Google Google
  • Submit Thread to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon
  • Bookmarks

    Thread Tools
    Display Modes

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is Off

    Forum Jump


    All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:59 PM.

    Custom Skins Enhanced by The Mrs


    Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
    Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.