The State and Morality
By nature of the case every State must to some degree legislate morality. Even the most adamant libertarian has to recognize this. Or else is it really presumable to think America or any other nation is a place that gives, can give, or will give people unrestricted freedom of religion?
What if an individual or group of citizens wants to participate in the religious practice of human sacrifice? Whether his religion is from the ancient people groups of the Aztec, Inca, Assyrians, Canaanites, Ashante, or other past (or present) religions that practiced such things, or if his religion is a new founded belief-system that desires the ability to practice its "religious freedom" of human sacrifice, human rape, child sacrifice, child rape, or any other action that would otherwise be considered a violent crime, he will not receive "religious freedom" in America or any other like-minded (in this regard) nation.
There is and always will be legal restrictions imposed on citizens regarding morality - regardless of whether or not the nation in question has a clause of "religious freedom" in their government documents and law-order.
Therefore, the questions are not and can never be:
The questions are and must always be:
There are no other alternatives. And the only Biblical answer given to these questions must be the revealed will of God. He alone has the right to determine by what standard is civil morality to be defined and legislated, and to what extent the restriction of religious freedom is to be granted (Isa. 33:22).
Thankfully, He has given us these answers in the Christian Scriptures, especially in the legal portions of the Older Testament books of Law.
Is this a blending of church and state? As previously discussed, no! Both the church, God's appointed means of corporate worship in society, and the state, God's appointed means of governing society, have different and distinct spheres, jurisdictions, and responsibilities; but both are nonetheless under the Lordship of Christ (Mt. 28:18; cf. Phil. 2:9-11) and are subject to His rule and commands (Eph. 1:22-23; Ps. 2:10-12).
What if an individual or group of citizens wants to participate in the religious practice of human sacrifice? Whether his religion is from the ancient people groups of the Aztec, Inca, Assyrians, Canaanites, Ashante, or other past (or present) religions that practiced such things, or if his religion is a new founded belief-system that desires the ability to practice its "religious freedom" of human sacrifice, human rape, child sacrifice, child rape, or any other action that would otherwise be considered a violent crime, he will not receive "religious freedom" in America or any other like-minded (in this regard) nation.
There is and always will be legal restrictions imposed on citizens regarding morality - regardless of whether or not the nation in question has a clause of "religious freedom" in their government documents and law-order.
Therefore, the questions are not and can never be:
- Does the government have the right to legislate civil morality?
- Does the government have the right to restrict religious freedom?
The questions are and must always be:
- By what standard and to what extent is civil morality to be legislated?
- By what standard and to what extent is the practice of religious freedom to be restricted?
There are no other alternatives. And the only Biblical answer given to these questions must be the revealed will of God. He alone has the right to determine by what standard is civil morality to be defined and legislated, and to what extent the restriction of religious freedom is to be granted (Isa. 33:22).
Thankfully, He has given us these answers in the Christian Scriptures, especially in the legal portions of the Older Testament books of Law.
Is this a blending of church and state? As previously discussed, no! Both the church, God's appointed means of corporate worship in society, and the state, God's appointed means of governing society, have different and distinct spheres, jurisdictions, and responsibilities; but both are nonetheless under the Lordship of Christ (Mt. 28:18; cf. Phil. 2:9-11) and are subject to His rule and commands (Eph. 1:22-23; Ps. 2:10-12).
