Casinos, Pornography, and Marijuana
Many Christians are under the impression that since gambling as a means of income is wrong (Prv. 13:11, 28:20, 22), pornography as an art or form of communication is wrong (Mt. 5:27-28), and the abuse of marijuana is wrong (Prv. 20:1, 23:20-21; Eph. 5:18), then we should outlaw them when given the chance.(1)
But this attitude completely negates what the Scripture itself authorizes as the civl government's jurisdiction! The civil government is never given the right to legislate this kind of morality.(2) What people do with their own private property and with their own personal consumption (with certain limitations clearly expressed in God's Law), is not a matter with which the government has the right to interfere.
So as far as the civil government is concerned, there should be no laws against building and working casinos, making and distributing pornography (provided it's being made and distributed free from coercion by any party - obviously child pornography and coerced pornography of any kind is and should be criminal; Ex. 21:16, cf. Isa. 7:15-16, Mt. 18:6), and/or buying, selling, or using marijuana (causing someone harm, loss, or death while under the influence of marijuana is a separate issue and should be punished appropriately - Ex. 21:29-31). In the same way, however, if governments do have laws against such things (whether or not they are just laws), the society (whether righteous or not) has an obligation to abide by those laws.
Yet as far as the society is concerned, obviously if the society in question is a righteous people, casinos, pornography, and abuse of marijuana wouldn't exist at all. But it would not be because of the civil government's coercive power; it would be because a righteous people, as a whole, are not going to pursue unrighteous activities.
If a nation pursues righteousness (as all nations should - Prv. 14:34), a casino could open up any time and would quickly go out of business; because a righteous society would not partake in the activities in the steady manner necessary to keep it open. Pornography could be produced, but it would not be distributed anywhere; because a righteous society would not participate in sinful lusts. Marijuana would be grown and sold, but it would not be abused; because a righteous society would not fill themselves up with something that would keep them habitually from being in a sober state of mind.
As stated previously, the civil government's jurisdiction is over civil affairs (as Scripture defines them) and not over personal or social affairs. Just because something is legal does not mean it's not a sin if one partakes in it (e.g. it's not illegal to be obese; though it's still a sin to be gluttonous). Yet at the same time, just because something is a sin does not mean the government has the right to make it illegal (while gluttony is a sin, there is no law against it, nor according to God's law should there be).
But this attitude completely negates what the Scripture itself authorizes as the civl government's jurisdiction! The civil government is never given the right to legislate this kind of morality.(2) What people do with their own private property and with their own personal consumption (with certain limitations clearly expressed in God's Law), is not a matter with which the government has the right to interfere.
So as far as the civil government is concerned, there should be no laws against building and working casinos, making and distributing pornography (provided it's being made and distributed free from coercion by any party - obviously child pornography and coerced pornography of any kind is and should be criminal; Ex. 21:16, cf. Isa. 7:15-16, Mt. 18:6), and/or buying, selling, or using marijuana (causing someone harm, loss, or death while under the influence of marijuana is a separate issue and should be punished appropriately - Ex. 21:29-31). In the same way, however, if governments do have laws against such things (whether or not they are just laws), the society (whether righteous or not) has an obligation to abide by those laws.
Yet as far as the society is concerned, obviously if the society in question is a righteous people, casinos, pornography, and abuse of marijuana wouldn't exist at all. But it would not be because of the civil government's coercive power; it would be because a righteous people, as a whole, are not going to pursue unrighteous activities.
If a nation pursues righteousness (as all nations should - Prv. 14:34), a casino could open up any time and would quickly go out of business; because a righteous society would not partake in the activities in the steady manner necessary to keep it open. Pornography could be produced, but it would not be distributed anywhere; because a righteous society would not participate in sinful lusts. Marijuana would be grown and sold, but it would not be abused; because a righteous society would not fill themselves up with something that would keep them habitually from being in a sober state of mind.
As stated previously, the civil government's jurisdiction is over civil affairs (as Scripture defines them) and not over personal or social affairs. Just because something is legal does not mean it's not a sin if one partakes in it (e.g. it's not illegal to be obese; though it's still a sin to be gluttonous). Yet at the same time, just because something is a sin does not mean the government has the right to make it illegal (while gluttony is a sin, there is no law against it, nor according to God's law should there be).
(1) We find it quite ironic that these same Christians are generally very adverse to wanting to uphold what is revealed in God's Law concerning appropriate penalties for civil crimes such as theft, adultery, rape, murder, bestiality, homosexuality and other matters that are of a civil nature.
(2) Let it be clear that I am saying "this kind" of morality. As noted earlier, all governments must to some extent legislate morality. The question is what morality do they legislate and to what extent?