Righteousness Cannot be Legislated

 Laws don't add up to righteousness...ever. Do we make laws, for the purpose of drawing men and women to God; or is it really about our comfort in this world?

"For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everyone [everything—the entire world] under sin, so that [the inheritance, the blessing of salvation] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe [in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s precious Son]" Galatians 3:21 [Amplified Bible].

If our goal is the salvation of the lost, we're most assuredly going about it the wrong way. Soul winning is accomplished by the "Good News". The Gospel (Good News) is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and that is all. God is not impressed with our gimmicks, our laws, our politics or our church membership. He just isn't. He doesn't need coffee bars, great music or smoke to draw people to Christ. 

He also doesn’t need us to protect Him, by making laws that are weapons against the unsaved. "It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning." [1Corinthians 5:12, New Living Translation]. He wants His people to spread the Gospel--and only the Gospel to the world. He doesn’t care, at all, about our politics. Jesus, in His earthly life was apolitical and if He is our example...well, you know what He said. "Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and render unto God the things that are God's". We have become worshippers of Caesar more than worshippers of God. 

Our politics have become idolatrous. "And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." [Psalm 139:24, Amplified Bible]. While it is a civic duty to vote; it has no bearing on our walk with God. Politics is not the badge that identifies us as Christians (or not), but we have made political parties the sign that we are believers--both conservatives and liberals. Our Christian life should be an influence on our politics (as it should be in every area of our lives), not the other way around. We have weaponized (our brand of) Christianity.  

To be Christians is to be like Jesus.


 As Christians, our goal must align with God's goal for the world. We should have the same focus as God--to share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19). We will continue to see church growth decline (along with our influence in the nation and world--no matter how many laws we pass) if we don't change our strategy. Until we (the Church) repent of our idolatry and disobedience, the decline will continue. 

I've been praying for a revival in the land--but before it can happen in the world, it has to first happen in the Church. Until we learn that it is the Gospel and love for others that brings souls to Christ, the downward slide will continue. The gimmicks to get people to come to church won't save one soul. If our "fishes and loaves" could save people, we wouldn't be watching the church decline in the world. If our laws (or even, Old Testament laws) could save, we wouldn't have needed a Redeemer. Salvation is by grace, alone. It was finished by Jesus Christ, and it is our Christian vocation to take that "Good News" to the world. 

If we offend the people with disgust, superiority and often, outright hate; it will be nearly impossible to win them. I'm not at all sure that we really want to draw them. We want the Gospel to be exclusive; but God made the Gospel all-inclusive. 

What motivates us to attempt to legislate righteousness? Is it because we want souls saved--or is it to make our "Christian" lives easier? That's a question we must ask ourselves. Can I tell you something? Christians aren't supposed to be comfortable in this world--this is not our home.


We marvel at the sin in the world, but sin is par for the course in a lost and dying world. Sinners can't help but sin.

That is the nature of a sinner. Sinners, sin. Until we come to Christ and invite His Spirit to live in us, we have no power against sin.



How is it that we can grasp the grace of God for ourselves and refuse to share that grace with the world?

Our hearts have become stony.


We are far from tender-hearted. We who profess Christianity must sincerely repent and ask God for a heart like His. 

We have to see the world as "our neighbor" and usher the healing balm of the Gospel from us to them. 

Love wins; not laws.




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