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*This blog has been revised from its original 2017 version, Does Legislating Morality Work? I submitted the same blog to RELEVANT magazine, which they graciously published online under a different title chosen by their editors–a title I don’t agree with and doesn’t fully reflect the heart of why I wrote the article. I no longer stand by that article and would communicate differently today. My tone was poor, I was immature in the way I approached the topic, and I didn’t articulate my ideas with as much clarity and nuance as I could have. For that, and any way I didn’t accurately represent the teachings of Scripture, and any way my words my have been confusing or unhelpful to you, I apologize and ask that you would forgive me. I’ve reached out to RELEVANT to request the article be taken down, but at the time of publishing this revision I haven’t heard a response.

Okay, I guess it’s more fair to say I haven’t exactly changed my mind about what some may call “legislating morality.” I have changed my mind about how I previously communicated about this topic and about faith and politics in general in some articles I wrote in the early days of my blogging ministry, when I was a newbie and less mature.  

Ever since I was an 18-year-old excitedly getting ready for the first election in which I could vote and first starting to think about how my faith in Jesus comes to bear on my approach to politics, I’ve always believed God has a biblical role for government and that He can work through the laws of the land for good purposes. I’ve always believed that following godly principles leads not only individuals but nations to thrive and that a biblical worldview should inform how Christians approach casting our vote or forming our political views, just like it does with every other aspect of life.

My position on those principles has never changed, although I did go through a short phase where I downplayed the importance of their impact on culture, how much God cares about them, and what role believers should play in the political process. And I believe you can see that reflected in some of my earlier writing on this topic.

So, if you’ll let me, I’d like to apologize and take another stab at answering the question, “does legislating morality work” from a Christian perspective.

Let me start with an apology…

At the time of writing those blogs, I was sincerely trying to help myself and fellow Christians sort out a tricky topic that often trips up our personal faith and our witness, but I fell short. I didn’t express my thoughts well, I wasn’t clear in my teaching, I communicated in a poor tone of voice, and I didn’t set a good example. I let frustration with the Church for how we’ve not always loved others well and represented Jesus well in our public political engagement get the best of me. I regret that and the impact it may have had on you as someone who reads and values my words about following Jesus.

As a blogger and minister of the gospel I have a responsibility before God and you to acknowledge my mistakes and make things right as best I can when I fall short of the standard I have for myself and God has for me. For any way I may have caused confusion or misrepresented the heart of Jesus and the teaching of Scripture in my original blogs, I apologize. Would you forgive me?

Does “Legislating Morality” Work?

Alright, let’s get into it.

Years ago, in writing about whether legislating morality works, I framed the answer to that question as a hard no. In efforts to be pithy, I conflated healthy “legislating morality” with the misguided ideas and attitudes we can develop when we emphasize external behavior management at the expense of the transforming power of Jesus and the gospel. That was a mistake.

In retrospect, maybe a better question than “does legislating morality work” is this: What role does legislation have on transforming people and societies? Looking at Scripture I’ve always believed the following to be true.

Does legislation help to encourage good and to restrain sin and evil, which is God’s biblical design and purpose for government? Yes. It would put what are (hopefully) healthy, godly boundaries and guidelines on people’s conduct in society, leading to an environment that promotes human-flourishing and what’s pleasing to God. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1-2)

Does legislation ultimately produce heart change, personal faith in Jesus, and convert unbelievers to become disciples of Jesus? No. Jesus draws people to salvation and changes their lives through the preaching of the gospel, discipleship, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, not by political power or process. (Ephesians 2:1-10; Ephesians 4:17-24; Galatians 5:16-25)

To sum it up, we need both sides of this coin. Good government and the rule of law are used by God to help manage the symptoms of humanity’s sin and its impact on one another until Jesus returns to rule the earth as King. Evangelism and discipleship, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are used by God to save people from their sins and make them holy from the inside out.

Would “Legislating Morality” Lead to Theocracy?

It’s important to clarify that when Christians talk about wanting to be a godly influence on legislation, or letting a biblical worldview inform our political views, or even wrestling with how our faith works out in society, we aren’t calling for a theocratic form of government. We’re not trying to pressure people into believing all the same things we believe as Christians against their will or trying to arbitrarily legislate every biblical value and commandment into our secular nation’s law.

First of all, God hasn’t called Christians to do that. An approach like that would be unbiblical because it would remove the free will God has given each person to place faith in Jesus and follow Him based on personal decision, not coercion. And, as Pastor Mike Winger acknowledges, a theocracy would also be counterfeit, because the only true theocracy must be established by Jesus Himself at His return.

But if Christians–as members of society just like everyone else–can humbly bring our biblically informed perspectives and convictions to the table in hopes that they might lead to good decisions that encourage morality, the common good of everyone, and help our cities and nations flourish, I don’t see that as a bad thing. And I don’t believe Scripture sees that as a bad thing either.

It’s certainly not a promise or guarantee in Scripture that the laws of the land will agree with God’s principles all the time or in every situation, but praise God when they do! And praise God when a culture actually desires that! In His mercy, God might work through it to help build our nation up towards righteousness instead of seeing it deteriorate due to sinful or unhelpful decisions. (Proverbs 14:34)

So how should Christian approach politics?

I can’t unpack this topic here, but if you want to dive deeper into some biblical discussion about God’s roles for Church and government, how a biblical worldview should impact our view of cultural issues, and how to keep Christian hope and character as you engage politically, read my series:

4 Tips for Christians Navigating Faith and Politics Part 1 and Part 2

Recommended Resources

If you want some tools to process how these ideas come to bear on real life or to think through political issues from a biblical perspective, these are godly voices I trust and respect and they’ve helped me a ton.

• #STRask Podcast: How Can We Determine Which Christian Moral Principles Should Be Made Into Laws?
• Dr. Michael Brown interview on Christian values and legislation
• Sermon by Greg Laurie: Hot Button Issues
• How Should Christians Vote by Dr. Tony Evans
• Before You Vote by David Platt
• Jesus Outside The Lines by Scott Sauls
• The Political Seduction of the Church by Dr. Michael Brown

Let’s Talk: How does this impact your view of the way God transforms people and societies? Discuss this post in the comments below.