If we are going to follow Jesus we must honour God’s law.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where some of our laws are in conflict with God’s laws. Abortion is one of the great tragedies of our time, where man’s laws fail to acknowledge God’s law –“Do not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) I will never understand how society can deny an unborn baby the right to live. Yet if that baby is killed after birth, we call that murder.

There are many examples where man’s laws offend God. Pornography is everywhere, in print, in video, online. There are clubs where naked men and women will dance for their customers. It’s not just the naked people who are offending God. The producers, sellers and consumers of pornography are all offending Jesus and everyone associated with “sexual adult entertainment” whether they be strip clubs, swinger clubs etc. are offending God. Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

In many parts of the world prostitution is considered legal. It’s estimated that in the Netherlands there are between 15,000 and 30,000 prostitutes. Prostitutes are displayed in shop windows in the Netherlands and prostitutes pay rent for the windows. Women are not merchandise to be displayed in windows and bought! Yet, society has deemed this is legal business activity. I would like to ask the United Nations why does this not contravene basic human rights? Many of the women involved in this horrible activity are in desperate situations. I was reading that in Amsterdam, 80% of prostitutes are foreigners, and 70% have no immigration papers, suggesting that they were trafficked.

God has commanded, “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrew 13:4

Gambling in casinos is legal in many places. But how many lives do casinos destroy? The newspapers don’t report on the suicides that occur as a result, but this study, for example, reports that “in Atlantic City, abnormally high suicide levels for visitors and residents appeared only after gambling casinos were opened. In general, visitors to and residents of major gaming communities experience significantly elevated suicide levels.” Source: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/soc/phillipspaper.html

So let’s reflect on all of this. We may say, well, we are not involved in these activities so we’re not offending God…but is that where our responsibility to witness to Jesus ends? I say NO! I believe as true Christians we can’t put our heads in the sand and pretend this is not happening. We may not have influence over politics and we may not be able to change the laws, but we can pray that God will change hearts and this way we truly get on the right side of God’s law! So let us never lose confidence in the power of prayer, because prayer touches God’s heart and we CAN help someone in the world to make the right choice. In our prayers we must beg for mercy for our neighbors, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” James 2:13