In The Federalist Papers, James Madison wrote, “It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary” (No. 51, Feb. 8, 1788). Not all men can be trusted to love their neighbor. Righteous men control themselves from within to avoid mistreating others, but wicked men must be restrained by an external force.
The Bible details the proper conduct toward our fellow man made in the image of God with principles that remain the same in both testaments (Ex. 20:12-17; Lev. 19:18; Rom. 13:8-10; Jas. 2:8-12). After God wiped all but eight souls off the face of the earth because it was filled with violence, He said to Noah in the rebirth of the human race, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen. 9:6). God not only destroyed evildoers in the flood but also sanctioned man to shed the blood of murderers.
God has instituted governing authorities to be a terror to evildoers (Rom. 13:1-4). Though God ordained human government, He does not approve of everything governments do. Pilate sent Jesus to be crucified even though he had found no fault in Him (John 19:6, 16). This was not the proper discharge of the duty God has assigned kings, governors, and others in authority “…that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Pet. 2:14). Laws can be abused by those in authority. But abandoning punishment by human government is not the answer. Anarchy is not God’s will. Think of the atrocities done when there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judg. 17:6; 21:25).
When the inspired apostle Paul stood trial, he maintained he had done no wrong (Acts 25:10), but acknowledged that punishment was proper for those who had. He said, “For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die” (Acts 25:11). In Romans 1, Paul listed sins which are worthy of death, yet some in positions of authority, “not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:32). The death penalty is appropriate punishment for certain evil acts. Those who examined Paul knew he had done nothing worthy of death (Acts 25:25; 26:31), but some government officials are more concerned about receiving money (Acts 24:26) than they are about punishing evil and rewarding righteousness.
When he wrote to Timothy from prison, Paul said that some men had turned aside from the proper use of the commandment into empty talk because they wanted to be teachers of the law (1 Tim. 1:5-7). Thus, law must be used properly, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully” (1 Tim. 1:8).
A common argument against outlawing certain sins is that people will do what they want regardless of whether it is legal. While evil men may continue to exploit the market for vices regardless of the law, we would do well to consider what Paul wrote next:
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust (1 Tim. 1:9-11).
The law is meant to curb evil. The sins Paul listed are frequently seen in our society, even though we have laws against many such as murder, human trafficking, and perjury. But just because a law is “on the books” does not mean that it is enforced to the point that people are restrained from breaking it.
The wise king Solomon said, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecc. 8:11). Making something illegal means little to wicked men who suffer no consequences for breaking the law. But remember that the Bible says that evil is restrained if government functions as a terror to criminal activity (Rom. 13:3). The sword meant death in the first-century Roman context (Rom. 13:3), but can the phrase “he beareth not the sword in vain” be used regarding an authority that does not have any teeth to it?
How often do we see homes destroyed and lives lost due to the use of illegal drugs? How many innocent lives must we see taken in car wrecks caused by drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol? How many murders must we hear about on the evening news? How many young people have to be kidnapped and trafficked for sexual exploitation before we, as a society, agree to put a stop to it all? The legal wrath against these crimes should be so severe and speedily executed that they become rare.
The church is not an earthly kingdom that fights against flesh and blood (John 18:36; Eph. 6:12). While the kingdom of Israel under the Old Testament was to put evildoers to death (Ex. 21:15-17; 29; 22:19; Lev. 19:20; etc.), it is not the responsibility of the kingdom of Christ to levy fines, incarcerate, or execute the death penalty. But that does not mean we have nothing to say about those who kidnap, fornicate, murder, lie, and exploit others in the process. Notice that while the sins Paul listed in 1 Tim. 1:9-11 were against the law (v. 9), they are also against healthy teaching that accords with the gospel (vv. 10 and 11). We often think of the gospel as the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). This is the central message by which every individual has any hope of being saved. Like God, we want all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). We want every person, because of their sins which deserve death (Rom. 6:23), to obey the gospel by being united with Christ’s death and resurrection in baptism (Rom. 6:3-7, 17). The gospel is good news of the opportunity to be saved in Jesus Christ. However, we must remember the gospel condemns man; it speaks of the wrath of God upon every man that doeth evil (Rom. 2:8, 9), which will come in the day when God judges the secrets of men by the gospel (Rom. 2:16).
Let us, therefore, pray for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:2) because they are part of God’s plan for us to lead a peaceable life wherein men can come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:2-4). When anarchy abounds, and men are fearing for their lives, opportunities to sit down and think about the gospel dwindle.
–Mark Day