Question 2

2. Why would God desire moral laws enforced by government. Isn’t passing these laws just a form of authoritarianism? If Christians claim they want “righteous laws,” but doesn’t that inevitably drift toward theocracy? Consider Calvin’s Geneva, the first theocracy which led to the execution of nearly 100 people and the imprisonment of over 1,000. If that’s the precedent, then capital punishment becomes inevitable.  

Reformed Theology Answer:

Reformed theology holds that all authority originates from God (Romans 13:1), and that government is instituted by God as a servant for the good of society—to reward good and restrain evil (Romans 13:4). Therefore, the moral law of God—especially as summarized in the Ten Commandments—should be reflected in just laws where possible, not to impose theocracy, but to preserve order, justice, and human flourishing.

The goal is not authoritarianism, but the promotion of righteousness and societal well-being in a fallen world. Reformed theologians such as John Calvin believed that civil government should be distinct from the church but guided by God’s moral standards. Calvin’s Geneva was an early attempt to implement this ideal, though modern Reformed scholars acknowledge its excesses, including the use of capital punishment for theological offenses. These historical examples are not perfect models but reflect the complexities of applying divine law in human governance.

Ultimately, Reformed theology argues that a society cannot thrive morally without reference to God’s revealed truth. While the state should not enforce every religious conviction, moral laws that align with Scripture are viewed as good and just, provided they are applied with humility, justice, and equity.

Conflict 

One thing I saw on TikTok were videos making fun of Christians who were outraged by the parody of the Last Supper at the Olympics. First, let’s be honest. They were not mocking Jesus. They were mocking a European painting of a white man surrounded by more white men. That is not the Middle Eastern Jesus of the Gospels. That is Jupiter in a robe, a Romanized figment of Renaissance imagination.

The real question is this: Why would we force people to live by biblical standards if they do not even believe God loves them?

The Bible makes it clear—righteousness comes by faith (Romans 1:17), and faith only comes when someone experiences the boundless, transformational love of God (Ephesians 3:18–19). No one becomes righteous through laws. Galatians 2:21 says, “If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” Romans 3:20 says, “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law.” Galatians 3:10 says, “All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.” It did not work for Moses. Why would it work for Ted Cruz?

When Jesus sent Paul, He did not tell him to change the laws of Rome. He said, “I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). The goal was not morality. It was transformation—through light, not law. And within 300 years, Rome became a Christian nation and spread the Gospel globally.

God said through the prophet Jeremiah, “My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). That is the root problem. Not sexual orientation. Not drugs. Not crime. Without that love, people will never trust God enough to surrender their lives. Why would they? Fear cannot produce transformation. Only love can.

Would it not be more effective to show people how beautiful God is? Should our money, our influence, and our mission not be aimed at introducing people to the Living Water, rather than condemning them for drinking poison?

Romans 2:4 says it clearly: “It is God’s kindness that leads to repentance.” But we have replaced kindness with condemnation. We have swapped witnessing for legislating. Instead of being sent out, we keep insulting people for not coming in those doors on Sunday.

If we want a godly society, we should do Isaiah 58. If we did what God told us in Isaiah 58—loose the chains of injustice, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the oppressed—then God would rebuild our cities, heal our wounds, guide us continually, and make justice rise like the dawn. There would be no need to legislate morality.