Marque vs. Morality

Is it immoral to break the law?

Yes?

Why?

What about a law, Christian reader, that would cause you to violate your beliefs?  A law that required you to do something or consent to something that offends your sacred beliefs about God and His Word?

Oh, to break this law would not be immoral?

How can that be, if you answered yes to the immorality of breaking the law?

The problem is that laws are not any standard of morality.  They neither enforce nor subvert morality.  We ought to rid ourselves of terms such as "legislating morality," because morality is not at issue, it is the pretended authority of some trying to legitimize their use of force - civil law is merely the social medium through which some people seek to impose their will on you.   The morality of an issue is never settled through directives.  Even in systems where there is no such thing as democracy, republicanism, repeal, appeal... you are not solving an issue with legal force.  As I have shown, an immoral law may be passed.  The legitimacy of an argument is no more proven by enforcement than a criminal may rightfully rob you because he overpowered you.  They may be right, they may be wrong, but the legislation is merely a letter of marque.

Murder is immoral. Murder is against the law.  Two correct sentences?  In this country, murder is both legal and illegal, because while stabbing a man to death will send you to prison, a woman may kill her unborn child.  How is the law a standard, then?  Marriage has been made into a legal issue, branching off into everything from property rights to taxation.  Is homosexuality immoral? Yes, but it is not illegal.  I can think of many things that are wrong that aren't and shouldn't be illegal.  Disobedience to parents, blasphemy, lying, berating someone, profanity... in most instances, those things are unregulated.

The legitimate purpose of legislation is to ensure the full liberty of every individual to live freely, it is not to promote morality or immorality in society.  Morality in society is an issue for the public to decide - and as Christians, we need to show up and speak up, not bully our neighbors with badges and guns.

Deathmas?

I needed some foodstuffs at the store.  I wasn't there to browse; I knew exactly what I wanted.

As I walked the aisles, I became aware of effigies of snaggle-toothed witches and goofy-looking ghosts dangling above, and faces were carved into pumpkins below. The pumpkins smile.  Should I smile back?  It isn't a warm sort of smile.  Nothing inviting in the intended expression.  Only... anger.  The expression of hatred or distaste... disgust was the expression on these faces.  Why?  What is the idea? 

You often hear that oh, so cliched phrase, "the true meaning of Christmas."

What is the true meaning of Halloween?

We remember our veterans on Veterans' Day.  We remember our history on Independence Day.  We remember our heritage and present ourselves in thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day.

What is this Halloween all about? 

What do we commemorate?  What are we celebrating?  Whose idea was this in the first place?  What is the significance of the decorations?  Witches, ghosts, murder, fear... these themes are promoted to what end?

If I seem to be a Halloween "Grinch," it is only because I fail to see anything beautiful about this unholy observance.  We have such a beautiful world, but it is tarnished with death by sin.  Sin has marred this world and brought all manner of evil and suffering into it, specifically death.  Why would we want to celebrate that?  If we are to observe these things, let it be shamefacedly.   Let it be a somber time of resolution, maybe, but certainly not a festival. 

Celebrate the things that are lovely, not the things that are ugly.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8