On Friday’s post about natural law, the guy arguing that we ought to be governed by natural law said that there are contradictions between Christ’s law, and civil law. I’d say that is impossible. How can any part of God’s law contradict itself?

First of all, if you don’t know what the aspects of God’s law are, here is a quick explanation. For this discussion, there will be five aspects of God’s law. The moral, civil and ceremonial are divisions of the Old Testament law given to Moses. That law is beautiful, and perfect (Psalm 19:7). Christians ought to love God’s law (Psalm 119).The moral law: The Ten Commandments are a summary of the moral law. They define what sin is. The vast majority of Christians think that this law remains in effect today.

1. The moral law: The Ten Commandments are a summary of the moral law. They define what sin is. The vast majority of Christians think that this law remains in effect today.
2. The ceremonial law: These laws include laws about the Old Testament priesthood and sacrifices and diets, etc. These laws were fulfilled by Christ on the cross. They aren’t applicable today.
3. The civil law: It isn’t always clear cut how these would apply today. Some seem to be combined with ceremonial law, but where they are clear, the New Testament never says they aren’t in effect today.
4. The natural law: Is referenced a couple times in Scripture. It is the law written on our hearts, and even those who’ve never heard of the Bible will be judged by it.
5. The law of Christ: I think there is some divergence here among Christians, but I think there is only one position on this that makes sense, which is the subject of this post.

The natural law guy I discussed this with gave examples from what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, and said this is the law of Christ (which I agree) and that if government operated under the law of Christ, they would cease to exist. I think that is preposterous. It is a misunderstanding of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, and sets up all kinds of contradictions. But, the gist is that Jesus was speaking of personal morality not civil law. In Romans 12, it says that we shouldn’t take revenge on those who wrong us, but let the government take care of it. Obviously, Paul wasn’t contradicting Jesus, as Paul was inspired to write by Jesus.

So what is the law of Christ? It is the laws that are applicable to us today. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He is expecting us to be clear on what His commandments are and obey Him. The laws of Christ can’t contradict any previous laws, though the ceremonial laws are fulfilled. The moral law of the Old Testament is part of it. Furthermore, when Jesus says, for example, that lust is adultery in the Sermon on the Mount, He wasn’t adding to the moral law. Lust was adultery in the Old Testament as well, even if it wasn’t ever spelled out. Jesus wasn’t adding to the law, or changing the law, but expounding on it.

The law of God is a reflection of His character. If you were to say that the law of Christ contradicted the civil law, you’re causing all kinds of problems. The moral law of the Old Testament was perfectly consistent with the civil law of the Old Testament. The civil laws are the case laws of moral infractions. In Exodus 20, God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 21, there are civil laws—application of the moral laws given in the previous chapter. You can’t tell me there is a contradiction between the civil law and the moral law. If you did, you’re saying there are contradictions between Exodus 20 and Exodus 21.

The Sixth Commandment is “You shall not murder.” What is murder? When someone breaks into your house and you kill him, is that murder? That question is answered in the civil law. (The Bible doesn’t line up with Colorado law).

The New Testament says murderers will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8-9), but it never defines murder. When Nazis murdered Jews that was legal under German law, but does anyone think that if the Nazis don’t repent they won’t go to hell for that? If I murder someone under the civil law, but it is legal under Colorado law, does anyone think that I won’t go to hell for that? Does the law of the land make any difference when I’m standing before God? Does God care about Colorado law?

All that to say that the best law and the only law consistent with the moral law is the civil law of the Old Testament. This is called theonomy.

The church better get this figured out. We can’t afford 100 more years of the stupidity we’ve had, and the self-contradictory mush of this natural law guy. This kind of biblical ignorance isn’t going to defeat tyranny as he was hoping.

Some Christians who are opposed to a Christian theocracy governing a country like to tout natural law. Natural law was also popular among the founding fathers. I’ve been looking forward to discussing natural law with someone, and I have pasted the conversation below.

Natural law is a phrase that is found in the Bible. The way the Bible talks about it is the law that is written on our hearts. Our conscience reflects natural law, and it is the minimum standard we’ll all be held to on Judgment Day–even those who never had access to Scripture.

But thank God that everyone reading this has access to Scripture. We don’t have to wander in the dark trying to figure out what natural law is when the law is spelled out explicitly in Scripture. Natural law would have to be completely consistent with Old Testament law and any changes to the law found in the New Testament. It wouldn’t make any sense for natural law to contradict Scripture.

So, it seems to me that those who say we ought to govern by natural law but not by Scripture are setting up their own contradictions. All we have to do is point out the contradictions.

Every human being on earth lives in a theocracy. The only question is whether it will be a Christian theocracy governed by God’s law or a pagan theocracy governed by a false god. The choice seems obvious to me.

—————— ME

I don’t mean to post a long list of questions for you to answer in detail. Hopefully short answers will suffice.

1. How do we find out what natural law is?
2. Do you believe God’s law revealed in Scripture contradicts natural law?
3. If there are no contradictions, why wouldn’t we just say government ought to operate under God’s law which is most clearly revealed in Scripture?
4. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…” (Matthew 28:18-20). Does Christ’s authority include authority over government?
5. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). If our government and constitution don’t acknowledge the lordship of Christ, do you think they are for or against Christ?

When a Muslim government cuts off a thief’s hand, is that just or unjust? When a Mexican sneaks across the border, would it be acceptable for the government to shoot him? The Bible speaks on these questions and ALL other questions of civil law and justice. If you reject God’s law, all you have to go on is your opinion.

You might not like Muslims cutting of a thief’s hand, but his arbitrary opinion is just as (in)valid as your arbitrary opinion. Go to a Trump rally and ask whether we should shoot illegal Mexicans crossing the border. (I’ve heard some of them say we should.) Are you going to respond by quoting Cicero and appealing to natural law? I would quote Leviticus 19:34, and say that anyone who shoots a Mexican “illegally”crossing the border will stand before God as a murderer on Judgment Day, whether they have the blessing of Congress or not.

—————— THE NATURAL LAW MAN

1. How do we find out what natural law is? (According to Cicero in the first century B.C. “reason and rationale of one made in God’s reveals Natural Law”)
2. Do you believe God’s law revealed in Scripture contradicts natural law? Christ’s NEW Commandmant to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:35)? Is that the Law to which you refer? If so, then NO.
3. If there are no contradictions, why wouldn’t we just say government ought to operate under God’s law which is most clearly revealed in Scripture? Which Law, CHRIST’S LAW? If that’s the Law which you intend, then re-read the first paragraph of the post. IF YOU MEAN THE MOSAIC LAW – then the only issue you have is “remembering the Sabbath” – “lying” (which the government of the United States has never outlawed except in case of treason) and a host of other problems (what’s appropriate for the punishment of “adultery” for example – in the Mosaic Law it was stoning).
4. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…” (Matthew 28:18-20). Does Christ’s authority include authority over government? YES. God called the evil Baybloynian Empire (“my servant”), even though Babylon had nothing to do with Yahweh.
5. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). If our government and constitution don’t acknowledge the lordship of Christ, do you think they are for or against Christ? All governments, whether they ‘acknowledge Christ or not’ (America’s Founding Documents make NO MENTION of Christ) are still “God’s servants” to “punish the evil doer.”

When a Muslim government cuts off a thief’s hand, is that just or unjust? NO When a Mexican sneaks across the border, would it be acceptable for the government to shoot him? NO The Bible speaks on these questions and ALL other questions of civil law and justice. If you reject God’s law, all you have to go on is your opinion.

—————— ME

You said, “Christ’s NEW Commandment to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:35)? Is that the Law to which you refer? If so, then NO.”

It sounds like you think there are contradictions between the law of Christ and the law of Moses. Of course the law of Moses is given by Yahweh. Jesus is Yahweh, which is Trinitarianism 101. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” He was quoting Leviticus 19:18. That is hardly a new (as in the something young definition) law that Jesus was instituting.

Furthermore, I don’t think there is any contradiction between what Jesus said and the Old Testament. It’s just that some of the laws are fulfilled by Christ. We obey some of them by trusting in Christ for salvation (ceremonial), and some of them are still binding (at least the moral law).

3. You said there’s no contradiction between natural law and Christ’s law. Then you said read the first paragraph to see the problem with operating under the law of Christ. So I’m confused.

Before Christ, Cicero said, “It is a sin to try to alter this law, nor is it allowable to repeal any part of it, and it is impossible to abolish it entirely.” Yet you say there is a contradiction between Mosaic civil law and natural law. Are you saying the Mosaic civil law was unjust? Hebrews 2:2 says it is just. Or maybe natural law changed after Christ, and Cicero was just incorrect?

5. You didn’t answer the question.

When a Muslim government cuts off a thief’s hand, they’re punishing evil, right? But how do you know what the proper punishment for theft is without looking into Scripture? Scripture provides the only absolute standard of justice. Natural law and reasoning are wholly inadequate for determining the proper punishment for thieves.

You said, “America’s Founding Documents make NO MENTION of Christ”. I’d be content with the Declaration of Independence reference to the Creator (assuming they were referring to the God of the Bible; I don’t know whether they were or not). But the Constitution is antichrist and unbiblical in many ways. It has certainly not been successful in what it set out to accomplish as 55 million dead babies would attest.

Thanks for your responses.