Thanks for the explanation——As a Christian, I believe there’s God’s laws or moral laws. These are understood. Shall not murder, shall not steal, covet, etc. But the most important law is to “Love God more than anything”.
This covers all laws and as a follower of Christ we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and no man made law will make us moral....God does that. So I apologize as I was not and am not explaining clearly.
Here is what I was referring to in Romans 7 and in no WAY did I know “legislating morality” was a leftist talking point. Because if they were all followers of Christ the “abortionists” would not exist.
Romans 7:14-20—
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
But as with "love thy neighbor as thyself," and "do unto others..." which even atheists invoke, this presupposes a definitive substantive body teaching what love of God and each other entails, and thus the psalmist stated,
I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. (Psalms 119:96-98)
if they were all followers of Christ the “abortionists” would not exist.
True, and if no one drove recklessly, speed limits need not exist. But which flow from the Biblical principal of life being basically sacred. To be consistent with an animus against moral laws, these should not exist either.
Romans 7:14-20— 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Which is not referring to the law as unable to restrict behavior, but to conquer sin, which begins in the heart. (Mk. 7:21-23) The law - as holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12) as it is - is not the means to salvation, but reveals to man that he is a law-breaker, and in need salvation by effectual penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith in the Divine Son of God who saves sinners by His sinless shed blood. which faith is imputed for righteousness, (Romans 4:5) Glory and thanks be to God.
However, the law does indeed serve as a deterrent to sinful behavior, esp. via capital punishment via communal stoning (much of any prison system is conspicuously absent from the OT), and which begins in the home, as part of the formation of Godly character, progressing in Christ to not needing the fear of chastisement, but purely by love. Far from that myself.