Public and Private – Law Matters: The Law and the Nations (5)

Public and Private

Law Matters: The Law and the Nations (5)

For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Matthew 14:3, 4

The paper currency of the United States declares itself to be legal tender for all debts, public and private. The Law of God is of the same ilk. Not only should the public policies of public officials reflect agreement with the Law of God, properly understood, but their private lives should as well. And as it is the duty of the believer to augur for public policies in line with God’s Law, so we must not be reluctant to point out any private transgressions on the part of our public officials.

This is what John the Baptist did. Herod, who was not a Jew, was living in violation of Leviticus 20:21, and that without any semblance of discretion. His transgression was public knowledge. Doubtless John began to assail the king in public, away from his presence. This may have been the occasion for his being arrested. But being arrested did not change his opinion or resolve, as he now had the opportunity to say to Herod that he was guilty of transgressing God’s Law.

The increasing popularity of the “town hall” format among American politicians means that the opportunity for publicly asserting the will and Word of God into political campaigns and policies is richer than it has been in many years. Christians must not fail to take advantage of such situations to offer counsel and advice to their public officials, but also to declare the Word of the Lord against any transgressions, public or private, of His holy and righteous and good Law.

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.