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Should We Legalize Drugs And Prostitution?
Bible study on drugs and prostitution.

As in the past, the debate to legalize immoral activities will continue for many years. The debate over legalizing abused drugs has again come to the forefront of politics, but I am also beginning to hear some in the media discuss the efficacy of legalizing prostitution.

The problem with these debates is that God and the Bible have been removed as the standard of morality. And, as the minds of men further depart from the moral standard of God, there remains no appeal to a higher authority other than the base instincts of an immoral generation.

The arguments to legalize abused substances and prostitution affirm that prohibiting an act in society by making it illegal has never been a solution to controlling crime, and that those who desire to engage in the act will do so even in creating a black market. Also, the argument affirms that when an illegal act is legalized, many of the associated problems and crimes disappear. But, let me suggest that such arguments are flawed. While it is true that prohibition has never completely stopped any action in society, this is not an acceptable excuse to legalize the action. Conversely, if making a thing legal were the answer to crime we could simply make everything legal and all crime would be brought under control. For example, if it is true that legalizing a thing will stop or decrease the crime, why do we not make it legal to drink alcoholic beverages at any age? Then, everyone under society's accepted minimum age to choose to drink or abstain from alcoholic beverages would never take a drink until reaching the specified age. But, we see that this and other such examples are absurd. Furthermore, the manner by which a society communicates its overall approval or disapproval of behavior, such as the acceptable age to choose between drinking alcoholic beverages or abstaining from such beverages, is by establishing laws. This is also true in the case of God governing the Jews under the Old Law.

Paul says in Romans 7:7; "Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." Also, Paul says in Galatians 3:24: "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." So, we see that God used law to teach the Jews (therefore all men) sin (lawlessness). And, if we in society are going to train the members of society in regards to behavior, we must do it by law. The point is, society either condones or approves of behavior by the laws that are established and consequently enforced.

Of course, we know that making a thing legal or illegal will not of necessity stop crime or immorality unless you consider the circumstances arising from a country void of all law as a country void of all crime. For example, the USA has experienced both sides of this issue with liquor. The prohibition of liquor, nor the legalization of liquor stopped drunkenness and the associated problems such as driving while under the influence, killing of innocent people by drunk drivers, and other violent crimes.

Likewise, the legalization of abused substances, prostitution, or any other immoral action will not make society better, but make it worse. The legalization of such immoral acts only initially make law enforcement easier because fewer people are arrested, tried and jailed. But, eventually immorality breeds immorality without improving society.

So, some may ask, if we do not make "minor" immoral acts legal, what should be done about overcrowded jails and prisons? Let me reiterate from a previous article that we need to rule society in the fashion God ruled - with a moral, fair and strict judicial system that implements capitol punishment. And, ensures that offenders are severely punished. Yes, this will cost us some extra dollars in the beginning, but will save many more dollars once criminals understand that they will severely pay for crime, and that criminal behavior will not be tolerated in society. Although this will not eliminate crime, it is the best proven method of controlling crime and modifying criminal behavior - it is the method used by God while He ruled the Children of Israel.

Let me humbly suggest that we must call our governing officials to mirror morals taught in the Bible. After all, is this not the function of a government? Paul says in Romans 13:4: "For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." So, since we have been blessed to live in a self-ruling society (a government for and by the people), do we not individually have a responsibility to do our part in governing and standing for the moral principles of God? And, if we are to stand for God, should we not be committed to do everything possible to promote a government that "does not bear the sword in vain ... an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil?" Or, will we be the unprofitable servant - one who has been blessed by God and given opportunity to do good, but simply hides his blessing in the ground?

Let me further suggest that the means used to involve ourselves with government must be in a Christ-like manner which necessitates submission to the government that rules our society. Paul says in Romans 13:1: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

So, let us be thankful to the Lord that we live in the greatest country in the world wherein governing officials are elected from and by the citizenry. And, let us hasten to work for the Lord by promoting morality in a society governed for and by the people. Finally, let us call our governing representatives to Biblical morality wherein God has set the standard for acceptable behavior which, in many ways, has been set aside and replaced with the seared conscience of man.