So, the issue is this. As Christians, we often find that many of the principles we adhere to (sexual chastity, material abstinence, placing God before the self, et al) are in direct contrast with modern society. Many Christians, teenage ones in particular, feel like they're being pressured to abandon Christian principles and live life in a very different way to what they view as moral.
The solution, according to religious social conservatives (American Republicans, British traditionalist Tories, the Polish PiS party, amongst others) is to pass laws restricting activity which Christians view as immoral. This has included abortion laws, anti-gay-rights laws, restricting adoption to married couples, ensuring sex education only talks about sex within marriage.
The problem with this is that we have no right to force our morality on those outside of our faith. Christianity is something you follow electively, and Christian laws are only things which can be followed once you accept Christ into your life. Seizing control of the state and passing laws to make everyone look and act like good little Christians is illogical and immoral.
The solution is simply to find more resilience against social pressure within yourself. And in all honesty, if you're finding it that difficult, you can't have much faith in your God anyway. The founders of the church lived in sewers and were persecuted by egomaniacal Roman emperors with thousands of highly trained soldiers at their disposal. I'm sure you can handle being seen as unfashionable.
There is a complication to this issue, involving the Great Commission. For non-Christians following this, or Christians who weren't don't pay enough attention in church, the Great Commission is the bit at the end of the Gospels, when Jesus says "go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you to do." This can be interpreted in a social-conservative sense; instructing people to adhere to Biblical principles with the backing of the law.
However, if you apply a dose of common sense, you will probably find this is not the case. As I sort-of said above, the way to spread the Gospel is not to read someone a list of laws to follow whilst holding a gun to there head. It is said throughout the New Testament that man cannot achieve holiness/salvation/Christian-ness through his own works, only through faith in Christ. Making people follow Christian laws is not the answer, simply because following Christian laws is not enough to be Christian. All we can do in light of the Great Commission is to be open about what we believe and argue our stance when called to, making the case that There Is A God Who Loves You And Died To Save You From Hell. Nothing beyond that will do any good, as people have to make the choice to follow Jesus themselves.
That's all for now, kids!
The solution, according to religious social conservatives (American Republicans, British traditionalist Tories, the Polish PiS party, amongst others) is to pass laws restricting activity which Christians view as immoral. This has included abortion laws, anti-gay-rights laws, restricting adoption to married couples, ensuring sex education only talks about sex within marriage.
The problem with this is that we have no right to force our morality on those outside of our faith. Christianity is something you follow electively, and Christian laws are only things which can be followed once you accept Christ into your life. Seizing control of the state and passing laws to make everyone look and act like good little Christians is illogical and immoral.
The solution is simply to find more resilience against social pressure within yourself. And in all honesty, if you're finding it that difficult, you can't have much faith in your God anyway. The founders of the church lived in sewers and were persecuted by egomaniacal Roman emperors with thousands of highly trained soldiers at their disposal. I'm sure you can handle being seen as unfashionable.
There is a complication to this issue, involving the Great Commission. For non-Christians following this, or Christians who weren't don't pay enough attention in church, the Great Commission is the bit at the end of the Gospels, when Jesus says "go and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you to do." This can be interpreted in a social-conservative sense; instructing people to adhere to Biblical principles with the backing of the law.
However, if you apply a dose of common sense, you will probably find this is not the case. As I sort-of said above, the way to spread the Gospel is not to read someone a list of laws to follow whilst holding a gun to there head. It is said throughout the New Testament that man cannot achieve holiness/salvation/Christian-ness through his own works, only through faith in Christ. Making people follow Christian laws is not the answer, simply because following Christian laws is not enough to be Christian. All we can do in light of the Great Commission is to be open about what we believe and argue our stance when called to, making the case that There Is A God Who Loves You And Died To Save You From Hell. Nothing beyond that will do any good, as people have to make the choice to follow Jesus themselves.
That's all for now, kids!
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