RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION by H. J. Farman

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 26, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 17.

RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION.

By H. J. Farman

Is It Profitable? Is It Right?

BY H. J. FARMAN.

MANY people think it is. They say we must have religious laws to protect certain religious institutions from desecration by the lawless. Let us see if this conclusion is well taken.

Jesus says: "If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not." John 12:47. "If any man hear My sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not." A. R. V. As therefore Christ did not judge the unbeliever or the one who kept not His sayings, what right has any man or tribunal of men to judge him religiously or for being irreligious? A man's religious convictions are the most sacred heritage of heaven. To intimate even that a man might be wrong religiously, is to some very irritating, and much more to prove them such. This, however, ought not so to be, for the "reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Prov. 6:23.

Again Christ said: "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My sayings, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48. Thus it is made plain that all religious matters are to be judged before Christ in the last day, and not before any earthly court.

To state the matter more definitely: The Father said, He, "sent not His Son into the world to judge the world" (John 3:17, A. R. V.); and Jesus said: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Now They did not say this by accident, but because no man or tribunal of men have any right to judge another religiously. And why?—Because religion is a "man's personal relation of faith and obedience to God." This he is to render to God alone, for himself, through himself, irrespective of any other human soul; and this because religion is "the recognition of God as an object of worship, love, and obedience." The moment that a government begins to legislate, or judge a man, religiously, that moment it begins to set itself up as God, and then begins the work of seeking to dethrone God. Such a step can not be but harmful both to the government and to the people, as the history of Rome and Russia both testify.

Why should men of any class want religious legislation for others, when they themselves would not wish to be judged religiously? Rather, why should not all men want religious freedom for all alike, that all might share equally of heaven's gift? Said Christ: "All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye unto them; for this is the law and the prophets." Matt. 7:12. Religious legislation is the result of religious intolerance in the heart. It is contrary to the principles of a free government, and repugnant to the conscience and sensibilities of a free people.