What Is The Law of Your Land?     By Carl McMurray

 

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, told an audience of several hundred at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, Thursday night, that those who chose to live in England and Wales had to accept the laws as they found them. He made it quite clear that Muslims were a welcome and important part of the British culture, but that if they chose to come to that country then they were also choosing to abide by the laws of England and Wales. Sharia law was NOT the law of that land.

 

Lord Phillips makes sense to me. If you come to a country to enjoy its blessings and privileges, you must abide by its laws. If you want Sharia law, go back where Sharia law is the law of the land. Having visited a number of foreign nations I am of the opinion that it is the law of the land which, to a large degree, makes that nation what it is, grants and guarantees it’s freedoms, etc. It is nonsense to leave a nation where you don’t like the living conditions, and then try and bring that same system to a new nation that has the freedoms and blessings you desire.

 

I think the principle above is valid and easy to understand and I believe most Americans would agree with it. The inconsistency of American denominationalism then mystifies me. It would seem that all could understand that if you come to the kingdom of heaven, the nation of spiritual Israel, you should abide by its law also. If you don’t want to be a Christian, that’s your choice, given to you by your Creator. But, if you want to be a part of the Lord’s kingdom you need to leave the world’s value system of self, “my desires”, “what I like”, etc. back in the world.

 

To be in the kingdom, a Christian, one must be born again, baptized, buried in water for the remission of sins, John 3:3-5, Acts 22:16; 2:38. To say, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t have to be baptized,” is nonsense. To say. “I don’t have to go to church,” is ridiculous for the Christian, Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25. To say, “I don’t have to meet on the first day and I don’t have to eat the Lord’s supper,” is foolishness, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-33. It makes no more sense for men to organize Christ’s church the way THEY want, pursue the missions THEY want to pursue, or spend the Lords’ money the way THEY choose, than it does to try and take our laws to another nation and demand that they be accepted as well.

 

If you want to live in a kingdom or nation, you need to accept the laws as you find them or go back to where you like the laws. Stay in the world if you choose, but if you come to Christ, it must be on HIS terms, and HIS terms only.