This California Law Exposed Biblical Lawlessness

Lawlessness is a sign of moral decay and rebellion in the Bible, and in the case of California, we see it on full display – until this week.

Prop 36 came into play this week, unwinding another law in the state of California which permitted criminals to steal up to $950 dollars worth of goods from stores and receive a mere slap on the wrist.

Unsurprisingly, Governor Gavin Newsom spoke openly against the Proposition which sought to restore order to the streets of California.

Prop 36: It’s Lawless Implications

Proposition 36, approved in the 2024 California election, increases penalties for certain theft and drug crimes, reclassifying some misdemeanors as felonies and introduces treatment-mandated felonies for drug offenses.

Prop. 36 also undoes Prop. 47 which came into place when now VP Kamala Harris was California’s Attorney General.

Prop. 47 allowed criminals to steal goods from stores and do so without repercussions, so long as the amount stolen was less than $950.

This law was in clear opposition to good governance as laid out for us in God’s Word where righteous deeds are to be further promoted and praised and deeds of wickedness (which includes theft) are to be punished. (Romans 13:1-4)

Crack Down On Crime; It’s The Christian Thing To Do

Being “soft on crime” isn’t beneficial to society, being proactive in fighting it is.

Tackling crime is essential to upholding justice and maintaining the moral order that God desires for society.

The Bible teaches that God has established governments and authorities to punish wrongdoing and promote good behavior.

Romans 13 states that those in authority are “God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.”

This passage highlights that the role of civil authorities is to protect the innocent, promote those who do that which is good, as well as to punish evildoers, making the enforcement of laws against crime a God-ordained responsibility.

As believers, we are encouraged to support efforts that uphold justice and curb lawlessness to ensure the safety and well-being of all people.

Furthermore, Christianity emphasizes the protection of the vulnerable and marginalized, and cracking down on crime aligns with this mission.

In Proverbs 31:8-9, believers are urged to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

By addressing crime and ensuring that wrongdoers are held accountable, Christians are doing that which we are called to do in Scripture – advocating for the protection of those who might otherwise suffer from violence, theft, or exploitation.

The main takeaway?

When lawlessness is praised and promoted by those in positions of authority, it causes several implications both spiritually and societally, affecting the moral fabric of a community, but thank God the opposite is also true!

Romans 13 isn’t in the Bible just to inform believers of what we are to do with those in places of authority, it is also there for those in positions of authority to know and understand how to establish, maintain and further justice.

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