Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

John Locke (1632-1704), the English philosopher, had a profound influence on the nation's founding fathers, as well as the Restoration Movement (i.e., the restoring of the New Testament Christianity and the New Testament church), which resulted in the churches of Christ today. Natural Law, presently out of favor with the politically correct crowd, are those codes of conduct we instinctively know are right.

The laws of nature is reflected in the response in a recent TV commercial, "It was the right thing to do." It is echoed by children at play, when they cry, "That's not fair." There are some things that are just right in and of themselves. Paul argues (Romans 2:12-14 and context) that the gentiles living before the Gospel will be judged by Natural Law. The Apostle to the Gentiles (Paul) had previously (Romans 1:24-32) enumerated a number of sins that violates nature's laws.

Today, like those in the first century who "did not like to retain God in their knowledge," (Romans 1:28), the godless media and Hollywood have turned their backs on the God of our founding fathers. Their abandonment of nature's laws are reflected in Paul's list of sins against nature. In God's list of sins against natural law (Romans 1:24-32), we find homosexualism, fornication (two of Hollywood's favorite recreations), murder (abortion), back biters, haters of God, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, covenant breakers, without natural affection, and unmerciful. Take special note of the last verse, "knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Beyond Natural Law we have the Bible or Revealed Law. God has revealed how He wants the creatures created in his image to conduct themselves in the Gospel. In Romans one we find that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness" ( Romans 1:18 ASV). The "righteousness of God revealed" in the Gospel or New Testament. It, the New Testament, therefore becomes not only a handbook for God's church but a code book for godly living. Following God's will is always the right thing to do!

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:"

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:" "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers," "Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents," "Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:" "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."