Zenas’ Brief – November 2024
Thanksgiving – A time to celebrate and be thankful for the laws
Pastors, churches, and friends in the faith, yes, we ought to include these in our Thanksgiving celebration. And, thanks to God for His laws and also the laws of our federal, state, and local communities. The Bible has much to say about covenants and God’s law. Psalm 119 teaches and reminds us to honor and be guided by God’s laws, for example v.1 How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of Lord.
Your Legal Team suggests that we are blessed, enabled, and protected by our laws and so we ought to express thankfulness for them. Consider the following attributes of our laws.
- Laws enable a church to be a non-profit corporation which provides protection from personal liability for church leaders and members. That status enables churches to have exclusive use of its name; exemptions from income, property, and sales taxes; and to own and use property; enter into contracts, engage in numerous activities, and have continuity as members and leaders change.
- Laws provide for the safety of churches and visitors through a variety of codes such as building, fire, electrical, and so forth.
- Laws help ensure freedom of religion and speech, and other freedoms, allowing people to gather for worship and ministry activities, to preach God’s word.
- Laws help through what is called “the rule of law”, a system of guiding principles that assure legal standards, procedures, and rights which in turn serve to bolster our confidence.
We also ought to be thankful and pray for those who enact, enforce, and implement the laws that affect us at all levels. That includes legislators, officials, administrative, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
We do indeed have much to be thankful for when it comes to our laws. That is not to say that our laws and legal system are flawless, for they are not, or that we need not be anxious about our laws. But as God has told us, justice remains central:
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
