Speaker Pelosi was asked about a federal response in support of local efforts, and she mentioned “legislation that would require those who were selling online, especially, to establish their legitimacy as to where these products came from, because what people do is they steal things and then sell them online. They have to establish their legitimacy if they're going to be sold online. … And it is, you know, absolutely out of the question that people should be able to think that they can just steal things, profit from them and not have any accountability on it.”
When further asked about crime and retailers leaving the city, Speaker Pelosi said, “What it is, it's absolutely outrageous. Obviously, it cannot continue. But the fact is that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don't know where, maybe you do, and we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm.”
“I don't know … maybe you do”
Lawlessness fundamentally comes from the sinfulness of man. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)
If man's sinful nature is not restrained through either self-control or government, then the natural result is sin in violation of God's Law.
Government cannot change the sinfulness of man. The Word of God says as much: “if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” (Galatians 3:21). Instead, man needs an internal change of heart, and that comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Government can and should, however, punish those who do evil. (Romans 13:4; 1 Peter 2:14). This does not change man's lawless sinful nature, but it does fulfill God's external purposes for people to be able to live with one another in peace.
That means the government should do more about sinful actions than just suppress attempts to temporarily benefit from sinful actions. It's not just sinful to make a profit from selling stolen goods. It's sinful, wrong, and should be unlawful to steal in the first place.
Father, we thank you for giving us your Law. We ask that You would give our lawmakers and law enforcers clarity about the purposes You've given every nation for having laws. May they be clear on why they are necessary, and be faithful to You in making and executing them.
Before Governor Felix, Paul “reasoned about • righteousness, • self-control, and the • judgment to come” (Acts 24:25)
If man's sinful nature is not restrained through either self-control or government, then the natural result is sin in violation of God's Law.
Government cannot change the sinfulness of man. The Word of God says as much: “if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” (Galatians 3:21). Instead, man needs an internal change of heart, and that comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Government can and should, however, punish those who do evil. (Romans 13:4; 1 Peter 2:14). This does not change man's lawless sinful nature, but it does fulfill God's external purposes for people to be able to live with one another in peace.
That means the government should do more about sinful actions than just suppress attempts to temporarily benefit from sinful actions. It's not just sinful to make a profit from selling stolen goods. It's sinful, wrong, and should be unlawful to steal in the first place.
Father, we thank you for giving us your Law. We ask that You would give our lawmakers and law enforcers clarity about the purposes You've given every nation for having laws. May they be clear on why they are necessary, and be faithful to You in making and executing them.
Before Governor Felix, Paul “reasoned about • righteousness, • self-control, and the • judgment to come” (Acts 24:25)
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