One city government did a lot of media blitz, stating they had installed CCTVs on most of the roads in the city. The violators of traffic rules would be photographed, and a message ordering to pay penalty fines would be sent to the car owners’/drivers’ phones. The violators were supposed to pay the fine within three weeks. About twenty per cent of those who got the message paid up; the rest just ignored the message. The administration could not follow up by visiting the homes or confiscating the vehicles. They neither had the manpower nor the budget to collect those penalties. The scheme was quietly buried. Paul warns that lawlessness will lead to more lawlessness. (Romans 6:13)
More violations: The traffic in the city became worse. Most drivers lost both the fear of the law enforcers and CCTV, which means lawlessness leads to more lawlessness. The officials were like toothless tigers, creating perceptions but no action. The rash driving, traffic violations, and accidents increased.
Limitations of Law: The law does not have the power to transform people. Laws could create an awareness of violations or deviations, or sins. It creates an awareness about sin, and also can create a fear of punishment or fear of consequences. It does not change the hearts of the people.
Reforms: If society has to change, there should be an awareness of sin, an acknowledgement of sin, and a desire to forsake sin and choose a new way of life. Sadly, there is no awareness of sin in many cultures because they are blinded. Their spirituality does not have moral or ethical values. For example, sati, the burning of widows in the funeral pyre of their dead husband, was not seen as murder and sin. Instead, it was considered appropriate and loyal spirituality that expresses submission to the funeral pyre, embracing death. Hence, many societies and nations do not have the capacity to reform themselves. There is a need for the gospel light to shine on those cultures immersed in darkness.
Have I forsaken lawlessness and walking in light?