Christians seem to want to do this all the time.
I was reminded of it, listening to a sermon by Rob Jones, one time rector of St James Turramurra (I don't endorse the current silly sermon series title 'man up for God', by the way; puerile!). In mentioning Puritans, he observed that they generally failed in their objectives for a couple of reasons. One was that they sought to legislate what they saw as godliness.
Christians still do it today. I call it moral tinkering.
The 'debate' on 'gay' marriage (really homosexual marriage) is an example. The talk by churchmen of 'ethics' classes in lieu of scripture in public schools is another.
Now, I don't really care what the world does with its idea of marriage and nor should public Christians. For Christians its a distraction. No matter who is married to whom, for what reason or by whom, if the are not followers of Christ, they are not in his family. Our mission is to proclaim the gospel, not to encourage cute, but etermally useless moral conformity. If the ship is sinking, I don't care where the deck chairs are and neither should any other Christian.
The debate on 'ethics' was similar. No Christian churchman made the point that no end of ethics classes would not deal with people's inability to do as even they would want to!
So what happens when ethics fails?
Christians would point to forgiveness and salvation in Christ. All the world can do is shrug its shoulders, and maybe throw you in gaol.
Its a bit different when it comes to the death penalty, free access to firearms and abortion. These kill people and remove their opportunity for life and future encounter with Christ. All should be stopped. That's not moral tinkering, that's part of proclaiming the gospel and acting mercifully to seek opportunities for people to join the family of God.
