Recently, Rena Lindevaldsen, Liberty University Law School’s interim dean, delivered an address to students on the question “Do Government Officials Have Authority to Impose Their Morals on Others?”

Lindevaldsen’s answer was a resounding “yes,” provided that the morals being imposed are Christian ones. But if the morals being imposed are not Christian ones, then the answer is obviously “no.”

As she explained, “civil government only has the authority that God has established” and so “civil government, if it’s acting rightfully within its authority, should be acting consistent with Scripture.”

“Government’s only just authority [is] derived from God and it’s purpose is to protect those inalienable rights that we have been given, not to infringe them as we’re seeing take place a lot in society today,” Lindevaldsen said. “Whether it’s zoning or taxes or marriage or abortion, in those issues, government doesn’t have authority to say that these things are appropriate because they’re contrary to Scripture.”