Anyone who denies that God exists is ‘lawless.’

“John, you jerk! You think I’m lawless because I don’t share your faith??!! HOW ARROGANT!!!!”

Actually, the arrogance is coming from the one who believes he can define what is lawful all by herself. I don’t have an ego large enough to do that.

You pretend that your adherence to a few specific civil laws makes you a ‘law abiding citizen.’ You don’t commit burglaries or shove old women off cliffs so you smugly proclaim you’re ‘following the law.’

But you exceed the speed limit, fudge your income taxes, set off illegal fireworks, and let your dog poop in the public park. You ignore any law you consider outdated, unnecessary, or too restrictive. You don’t respect all civil laws. You pick and choose which laws apply to you.

At your discretion, you ignore moral laws too. You laugh at the command to have no other gods before your creator. You don’t keep the Sabbath. You bow only to your idea of ‘lawfulness’ while denying that you’re an idolator. You can justify stealing, lying, adultery, dishonoring your parents, and even murder when it suits your purposes. Your laws are arbitrary and subject to change at any moment.

Having a law that bends to your will is the same as having no law at all.

(1 Timothy 1:9) realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,