Many people ask why Christians do not have detailed sharia laws like the rules of a religious state. Does that mean Christianity has no moral standards? Or does grace make everything completely free? If we read the Bible, the answer is clear and beautiful. Christians do not live without law, but rather live under the Law of Christ which was fulfilled by Jesus and written by the Spirit in the heart. This is the core difference: not the absence of law, but the transition from the national system of Israel to a new covenant that is global and based on heart transformation.
The Law of Moses Fulfilled by Christ, Not Arbitrarily Abolished
Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The Law and the prophets point us to Christ. In Him, the sacrifices, festivals, and ritual regulations reach their ultimate meaning. Therefore, Paul wrote “do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day—these are a shadow of the things that were to come” and “the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). This means that the ritual and national elements of Israel no longer bind the church, which is multiethnic, but their meaning is fulfilled in Christ.
From Stone Tablets to the Heart
The prophet foretold a new covenant when God “puts My law within them and writes it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). A similar promise is affirmed through a “new heart” and the Spirit who enables the people to “live according to all My decrees” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Paul explains this work: “The law, weakened by the flesh and unable to be fulfilled, was accomplished by God sending His Son”, and now the righteousness of the law is “fulfilled in us who live according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4). Therefore, God’s moral standard remains, but the way to fulfill it is not through a list of civil penalties, but through new birth and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Decision of the Jerusalem Council: Faith in Christ, Not Entry into the National System of Israel
When the demand arose that non-Jewish believers undergo circumcision and follow all the Mosaic regulations, the apostles prayed, discussed, and then decided “The Holy Spirit and we have decided” not to impose a heavier burden than the essentials for fellowship (Acts 15:28-29). The main point is clear. The inclusion of the nations into God’s people happens through faith in Christ, not through conversion to the national legal system of Israel. This is why the church does not have a uniform sharia law like a country’s legislation.
The Law of Christ: Love as Fulfillment
There is no national sharia, but there is the Law of Christ. Paul describes himself as “not living without the law of God, but under the law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21). James calls it the “royal law” and the “law of the kingdom,” which is “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8). Paul summarizes that “the entire law is fulfilled in one word, namely, Love your neighbor as yourself” and that “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:8-10). Love here is not a soft feeling, but an active commitment born from the work of the cross and the guidance of the Spirit.
Grace Is Not a License to Live as You Please
Some people misunderstand, thinking that because they are not under the law, everything is permitted. Paul strongly refutes this, “You are not under the law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law?” and he answers “By no means!” (Romans 6:14-15). Grace frees us from the penalty of sin to enable us to overcome the power of sin. The real fruit of living in the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and “against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). This is the kingdom ethic that goes beyond external obedience.
Why the Church Does Not Establish State Sharia Law
The Kingdom of Christ “is not of this world” in the sense that its source of power is not political force (John 18:36). The church is a community across ethnicities and nations. If there were a single civil law book for all, it would clash with the diversity of contexts and would replicate ethnic boundaries that Christ has already broken down, who “has broken down the dividing wall and “abolished the law with its commandments and regulations” as markers of national identity (Ephesians 2:14-15). Therefore, the church focuses on spiritual discipline, teaching, sacraments, and discipleship, while criminal and civil matters are governed by each respective state. The standard remains holy, but the instrument is pastoral, not state coercion.
Reading the Torah Today: Still Useful, Application Methods Have Changed
What is the position of the Old Testament law now? Its moral principles reveal the character of God and continue to guide the conscience. However, the ritual and civil provisions that formed Israel’s national identity have been fulfilled in Christ and do not bind the church as a sharia law. We interpret it through the lens of the Gospel, asking what its ultimate meaning is in Christ, and then how the Spirit guides us to apply it in love that builds up.
Practical Guide to Making Ethical Decisions Without Sharia Law
- Ask Christocentric. Does this glorify Jesus who died and rose for me?
- Ask love. Does this truly love God and neighbor? Matthew 22:37-39.
- Ask holiness. Is this in line with the call to a holy life? 1 Peter 1:15-16.
- Ask the body of Christ. Does this build up the church, not just satisfy oneself? 1 Corinthians 10:23-24.
- Ask the Spirit and the Word. Is this consistent with the fruit of the Spirit and the light of the Word? Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 119:105.
Conclusion
So, why do Christians not have sharia law? Because Christ has fulfilled the Law and opened a new covenant that writes God’s law on the heart through the Holy Spirit. The church is not defined by a single civil code, but by the Law of Christ which guides the people to love God and neighbor by the power of grace. This is not a looser standard, but a deeper calling. Not merely obedience out of fear of sanctions, but obedience because the heart has been renewed. There true freedom meets true holiness, and the world sees the Gospel not only proclaimed but lived out.
