Ungodly Laws Passed in Britain Since 1950 – a leaflet.
When I first encountered this leaflet, I was appalled. Seeing these laws catalogued together starkly highlighted how far our nation has declined. This realisation was particularly sobering, as most of this deterioration has occurred within my lifetime.
When I discovered them, I was writing my first book, The Tide Has Turned, which includes an account of how these laws affected society in the 1960s and 70s. While I was aware of some, I had not grasped the sheer number that had been passed. This discovery reinforced the central message of my work: that many of us have allowed these changes to unfold with little thought or resistance.
Another source of my astonishment was the silence from church leaders on these issues. They neither taught about them nor discussed whether the church should address the nation’s moral decline. When I later questioned some leaders, I was told that the church was not responsible for what happens in society. I found this stance deeply troubling, as I believe scripture teaches otherwise.
I gained this understanding from many parts of the Bible, but let’s just look at one account of how God’s dealings with Israel offers particular insight into how he views things.
In Ezekiel 13:5, we read:
“You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it.”
Historical records of walled cities show that these structures were built to protect their citizens. If breaches were left unattended, the safety of all was at risk. Every walled city in ancient Israel had engineers responsible for constant surveillance. This imagery is echoed in Amos 7, where the prophet saw the Lord standing beside a wall with a plumbline in His hand, checking for weaknesses. (In many cases, two walls stood with adjoining pillars, and the space between them was often filled with household waste.) A bulge in the wall indicated internal corruption that could lead to sudden collapse, as foreseen in Isaiah 30:12-14.
These scriptures hold profound significance for British churches in the mid-2020s.
The Ungodly Laws leaflet tracks these laws from the year of my birth, revealing a trajectory that has profoundly affected all our lives. Many of these laws concern marriage and divorce, contributing to the degradation of marriage, the breakdown of family life, and the redefinition of traditional marriage—once understood as a union between a man and a woman.
Laws that once restrained sexual immorality were replaced by ones that decriminalised certain behaviours. This loosening of attitudes has corrupted and depraved society, embedding such behaviours into the culture.
1951 saw the passing of The Fraudulent Mediums Act. This abolished The Witchcraft Act and legalised witchcraft in Britain which had been banned for centuries and made all occult activities legal. Witchcraft activities are offensive to God (Deut. 18:10-13). Paul says that idolatry is the first step in the corruption of human civilisation which leads to "sexual impurity" and other "shameful lusts" (Rom. 1.24-32). We now see the proliferation of occultic activities not least through, what used to be called, the “New Age” movement although practitioners reject the term today.
In 1965, the death penalty for murder was abolished. Shortly thereafter, the Abortion Act of 1967 was passed, permitting abortions under specific conditions. Since then, these conditions have not been adhered to and over 10 million unborn children have been killed, with an average of 370 abortions performed daily in British hospitals.
Obscenity laws were also relaxed, enabling the widespread publication of pornography and literature of an explicit sexual nature.
Additionally, laws permitting Sunday trading, expanding gambling opportunities (e.g., the National Lottery), and undermining national sovereignty through membership of the European Union all contributed to the erosion of a society once founded on Judeo-Christian principles.
I strongly recommend obtaining and reading this leaflet. While it may shock you, it could also lead you to explore the accompanying leaflets on repentance and corporate repentance. These are particularly relevant if the above topics are seldom addressed in your local church.
Ungodly Laws Passed in Britain Since 1950 is available to read and/or download on the C&MM website at www.candmministries.org.uk (search: Research Papers and Leaflets) or go here.
The Repentance and Intercession Leaflets
The Repentance and Intercession Leaflets were originally produced as separate resources but have now been combined into one document. This series includes:
An introduction sheet: Repentance Is Not a Quick Fix – It’s a Way of Life
This leaflet teaches that true repentance requires time, prayer, reflection, and tears. It sets the stage for understanding the other resources in the series.
The introduction emphasises the importance of recognising our sinful nature, which often prioritises self over God.
True worship of God allows Him to guide us into all truth. Repentance involves acknowledging not only our wrongdoings but also the self-righteousness that leads us to take pride in our “good” deeds, mistakenly thinking they make us more acceptable to God. True righteousness belongs to God alone.
Additionally, we must repent of unbelief, whether in God’s Word or in our obedience when He asks us to act. These principles apply to individuals and the corporate body of believers in any location.
The other leaflets are:
What Is Repentance?
This leaflet examines the biblical meaning of repentance. When calls for repentance are made, are we asking people merely to apologise to God or to feel sorry for their actions? This resource tells us what true repentance, as described in Scripture.
Praying with Repentance (Using Daniel 9)
This leaflet addresses the difficulty some may feel in repenting for actions they perceive as not their responsibility. It uses the Prophet Daniel as an example. Although Daniel was not personally responsible for Israel’s sins, (he didn’t even live there having been exiled in Babylon), he identified with the sinful nation and earnestly petitioned God to turn away His wrath. While we can only repent for ourselves, Daniel’s example shows how we can intercede for our communities and nations.
The Process of Repentance
The concept of repentance is deeply rooted in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. The key word, tshuva, means “to return.” When someone has sinned, they must stop sinning and return to God’s ways. This principle applies to individuals, communities, nations, and today’s churches, denominations, and organisations. Repentance involves turning away from wrongdoing and turning towards what is right in God’s eyes.
In The Tide Has Turned, I call upon church leaders to repent of teaching false doctrines, such as Replacement/Fulfilment Theology and Restorationism. Leaders must seek a genuine understanding of and commitment to truthful expounding of God’s Word.
The Ministry of Intercession
Prayer is a conversation with God, akin to a child speaking with a parent. It involves both speaking and listening. While many prayers arise from personal needs, intercession is distinct: it focuses on the needs of others.
The Repentance and Intercession Leaflets are available to read and/or download on the C&MM website at www.candmministries.org.uk (search: Research Papers and Leaflets) or go here.