A Few Words: Ten Commandments

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

X (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge

A Ten Commandments monument which includes the command to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not lie about your neighbor.
You shall not covet.

In some ways I'm baffled about the United States government bending to those who are offended by the posting of the Ten Commandments on government properties and in courtrooms. Okay, so the first four might bother atheists, but then again if we look at these Commandments as the historical document that they are, any offense should be considered a non-issue. After all the foundation of law in western society has been rooted in the Ten Commandments. Thus we can argue that the Commandments are an element of our history.

Other than to those who have some aversion to God or the institution of religion, there is nothing in the final six commandments that should be problematic to anyone no matter what they believe. Arguably there is even merit for all in the first four Commandments though none of these have any actual legal implications from the standpoint of government in our day.

The actual desire in preventing the display of the Commandments is to remove any mention of God from our lives and our society. The whims of the few are imposed upon the many. Who should receive the greater respect, those Godless parts of society who would prefer that we all stop believing or God the Supreme Creator? Personally I'm in favor of God.

God will win this in the end, but first the other side might have their day of temporary glory. Believers might pay when that time comes, but our rewards will be much greater when God's time comes.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:17-22

New International Version (NIV)

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Fear + Honor = Love

English: "Honor thy father and thy mother...

"Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 (King James version), illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Psalm 111:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

My friends were often afraid of my father because he could be very loud. His booming voice could be mistaken for anger, but it was just the way he talked. I too was afraid of him at times. When he was angry, his anger was forceful. I feared the potential of his wrath.

My dad was a good father. He was generous in his provision for his family and his openness to strangers. He was a hard worker and a big dreamer. His penchant for traveling and having a good time was evident in the good memories I've reaped in growing up with him.

There were times when I did not show my father the respect he deserved, but down deep and in the long run I honored him and loved him. He could be a tough taskmaster, but following his house rules and his sage advice paid off. I am a better person because of who my father was and how I let him influence me.

The analogy here should be obvious. It's for good reason that "Honor thy parents" and "Honor God above all" take such a priority in the Ten Commandments. These aren't rules made to hinder us in any way, but they are there to help us to be better people.

God loves us and wants us to love Him back. That love for God comes in the form of honor and fear. Don't be afraid of who He is or what He can do, but be afraid of what you might do and the consequences of those actions. God does not separate himself from us, we separate ourselves from Him in our rejection of His way and disobedience to Him.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.