Yeshua Explored
14th May 2023
Which way?
How has the World re-interpreted the Ten Commandments?
Now let’s compare the old with the new, God’s timeless truths, then the “Sinner’s Charter” as followed by the World …
- “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
You can have as many gods you like, as long as you don’t encourage others to believe as you do.
- “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)
Feel free to place your affections and favour anywhere you like, as long as you don’t hurt or disrespect anyone. Whatever decision you make is yours and yours only and it is not up to anyone else to pass judgement on your choices.
- “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name”. (Exodus 20:7)
We must learn to respect each other in words as well as actions, so we must be careful how we speak, otherwise you may be (perhaps unwittingly) committing an offence against society and be dealt with accordingly.
- “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
Work, rest and play. You have freedom to choose what works for you, but you also have a responsibility for your family and your sense of self-worth to be a good citizen and help support the economy. No day is extra special and no-one has the right to impose their ancient traditions on your daily life.
- “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”. (Exodus 20:12)
Do what seems best for your parents, at all times, but rest assured that society can ease the burden of an aged relative, so trust it to look after your loved ones in a satisfactory manner.
- “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
You must not kill another regardless of the circumstances and seek to preserve life as society defines it, unless personal freedom compels you otherwise.
- “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
Be discreet in your relationships, so that as few people as possible would be affected by your actions. Of course, society has no right to judge on these personal issues.
- “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Stealing of possessions is an offence against society and should be duly punished. The stealing of human beings is also wrong and ought to be punished if possible.
- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.” (Exodus 20:16)
Fake News is indeed the scourge of our times but sometimes we need to follow the narrative and take into account different interpretations of an event. Nothing is ever black and white, truth is an ever-moving target, it is not an absolute.
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17)
There is nothing wrong with having the ambition to strive to legally acquire what you don’t have. There is nothing wrong in fulfilling your desires.
So how is this going to work out for Christians? Will it end in tears or are we going to do something about it? Are the “Ten Commandments” for today’s Christian, let alone today’s society? What would Jesus want us to do, bearing in mind that he didn’t annul any of them? How would he want us to relate to them?
It’s time for a revisit … next week This is an extract from the book, Sinner’s Charter: Are the ten commandments for today?, available for £10 at https://www.sppublishing.com/the-sinners-charter-260-p.asp
