The 10 Commandments?

A funny thing happened to me on the way to work this morning…Well, it didn't exactly happen to me and it wasn't really funny.

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but around here folks are making popular a yard sign that reads "We Stand For" followed by an artist's rendition of the stone tablets containing God's Law to the Children of Israel (commonly called the "10 Commandments"). Have you ever taken the time to count the "10 commandments?" Personally, I count 10 "Thou shalt nots," one "remember" and one "honour." That makes 12.

I always find it amusing when, on the seventh day of the week, I pass by a house that is proudly displaying their stand for the "10 Commandments," and the family is out mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges or painting the garage. So much for remembering the Sabbath day… Of course, they probably believe that Sunday is the "new and improved" Sabbath...just because there are a couple references to the disciples meeting together for a meal on the first day of the week. They also met in synagogues, should we do the same simply because they did? Or are we allowed to pick and choose what truths we twist into modern dogma?

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" Second Timothy 4:3 and 4.

I passed by a house displaying that same yard sign during the Christmas season and they also had a "manger scene" in their front yard about 10 feet from it. If I am not mistaken, the second commandment reads "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above..." (Exodus 20:4). (The third one prohibits worshipping graven images, but the second one says they should not be made.) What hypocrisy! How can a person stand for something in which they do not believe? Why boast that you stand for something when in action you prove you do not? "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" First Corinthians 10:12. "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits...Be not wise in your own conceits." Romans 11:25a and 12:16b.

The crux of the problem stems from the fact that people today do not stand on Scripture for their beliefs, as Martin Luther called it, sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). It seems here in the United States people have begun to search for God, and unfortunately, they are using their own means and ideas to find him. "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..." Second Timothy 3:5. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" Titus 1:16.

At sporting and special events, "God Bless America" is sung immediately following the National Anthem. Moments of silence (AKA prayers) are offered on a regular basis at work, school and other functions. Church attendance is up, and that is considered to be a sign of "revival" in this country. Requests for and offering of prayer comes from nearly all government officials. People seem to be holding a higher regard for "religious things." Instead of singing a song that mentions God, how about reading the very book he wrote? It seems that many people are hoping that religiousness and churchliness will be their shield and protector...their saviour. Recently we passed a "church sign" that read "Looking for a Savior?" Of course people are looking for a saviour, but we need to be looking "into the perfect law of liberty, and continuing therein..." (James 1:25) to find the Saviour, not a savior. Unfortunately, modern people are looking in all the wrong places for their saviours, and worst of all--finding them. Things such as prayers/incantations, charities, churches, mentors, organizations, religions, pastors, programs, et al, have replaced Scripture as the only means to God. "For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" Second Corinthians 11:13 through 15. "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" James 1:26 and 27.

But how can we expect the world to search "the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15) when those claiming to be followers of God do not know what his book says or how to "rightly divide" it (II Tim. 2:15)? Instead of listening to organizations, politicians, news anchors, pastors, religious leaders, authors, mentors, etc., perhaps people should start going to God's Word for all doctrine. Stop going to church and start going to God's Word. Stop depending on a person to read God's Word for you and start reading it yourself. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being in the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power..." Hebrews 1:1 through 3. Stop calling for "revival" in a country that completely ignores God's Word and begin pleading for evangelism. The act of reviving something is to put life back into it. Dr. Frankenstein found out what happens when you give life to something that was dead--he created a monster, and so will we, if we are not careful.

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" First Peter 1:22 through 25.