"Today's Ten Commandments"
Somehow or another, a little tract (4" by 11," printed on both sides) showed up on my desk, but, then, many things do. (Some things disappear from it, also.) The title is in all small letters, although e.e. cummings does not appear to be the author of it. With a green background, the title in white letters is "today's 10 commandments." Sounds interesting, doesn't it? But it was rather boring and contradicted the Scriptures, too, since it claimed that the Ten Commandments of the Old Covenant that God gave to Israel (Ex. 31:14-17) were still binding today, which they are not.
One wonders how anyone familiar with the Bible can possibly miss the two designations: Old Testament and New Testament. They are not called the Old Testament and the Same Testament or the Newer Version of the Old Testament. The first covenant was done away with to make room for the second; furthermore, the second is better (Heb. 8:6-7). Paul clearly says that we have become dead to the law (Rom. 7:4). So, the tract was a disappointment.
But at least the title is thought-provoking. We cannot help but imagine what it would be like if it might refer to a new set of Ten Commandmentsones by which people are living by today. Yes, many folks are following the ways of secular humanism and have developed their own commandments in order to replace God's. What are, then, the commandments that man has chosen to live by? The evidence indicates that the following ideas are being subscribed to by 21st-century man. Five are "thou shalts," and five are, "Thou shalt nots." Of course, no one speaks this way today. But with this phraseology they sound more authoritative.
1. Thou shalt not judge me to any degree for any reason. No one needs to be engaged in very many conversations to realize that practically everyone's favorite verse is, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). Of course, Jesus was not saying what many interpret Him to mean; He was cautioning against critical judgments that have not taken into consideration all of the evidence.
On one occasion James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village of the Samaritans for their refusal to receive Jesus. They did not understand everything they needed to know about the situation, and Jesus rebuked them, saying, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of" (Luke 9:51-55). But Jesus did expect us to make righteous judgments (John 7:24).
What people today mean is that nobody has the right to tell them they are doing anything wrongno matter what it is. If the Bible teaches that it is wrong to steal, and someone regularly engages in thievery, he will immediately accuse anyone of being judgmentaleven if he merely quotes what God said on the subject, such as: "Let him that stole steal no longer" (Eph. 4:28). To say what God says, in their minds, is to be judgmental, although it is obviously no such thing.
They think that if they play the "judgmental" card, it will absolve them from their crimes, and all too often people will agree with them. Many attempt to justify their behavior with various kinds of rationalizations, but these efforts ultimately fail because stealing (as well as fornication and homosexuality)transgress God's laws, not man's.
2. Thou shalt mind thine own business. Closely related to the first commandment is this one. The point here is, "God gave me freedom to live my own life as I choosewithout any interference from anyone. If I choose to smoke weed every day of my life, drink 3 glasses of wine with my evening meal to 'unwind,' or have a 'fling' with my neighbor's wife, that's my business! It doesn't affect you, and you should keep your morals to yourself."
Obviously, this individual protests John Donne's 17th Meditation and thinks he is an island, entire to himself. However, one day the bell will toll for him, and he will appear in the judgment where God may inquire of him, "Why did you abuse the free will I gave you in order to live such a selfish life?" (Rom. 14:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). It is fairly difficult to love one's neighbor, the second greatest commandment when one's neighbor expresses the attitude given above. Neither can such a person fulfil his obligation to others. "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:4).
3. Thou shalt avoid using inflammatory words such as sin. Just about everyone likes to maintain a good image of themselves; to refer to certain actions as sin makes them feel uncomfortable. "Surely you're not so archaic as to imply that having a child out of wedlock is sin. Why, it's not even uncommon in today's world." Unfortunately, that is true, but it doesn't change God's definition of sin. Calling night day, bitter sweet, or evil good does not make it so (Isa. 5:20). If all of society praises the emperor's new clothes, it does not change the fact that he is naked. Many folks do not like to own up to their bad actions.
4. Thou shalt allow me to create my own reality. A great many people want to live within the world they have constructed in their own minds. Like those in the days of the judges, they want to do what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25), while ignoring what is wrong in God's eyes. This philosophy fails in the Day of Judgment; everyone needs to live in the land of reality.
5. Thou shalt not require worship every Sunday. Of course, what God requires is in the New Testament; these are commandments devised by men for their own convenience. "We live in a busy society," some would point out, "with so much to do (even at home), so many places to go, and so many activities in which to be engaged. One cannot honestly be expected to be at worship every Sunday. For many, it may be their only day off, their only day to visit family members, or the only time there is to travel or engage in recreational activities. God surely understands the importance of all these."
6. Thou shalt not require tithing. The New Testament, in fact, does not require tithing, but some attend so seldom they may not be aware of that fact. However, the New Testament does require giving as we have been prospered (2 Cor. 9:6-7), which some will eventually figure out involves even more of a sacrifice than tithing does. Most people have heard the saying of Jesus that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35), but how many actually believe it? Some think that what they give away they have lost, but maybe they should consider that what they give to God may be the part of their wealth that actually has value.
7. Thou shalt not criticize anyone's religious beliefs. Why is this a current commandment? The reason is that if anyone else's religion is condemned, then mine may be next. The only person who would think this way is someone who thought his own religion was worthy of criticism, in which case he ought to ask, "Well, is it?"
What is the alternative? The upshot of this philosophy is that every religion is equal, and every religion is valid, thus above criticism. Does this imply that the Muslim religion is as good as Christianity? Of course, it does. Islam will affirm that Allah is God and that Muhammad is his prophet. What they do not have is a Savior to take away sins, as Christianity does. Also, their philosophy seems to be, "Conquer thy neighbor," instead of "Love thy neighbor."
Hinduism, Buddhism, and other eastern religions emphasize reincarnation. The attraction for some is that no one eventually ends up lost; each individual goes through multiple incarnations until they become perfected. Then they enter into Nirvana, which means that they either cease to exist or lose their identity in the universal being. All of these religions are not equal, nor can each one be true.
The same is true for sects within Christianity. All of the diverse doctrines taught by a multitude of denominations cannot be correct. If we believe in truth, then we must expose error; Jesus and His apostles did so. Those who insist on nothing negative being said should ask themselves why. Do they themselves fear they believe error?
8. Thou shalt not bind absolutes on anyone. Is this commandment absolutely true? Hmm. In today's world, some people feel more comfortable living amongst the shadows than seeing clearly in the light of truth. Absolute truth doesn't leave much room for wiggle room. Reportedly, W.C. Fields was ill; thus, a friend came to call on him. The visitor was, to say the least, shocked to find the comedian reading the Bible. "I've never known you to be a religious man," the friend said. "Why are you now reading the Bible?" Came the reply, "I'm looking for loopholes."
None exist. There's no secret panel one can crawl through to enter heaven. In the 1950s, Joseph Fletcher popularized "situation ethics," claiming that circumstance made things right or wrong rather than absolute rules. All that theory did was to confuse people and move them away from what they once knew to be God's will for mankind. As Jesus said, "God's Word is truth" (John 17:17).
9. Thou shalt forgive thy neighbors' trespasses whether or not they repent. This is all part of the plan to not hold anyone responsible for anything. We are told to forgive evildoers even before they repent. Yet God forgives sinners WHEN they repent (and are baptized). In one case, a person killed several students in a high school and was taken captive. People were carrying signs, calling for forgiveness. How do they know the killer even wants forgiveness? How must the parents of the victims have felt when they were called on to forgive before they had even had the opportunity to make funeral arrangements?
Forgiveness is an important Christian doctrine, and Christians should not be reluctant to grant it to the sincere individual who made a mistake. However, when someone persists in a sin and refuses to repent because of a hard heart, God does not forgive him. Many desire forgiveness without repentance.
10. Thou shalt extend full fellowship to me regardless of my actions. Some believe they have the right to dress immodestly, drink alcoholic beverages, smoke marijuana, play the lottery, participate in denominational services, frequently absent themselves from the assembly (Heb. 10:25), et al., yet no one should say anything to them as a result. Needless to say, they do not want fellowship to be withdrawn from anyone else, either, lest their own name be considered for behavior unbecoming to a Christian. It is always easier not to "rock the boat," but elders must follow what the Word teacheseven if it is uncomfortable to do so.
These few "commandments" do not exhaust the thinking of many in society today, but they do depict in some measure the views of those outside of Christ. Many feel a great need to create a religion that meets their own standards (or lack thereof). Human beings are not qualified to know what is in our best interest; only our Creator possesses that insight.