September 15, 1999
FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Take a new, deeper look
at Ten Commandments
___Exodus 19:1-20:21
___By Susan Pigott
___Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
___The Ten Commandments are a beloved set of universal principles that apply in both ancient and modern cultures. Almost everyone can quote at least one or two commands, and most of us feel confident that we're pretty good at obeying them. Unfortunately, our familiarity with the commands often breeds apathy and even ignorance. While not all of thecommands can be considered here, a couple of examples should suffice.
___The first two commands are often lumped together, as though they both say the same thing. But actually they focus on two different matters. The first commandment addresses priorities. The second addresses the issue of making images of God (and other gods). Usually people tend to apply this to the creation of icons or statues, and certainly in Israel's day such things were worshiped as gods. But images don't have to be cut in stone to detract from God's person.
___More often than not, Christians mentally recreate God in their image rather than allowing God to be God. They prefer a nice, gentle, grandfatherly deity to the just, demanding, awesome figure they read about in both testaments. They choose to focus on the promises of salvation rather than the requirements of discipleship and forget altogether that when Jesus established the church, he established it under the bonds of covenant, just as God did with the Hebrews at Sinai. People would rather have a God they can manipulate and control than a God who is mysterious, omnipotent and wholly other. We may not worship deities made of stone, but we do tend to worship a graven image--a god whom we make palatable for ourselves. Is it any wonder that such a god fails to change our lives and our world
___Modern readers tend to associate taking God's name in vain with cursing. Certainly this is one application of the command, but it goes much deeper. "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain" is the equivalent of saying "you shall not treat God's character lightly or flippantly." Any thought or action which fails to treat God's character seriously is taking God's name in vain. How often do we pray using the statement "in Jesus' name" without actually thinking about it? For many Christians, "in Jesus' name" has no more meaning than "the prayer's almost over, (hallelujah), Amen." There is no thought given to the power contained in that name and the true purpose for praying in Jesus' name. More importantly, persons who claim the name "Christian" bear the very title of Jesus upon them. Every time a Christian fails to act like Jesus, he or she is taking God's name in vain.
___Similar things could be said about each of the other commands. Clearly, familiarity with the commands and obedience to them are two separate things. Before we assume we've kept the Sabbath holy, avoided murder and risen above covetousness, we might need to take a second (and much deeper) look at these much-cherished commands.
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