CHAPTER 7
Foundational Law
A Nation Forsakes God
“The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger. So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.” (Jud 2:7-13 NAS95)
I remember as a child hearing the stories from the Bible about the Children of Israel as God brought them out of slavery and established them in the Land of Israel. As the history of Israel was unfolded to me as I grew up in Sunday school, one predominant thought stuck in my mind. How could an entire nation so dramatically change in one generation from devotion to God to worship of idols? And it was not as if this was a onetime event, but time after time they followed the same pattern. God would miraculously rescue them from their enemies and they would serve Him for a time. But it was not long before they would forsake their covenant with God and begin to serve gods that were the product of man’s hand and his imagination.
A child is limited in his understanding because of his limited knowledge and experience. Innocence gives way to reality as we experience life through the years. I am in my 60’s as I write this and have a much broader perspective to view the history that is recorded in the Bible. I have experienced my nation turn its back on God and reverse the foundational principles upon which it was founded. Not only has this decline happened all within my generation, but I have been astounded at the speed this downward spiral has taken in just the last few years. How can a nation dramatically blessed by God, reverse course in one generation and forsake God? I have seen the answer to this question in real time as I have witnessed my nation turning from God in my short lifetime.
The United States, like Israel, has experienced the blessings of God that come by living according to the principles revealed in the Scripture. My nation is now following the path of ancient Israel in spite of having the recorded history of Israel as an example. Clearly recorded for us are the consequences and destruction that follows neglecting to live in harmony with the Law of God. In addition we have the voice of the prophets that plead with us to cling to those principles that bring life, peace, and fulfillment. And then we have simple logic that is as basic as two plus two equals four. But what seems to win in the end is that people have a tendency to believe what they want to believe. In other words, it is easier to believe a lie than to face reality. Of course, that only works in people’s minds; soon reality overtakes delusions and allusions.
There has never been a time or place in which it has been this easy to live in an alternate reality than it is now, here in the United States. This house of cards will eventually fall and reality will be experienced. We are privileged to have those voices that are calling out to this nation to turn from this path of destruction before it is too late. God has not forsaken this nation; it has forsaken Him. I am burdened for my nation, but even more so for the Church. My writing is an appeal to the Church, that they would regain their faith in the Word of God and its power to change lives. As I continue writing I want us to consider those truths that never change and the only sure foundation on which our faith can stand.
Will the Church Forsake God?
Many of the voices coming out of the Church in America today have compromised the clear and powerful voice of Scripture. They have ceded the high moral ground and chosen to present their case on the present cultural level. In so doing they have put themselves on the same level as the religions of this world. One of the consequences of this strategy is that it has allowed the free flow of ideals to flow from the world into the Church, compromising its message of truth.
Our nation was established as a Christian Republic. Although some of that structure still remains today, all of its fundamental structures have been compromised. As such it cannot stand for long and already shows the signs of stress and decay.
In the same way Jesus established the Church on heavenly principles. His death on the cross made it possible to once again reconcile man to God. The Gospel that was given to the Church is that everyone that will can be saved and obtain eternal life through Christ Jesus. We who were sinners can now become citizens of that eternal heavenly Kingdom of God. The good news was not that the laws of the kingdom had changed, but that we could be changed to conform to that law that is good and righteous. Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.
Relativism, Tolerance, and Compromise
With a rewriting of history, the young people of this country have been told that the United States was established on these principles; relativism, tolerance, and compromise. Of course this is not true, but this perception has been subtly introduced over the last 100 years. What we have produced is a culture that rejects truth. They have been taught that it is wrong to claim that our government is superior to all other existing governments. They have been taught that it is wrong to say one religion is superior to another, or one is right and the other is wrong. Without a standard of right and wrong it is impossible to define the difference between good and evil. It has become so ridiculous that, in the eyes of many in this generation, the concept of a moral standard has itself become immoral.
But our nation was not founded on the basis of relativism, tolerance and compromise. This nation was founded on Biblical principles. References to God, religion, freedom, law, etc., etc., in our founding documents are all based upon the framework of a Biblical understanding. The moral values reflected by the Ten Commandments were accepted as standards. The discussions that took place were usually around what role government had in upholding those standards. Christianity was the lens through which the ideology and construction of our government and laws were formed. The ideals and ideas of freedom of religion, speech, and behavior, were constructed within this framework.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Joh 14:6 NAS95)
This is the true message of the Church and it flies in the face of this generation. But if we are going to provide anything of value to this generation we cannot compromise the truth of this message. Only adherence to the laws of the Universe can save us from certain destruction and death.
The Ten Commandments
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “’YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:36-40 NAS)
If we are to truly understand God’s Law then we need to view it in light of this statement of Jesus. The Law is all about love. We were created by God to love and be loved. It is in this bond of fellowship that we experience peace, contentment, fulfillment, happiness and joy, or in other words love. It is the violation of the Law of Love that has brought forth hatred, bitterness, anger, etc. etc., and death.
It is the deceptive lie, first proposed in the Garden of Eden that has raised havoc with all of creation. Today, as throughout history, people continue to be deceived into questioning the purpose and character of God and His Laws. The attack on God and His character and purpose have been relentless. The appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life has blinded people to the truth. The desire to usurp the authority of the Creator and be lord has caused people to literally shut their eyes and plug their ears to the facts contrary to the lies of Satan.
The truth is that God is good. God’s commandments are for our good. The challenge of these statements first came to Eve in the Garden, but the questioning of God’s goodness and the purpose of His commands continues to this day. As we consider the commandments keep in mind the understanding that Jesus revealed in answering the question of which is the greatest commandment. The fulfillment of all the commandments is to love God and love your fellow man. The Law and the Prophets are for the purpose of teaching us how to do this. We are blessed and happy when we are loved by God and our fellow man. Fulfillment of all our desires comes when simultaneously we love and are loved.
The Ten Commandments are a good place to start for building our understanding of God’s Law. These fundamental, basic commands set a foundation for all the righteous laws that we could construct that would help us govern our society on every level. All of the commands that God gave to Israel were instructional to fulfill these commands. I will begin first in considering the Ten Commandments as a whole and then talking about each one individually.
These commands are the height of morality. This is ground that cannot be ceded without losing a strategic advantage in defending righteousness. The enemy knows this and this is why there has been so much effort put into removing them from the public square. Their prominence even in churches has taken a hit. Having them displayed constantly before us helps us to etch these into our memory and reflect them in our behavior. The importance of this will be understood better if we do not simply view these commands as a list of do’s and don’ts. Rather we should view them as safeguards to protect us from the consequences of violating God’s Law of Love.
God’s Law of Love as articulated through His commands to us is not just an idea He came up with. It is actually a reflection of who He is. The consequence of violating His Law is just as real as when we violate the law of gravity. It can result in death. Only in this case it is a spiritual death of eternal consequences. When we start to see the Ten Commandments from this perspective we begin to appreciate them as the gentle reminders that are coming from a loving God.
The First Three
The first three commands reflect actions and attitudes that fulfill the first and great command that we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. It is interesting that there are three commands in this section, because three is also the number of God. We who were created in God’s image can also be described as body, soul, and spirit.
The Last Six Commandments
These six commandments have to do with our actions and attitudes toward our fellow man. These commandments reflect our need to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said this is like the first commandment that we love God. If we follow through Scripture we will find that we cannot love God and hate our brother. When Jesus spoke about separating the sheep from the goats, judgment was based upon how people treated those in need.
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Mt 25:40 NAS95)
Interestingly, there are six commandments that govern our relationships with each other. Six, in the Bible, is often used as the number of man.
The Commandment in Between
The fourth commandment seems to bind the first three and the last six commandments together. Jewish scholars have put it this way: “The Sabbath has kept the Jews more than the Jews have kept the Sabbath.” Keeping the Sabbath honors God and could be grouped with the first three commandments. But it also plays a role in the way in which we honor each other. In addition it is also a way in which God cares for us in many personal ways. That is why I categorized it alone between the two other groups. The keeping of the Sabbath was a sign of the perpetual covenant between God and man.
The First Commandment
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex 20:3 NAS95)
Now we as Christians know that there is only one God who is the creator of all that exists. That does not mean that we are ignorant of the other gods that men worship. These of course are not God. They may be spirits, demons, or Satan himself. Or they could be strictly the creation of a man’s hand and/or his imagination. All of these gods are but a substitute for the God of all creation. As a substitute for God they are also substitutes for good, for God is Good. Therefore, a substitute for God is evil by definition.
God is the provider of everything that is good. That is why we worship Him. Anything that exists or that we could create falls far short of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our Scripture begins with the words, “In the beginning God … “. If we believe this to be true then any compromise of this commandment would defy logic. When we as Christians stand in defense or for the purpose of promoting what we believe, this is ground that cannot be ceded. Give up on this concept and we have lost every other argument.
For most of the history of our nation the overwhelming majority of its people have never had a problem acknowledging the first commandment. I suppose part of the reason comes from the fact that most of them had come from countries that embraced the Judeo-Christian morality. But what really made our national adherence to this command so powerful and long-lasting was the fact that our nation’s very existence was based upon an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of the God of the Bible. Justification for rebellion from England was based upon the God-given rights of life and liberty. Freed from the dictates of kings the people of the states chose to be governed by God’s Law. It was the universal acceptance of God and his Law that became the unifying feature that identified us as a nation. And God blessed this nation in as much as they acknowledged His sovereignty. And we prospered as no other nation on earth.
The results caught the attention of the world. The blessing of God rested upon this people who were governed according to the wisdom that had come from above. God was honored in the home and in the public square. The resulting civility became a standard even for those who did not embrace God’s Word. Those who came from other lands and cultures that had embraced other gods were impacted as they came to these shores. Many were won over to the worship of the God of the Bible because of the way faith was lived out in the lives of the believers.
Of course, this country was not without its challenges, and they came from all sides. But our system survived because when times got tough people realized that they needed to again commit themselves to the principles that had brought them blessings from God. And when as a nation the people turned toward God He met us with healing and blessing.
For almost 400 years, from the Pilgrims until the year 2000, the people of this land and the nation that was birthed here honored the first commandment. It may be argued that by the year 2000 many that honored the God of the Bible did so in word only and not in deed. Then in the year 2000, Congress for the first time, opened their session by having a Hindu offer the opening prayer. As far as I know this was the first official action of our government to call on another gods for blessings. The implications were staggering, a betrayal of our faith and heritage, and an indication of our future direction. By the year 2008 President Obama declared that we are no longer a Christian nation. Since that time many of those in governmental positions have shown more respect to the god of Islam than to the Christian God. For many it has become politically correct to show equal respect to all religions and their gods.
This is ground that we as Christians must not cede. The God of all creation will not settle for equal standing with the gods of man’s creation. Nor will He share His supreme status with Satan or any of the angels. We dare not be on the wrong side of this dispute.
The defense of our stance on this commandment is as simple as one, two, three. If we believe that God has created all that exists, then He has no equal. No logic in the world would put any part of His creation before Him in our respect, acknowledgement, and worship. Even more ridiculous would be worship of a god of our imagination or the creation of our hands. The calls to respect religious diversity fly in the face of reality. If the Christian God is the creator of all things then He alone is worthy of worship and prayer. But if multiple gods are worthy of respect, then what is the point? Will we serve gods that are merely the creation of man’s imagination?
There are well-meaning people that argue that when we show respect, we are just showing respect for those who believe in these gods and not actually worshiping their gods. What they fail to consider is the blatant disrespect they are giving to the one and only Creator.
The Second Commandment
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Ex 20:4-6 NAS95)
An image, an idol, or a likeness of anything never is fully adequate in its depiction of the real thing. To be sure, modern technology has come a long way and could add to the imagery, action, and sound. But it would still be lacking in portraying the real thing. Even we as humans are far more than the physical bodies in which we live.
Because we were created in the image and likeness of God, the true essence of who we are is largely invisible and best known through personal relationships. The appearance of our physical body can be misleading if taken as a reflection of our essence or who we really are. This concept was brought out in that classic film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. A kind and gentle person was living in a gross deformed body of the Hunchback, whereas a vile self-centered evil man was living in a dignified- appearing body of a churchman. Physical appearances can be deceptive. This is especially true when we consider that individual interpretations of what the physical appearance represents (good or evil) is often based on the individual’s own experience, which can vary dramatically person to person.
Is it any surprise then that God does not want us to represent Him with physical imagery?
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Joh 4:24 NAS)
God knows us by who we are. He wants us to know Him by who He is. We learn about Him through His creation, His Word (both written and revealed in the flesh), and His Spirit. Basic understanding of who He is helps us to understand how little we can impress Him with our physical gifts. Just a simple study of the names God uses to describe Himself to us surpasses any imagery we could create of Him. Simply put, any imagery would give a false impression of God.
God knows, and history reveals, how easily people can be distracted and inclined to worship things. Religions are full of sacred idols, items, practices, and places. All these are diversions for that which is real and holy. Any argument that any of these things can contribute to true worship is swallowed up in the reality of the history of these inconsequential items. These things themselves become the focus of worship, a focus that belongs only to God. Men market in these items, they fight over them, and they kill because of them. Only God is worthy of our worship. His mercy and loving-kindness are extended to those who follow His commands. We need to stand our ground on this important issue.
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2Co 4:3-4 NAS95)
The god of this world would like for us to remain blinded by images, either physical or imagined, that can be manipulated for his benefit. But God would have us see His image that was revealed in the personage of Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself so that we may truly worship Him in spirit and in truth. Christ left no physical picture or image of himself, rather he left us with his words and actions, revealing His very essence. The closest to a physical depiction of God we have is seen in mankind themselves, who were created in the image and likeness of God. Of a truth that image has been marred by sin, but yet there remains a semblance of the variety, grace, and beauty that must reside in God Himself, the Creator of us all.
God alone is worthy of worship because of who He is. Not only is He the Creator of all things eternal and omnipotent, but He is just and kind and has offered us a place with Him forever.
The Third Commandment
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Ex 20:7 NAS95)
I grew up at a time and place where this commandment was taken very seriously. As a society the attitude toward this commandment has changed dramatically in my lifetime. Respectfully refraining from using the Lord’s name in vain around people of faith or even in the general public was the norm a few years ago. Today there seems to be a blatant disregard for this commandment. Probably there is a large segment of our society that is not even aware of what this commandment says.
Generally speaking the language of our present culture is cruder, ruder, and less respectful all around than it was 50 years ago. Degrading language concerning private bodily functions have become common spontaneous expressions. People banter these expressions mindlessly with seemingly no regard for their obscene literal meaning. Language, of course, is just one indicator of the direction a society is moving in. But the context of the expressions of God’s name becomes a clear indicator of the respect or disrespect people have for the personage represented by the name.
You would have to be blind and deaf to not notice that the attitudes of our culture in general have influenced those who claim to be followers of Christ, and the broader population that consider themselves to be Christian. As previously discussed, our American culture began under the influence of Christianity and as such was built upon the moral foundation of Christian doctrine. Presently the flow of influence is in the opposite direction. Anti-Christian sentiment rules the direction of our country and is affecting the moral perspective even in many churches. Often the changes that happen in churches are subtle and escape people’s notice. But when we come back to God’s Word and consider His commandments we are made keenly aware of the drift that has taken place and how far we have gone.
The most common way in which this commandment was followed by Christians was in our language or our usage of God’s name. Possibly the warning included in the commandment explains why it was taken so seriously. Again, I want to remind you that 100 years ago we lived in a much more respectful society. Much more respect was given to God and to those created in His image. During that time people created names that are similar to God’s name, but spelled different. I guess the purpose of this was so they would still be able to shout out God’s name without experiencing the full displeasure of a Christian society. We call those words slang and they include expressions such as, gosh, golly, and gees.
In the home I grew up in the slang terms were as bad as saying the real thing. But by the time I grew up some of these words were becoming common language even among Christians. At present date even preachers use some of these slang words in their discourses from the pulpit. Many do not even know that these words are slang for names of God. I know this, because I have challenged people to look up their meanings in the dictionary.
So, what is in a name, and why is it so important to God? The answer should be obvious. A name represents who you are. In the Old Testament God used several expressive names for Himself to reveal His character to us. Most revealing was the name He gave to Moses. The children of Israel had been living for 400 years amongst a people who worshiped many gods. So God told Moses, to tell them that “I Am” sent him. This descriptive name for God set Him apart from all of the gods of the Egyptians. This name distinguished Him as the one and only uncreated being.
Using a name inaccurately falsely portrays a person as something that they are not. To use God’s name in a way that misrepresents Him is as wrong as presenting Him as a dog or a tree. It is wrong to slander a person in such a way as to destroy their reputation. How much worse it is to misrepresent God, the Creator of all things, and slander the very source of good. It is foolish for the ignorant to try to bring God down to our level. But those who have even had a glimpse of the goodness and glory of God should instinctively know better.
What does it mean to take God’s name in vain? Those who have a better understanding of the Hebrew language than I do tell us that what the commandment is really saying is: You shall not carry the Lord’s name in vain. There is a subtle difference between the words “take” and “carry”. The emphasis I grew up with was that you do not use the name of the Lord in an inappropriate manner. Certainly this would be a way to carry the Lord’s name in vain. To use the Lord’s name as a swear word or in such a way that would put the blame on Him for something that was the result of evil is certainly carrying His name in vain. But I believe that there is a broader meaning also that would include those who carry His name as a banner for their causes, and this is also included in this commandment and is a serious violation of the commandment.
When kings, rulers, or politicians have inspired people to take up a cause under the banner of Our Lord’s Name, it is a blatant violation of this commandment. To brand human endeavors, no matter how noble we think they are, with God’s name is a misrepresentation of God and His purposes. This is not to say that we cannot band together under the banner of God’s Name. But if we do we need to be careful that we are not misrepresenting God in the process. The only way to do that is to move in accordance to the Word of God.
Jesus came bearing, or carrying, the Name of God. In all that He did and said He represented His Father in heaven. We also can do the works of our Father in heaven. We can and should also declare His Word to our generation. But we need to be careful not to put God’s name on the works and ambitions of men.
If we call ourselves Christians, then we bear the name of Christ. Think about it. People in our society used to be more aware of the honor or dishonor that we can bring to our family name. How much more we should be aware of the honor or dishonor we bring to Christ’s name if we bear it by calling ourselves Christians.
As Christians we cannot cede the moral high ground and compromise this commandment. Societies have laws intended to protect people from falsely slandering men’s names and reputations. Heaven also has laws that preserve truth. God is the arbitrator and judge in these matters and those who violate this command will not go unpunished. If we care about people and love like God loves we will not hide this commandment from their understanding. Our obligation as Christians is to fulfill this commandment in both word and deed. It is our duty to live it as a testimony of our respect for the love of God and teach other to do so likewise.
The Fourth Commandment
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” (Ex 20:8-11 NAS95)
Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.
In my previous generalization of the Ten Commandments I pointed out that keeping the first three commandments demonstrates our love, honor, and respect for God. The last six commandments demonstrate our love, honor and respect for our fellow human beings that were created in the image of God. The fourth commandment seems to bring us together with God in many ways. Every seventh day was to be set apart (sanctified), hallowed as a day when we cease our labor. It is a day for communion, fellowship, reflection, and worship. It is a day in which we are to put aside our individual pursuits and ambitions, cease from our labors, and rest.
The seven-day week is a unique element of our calendars. The day, month, and year, are all based upon the timing established by our solar system. But the seven-day week was established by God as He created our world and all that is herein. It is more than just an arbitrary number of days to keep track of time, it actually seems like our internal clock was established on a seven-day cycle. When we ignore this signature of God that He patterned at creation, we soon suffer the consequences. Loss of productivity, fatigue, irritability, and depression are just some of the symptoms. In a culture of greed and ambition there is a push for a 24/7 culture, often our natural functions rebel.
The seventh day provides a time to reboot. Our lives get cluttered and fragmented, and that clutter gets mixed with that which is good and necessary. A pause every seventh day allows us time to evaluate everything and reboot, start over, and begin each week refreshed and focused. Our pause is not arbitrary, but provides a gentle reminder of who we are and where we came from. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. Regardless of which day you consider the Sabbath (I won’t get into that discussion here) it is essential that we go back to the former practice of setting this day aside to honor God.
“More than the Jewish People have kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept the Jews.” – Ahad Ha’am
A book could be written in support of keeping the Sabbath and the valuable benefits that would result from just this one practice. But the most important reason for keeping God’s Sabbaths is found in the narrative in Exodus as God was instituting the keeping of the Sabbath with the Hebrew people He had just delivered from bondage. God had separated these people from the world to be a nation, a people in which he would reveal Himself to the world. The keeping of the Sabbaths was to be a sign, a perpetual sign, of His covenant with them.
“‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ “It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased [from labor,] and was refreshed.” (Ex 31:16-17 NAS95)
When Christ came He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Jesus kept the Sabbath and so did His followers. Our observance of the Sabbath is still intended to be a sign between God and those who are separated unto Him. It is an outward sign that the entire world can see. It is a signature of the Creator on His created World. When it is observed it brings great blessings to the observers. All of creation was intended to pause and take a breath and be refreshed every seventh day. This is the design and signature of the creator and becomes a sign of covenant with those who choose to comply.
I will not go into the science of the health and mental benefits that would be gleaned from observance of a seventh day set aside for rest and refreshing. These benefits are here for all who simply structure their lives after this pattern. But for the Christian who maintains this day for the spiritual benefits, this practice is of great spiritual value, far exceeding its physical benefits.
I believe there is a lot of truth in Ahad Ha’am’s statement about the Sabbath’s role in preserving the Jewish people. I also believe it is true concerning the preservation of Christianity. Today in our Western societies we have experienced a tremendous decline in the numbers of those who practice Biblical Christianity as well as Judaism. A great deal of this decline can be attributed to the failure to simply obey this one commandment to “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy”. I am not saying that decline in Biblical Christianity has not in turn affected how many people keep the Sabbath. What I am saying is that neglecting the keeping of the Sabbath happened first and has had the greatest impact.
Historically the Church, and people in general seem to have a tendency to stray from the principles of truth and goodness that provide the basis for love and peace. The Ten Commandments preserve the Godly principles that provide a fundamental structure for culture. If this structure remains intact when people stray, then the return to godly living is a matter of repentance and revival. But when that structure is broken down a rebirth is required and much harder to accomplish. That is why the Church in America has been able to rebound so many times in our short history, because the fundamental structure established by the Ten Commandments was not discarded. That is also why in America, Christianity seems to be in a death spiral today, because by and large that structure that was rooted in our society has been discarded. That structure of law and order that is part of the character of God is in the process of even being discarded by those who still claim to be Christian.
This commandment to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy seems to have fallen first and has been rationalized as not that important. Yet the effect of neglecting to keep the Sabbath has proven otherwise. This is the one commandment that patterns our lives to ensure our personal and corporate fellowship with God. This was the sign of our covenant with God to separate ourselves from the World and unto Him. This was our opportunity to fulfill our obligation to our children to teach them the ways of God and our reliance on Him. This was a sign that we had truly put God first in our lives.
When we fail this commandments, then it fails us. Jesus so clearly stated that this commandment was made for us. It is fulfilled to our advantage and our good, and when that happens it is for the glory of God. Even in the Church the commandments are beginning to fall, one by one, and I believe it began right here with neglect to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
I was privileged to have been born in a conservative Christian family in small American town. But subtly and gradually even here the corruption of this nation is manifest all around us. Having been born in the early 1950’s I have lived long enough to have observed the dramatic changes taking place in the moral climate of this nation. I can still remember the Easter sunrise services that took place at the high school football field, sponsored by the combined efforts of the various churches in town. When I graduated from high school we still had baccalaureate services in which all the students gathered to be encouraged and blessed by those who prayed in Jesus’ name for His blessing upon us. How our country has changed in a few short years.
The commandments fall because of subtle compromises that may not have seemed important at the time. There have been a lot of things that eroded the customs of our culture that once honored Sunday as a Sabbath to the Lord. I will offer one example that impacted my area. Sunday was a day in which most stores were closed, except service stations and restaurants. Then gradually malls were introduced. With the malls came seven-day retail. All sorts of businesses were in the mall and the pressure was on to remain open seven days a week. Convenience soon broke down the resolve of many of those who used to honor the Sabbath as a day to cease their labor. It was not long before Sunday became just another day to do business. The ripple effect was tremendous from just the contribution of this one thing. Why did it have such an effect? It was effective simply because of people’s lack of resolve to carefully follow God’s Law. If enough people had continued to honor the Sabbath, then the mall would have closed its doors on Sunday.
Again God’s people have ceded the high ground on this issue. This command came from the loving concern of our Father in Heaven. It is backed by moral conviction, our need for rest, refreshing, contemplation, acknowledgement of creation and the Creator, worship, family and the Law of Love. There is no good reason for us not to follow this commandment, the world’s arguments fall flat in light of history and reason.
I have spent a considerable amount of time on this one commandment. I guess that is because I have come to see it as somewhat of a sentinel commandment. Following this commandment provided the means to preserve our awareness of the Law of God and its importance. As adherence to this commandment waned the subtle compromise of the other commandments began to erode one by one. As I have already mentioned, I believe this commandment alone has had a tremendous influence in preserving Christianity in a pagan world. I could go on and on about the importance of this commandment that is rooted in the creation of the World. Yet I have watched in my lifetime how the American Churches have allowed it to fade to obscurity without scarcely a whimper.
The lack of defense of this one commandment has wreacked havoc on the churches. What has been proven to be true is that simply attending church was not enough. Keeping the Sabbath holy was about sanctifying the whole day. This commandment like all of the rest of them was intended to keep us safe and secure. Compromise of this commandment compromises our safety and security, leaving the church and its people vulnerable to attack.
One other thing that I believe that is usually overlooked is the effect that adherence to this commandment has had on the world around us. I think keeping the Sabbath has had a greater affect on the world than our keeping of any of the other commandments. Keeping the Sabbath has impacted the entire world, testifying of the God of Creation. No other commandment has had as far reaching and as powerful effect as this one commandment when it was adhered to. It is no wonder that this is where the attack of the enemy has come and been most successful. Downgrading this commandment undermined the power to keep the church pure and its power to impact the culture.
The Fifth Commandment
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Ex 20:12 NAS95)
God is a God of Love. I remind you about this because in essence all the commandments of based upon God’s love for us and through us. His relationship to mankind is based upon this foundational fact. For anyone intent upon doing what is good and right, this is where they have to start. Of course, I am not talking about emotional feelings of ecstasy that come with anticipation of having our desires satisfied. This is the world’s concept of love. The love I am talking about is that genuine concern for someone else’s well being. In return we all enjoy being loved. The ideal relationship is one in which both parties put the well-being of the other first and foremost in their actions. And in return they both enjoy the affections shown to them.
“We love, because He first loved us.” (1Jo 4:19 NAS95)
God first initiated love toward us. We in turn are to be the initiators in our relationships with others. None of the commandments of God are contingent upon the actions of others. If they were contingent upon someone else’s actions then there would be no hope. Think about it.
There is no better place to begin teaching about human relationships than with our first human relationship. It is on this fundamental level that God intended to build all our future relationships. Love should first start at home. Except in those cases where evil has so overtaken an individual that all vestiges of the original image and likeness of God have been erased, a mother’s love comes naturally with the arrival of her child. Likewise, especially when the child is the product of a committed relationship, the father has a natural affection toward his child. This commandment is a reminder to honor this God given-gift of love that comes through our parents.
I want to emphasize that the commands of God are not contingent upon the action of anyone else. Parents are sometimes not as good or as loving as they should be. Some parents are actually bad parents who have allowed selfish desires to overcome their natural God-given inclinations. On both sides of this relationship there exists a natural inclination toward selfishness that has come to us through our bondage to sin and rebellion. God-given desires, and sin-induced desires, are at war, hence the need for this command.
A father and mother is a couple who have had the privilege of introducing a new life into the world. This is in the plan of God and as parents a mother and father hold a privileged and responsible position. God has honored them with this position and requires their children to honor their position also. And of course, by honoring them we also honor God the giver of life and love. As with all of the commandments, following the commandment is intended to be an act of love toward God and those who were created in the image and likeness of God.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” (Eph 6:1-3 NAS95)
Parents are responsible for the caring of their children physically, mentally, and spiritually. To fulfill their responsibility God has granted them authority over their children. When we are children the fulfillment of this commandment simply is for us to live in obedience under our parent’s authority. Of course, this does not give parents the right to misuse and abuse their children for they are required to live under the authority of their father in heaven. God is a God of order.
Relationships with parents and the way in which they are honored changes as children grow, mature, and become parents themselves. In some ways it is also true concerning our relationship with our Father in heaven. Jesus quotes a passage from Genesis that says: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Ge 2:24 AV) Obviously the relationship changes, but the commandment is still in effect.
Children honor their parents by submitting to their authority in the home in which they live and showing proper respect. In this setting the parents provide for the necessities of the child. But Jesus chided the Pharisees because of their failing in this command when they neglected to provide necessities for their aging parents. Furthermore, their gifts to God did not exempt them from fulfilling their responsibility to honor their father and mother.
“He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to [his] father or [his] mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given [to God),’] you no longer permit him to do anything for [his] father or [his] mother; [thus] invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”” (Mr 7:9-13 NAS95)
Relationships are important to God, not only with Him but with people, starting right here with our father and mother. Failure to keep them brings a curse on us, but keeping them brings the blessing of God. Paul points to the blessing and states that this is the first commandment with promise: “… SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” (Eph 6:1-3 NAS95)
A book could be written revealing the realities that have come about simply because of the neglect of this one commandment. The disruption of peace and contentment begins in the home and spreads to the world around us. Today the disruption of parental authority is celebrated as our society unravels around us. Again, time and history have proven that those who maintain the commandments of God to be good and profitable hold the high ground on parental authority and honor.
The Sixth Commandment
“You shall not murder.” (Ex 20:13 NAS95)
Some things seem so clear and obvious that a person would think further explanation was not necessary. But because we have a tendency to rationalize and excuse bad behavior it is necessary to spell out simple principles in various ways to leave no doubt as to proper behavior. Simply put, we do not have the authority to take another humans life. Further Biblical explanation and commandments make it very clear that we are to value human’s life because we were created in the likeness and image of God.
This commandment, like all the rest of them, did not originate when God wrote it on stone and handed it to Moses. Moses presented the Hebrews with commandments from which mankind had already strayed so far from. The Law of God that forbade the taking of human life was present from the very beginning. This principle suffered its first violation when Cain killed Abel. God created man in his own image and likeness. Man was the crown of God’s creation and it is reasonable to conclude that the created world in which we live, the earth and its heavens were made for man. God not only gave man dominion over all the earth, but He also gave man the ability and charge to reproduce and have sons and daughters. Of all creation, man alone was created with an eternal soul, life that was drawn from the breath of God.
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.” (Ge 9:6 NAS95)
A fundamental understanding of the basics of creation gives us the understanding of the sacredness of human life. God, the creator, the giver of life, alone has the right to take life. It is God’s judgment and His alone that determines the requirement of a man’s life to be taken from him. Since Cain people have come up with every reason imaginable to justify the taking of another life. In so doing they incur the wrath of God and bring sentence down upon themselves.
As far as we know the 20th century was the bloodiest in history with millions of casualties. This century may be even worse, if God allows us to continue. Here in America, where the cultural influence of Christianity has prevailed until this century, human life has become subjective. Christianity produced a culture that revered each individual life. The United States was founded on the principle of life as a right granted by God Himself. But now, as this nation turns from God and rejects His precepts, life itself has become subjective. Since 1973 it has become lawful in this nation to kill the unborn, snuff out a person’s life before they see the light of day. More than 50 million have been brutally murdered in this way. This culture of death has spread across the globe. Next we are beginning to push the premature killing of those who are sick and elderly.
As we as a nation drift further from the precepts of God and the concept that all men are created equal, and thus are all held to the same standard, we experience a breakdown in civility. It was the acknowledgment of God that produced our unity, the acknowledgment of a higher authority. As that authority is rejected we continue to become more divided. Rhetoric that was once only used by the criminal element has now entered mainstream. For many, some people’s lives matter more than others. It is becoming so heated that some are suggesting murders would be justified, simply for a difference of opinion.
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, [And] skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained [for me,] When as yet there was not one of them.” (Ps 139:13-16 NAS95)
Whether we are talking about abortion, euthanasia, or simply murder, we who have put our trust in God’s Word and His commandments have always held the high ground. Now, of all times in history, we need to hold fast to that high ground. Modern science has uncovered the knowledge that from the moment of conception every detail of our unformed bodies was determined. Knowing this we have full understanding of when the choice to create life was in our hands. After conception the determined life forms without any input from us and is a separate person. Is this new life subject to our whims and desires, to be disposed of at will? Or is this a sacred trust we have been given to protect and nourish this little one as God forms this person according to the predetermined plan? Accepting the sacred trust is the moral high ground.
The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14 NAS95)
The commandments of God are about doing the right thing. Those that rebel against these commandments still want to be treated with respect. They usually do not have any objection to restrictions placed on others not to murder them, or in this case having sex with their wife or husband. So they propose that following these rules should be arbitrary. For them right and wrong is relative to the situation and circumstances. Of course, to make this case we have to link those circumstances to one person as being the center and everyone else’s opinion taking a different relative value.
I admit that violation of the simple commands of God becomes relative to the circumstances and situations. When a person puts themselves above the commandment there can be relatively few or relatively many people that are adversely affected. But someone or ones will suffer if the commandments are violated. It is the mutual respect and value of each person that the commandments are intended to teach us to honor.
This commandment is based upon the fundamental relationship between man and woman that God established in the very beginning.
“And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created [them] from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Mt 19:4-6 NAS95)
Marriage vows were created to reflect these established facts. God’s plan for mankind is based in this basic established relationship between a man and a woman. The commitment of those in this relationship is that the two become one. The consummation of this relationship produces children who share the two in their one. This is a sacred relationship, the violation of which adversely affects all of those involved. Two family structures are violated by adultery that can be disruptive for generations.
Rationalization of the breaking of this commandment has to center on the individual. For the effects to our society as a whole cannot be hidden. The temporary feelings of one or two individuals are allowed to trump the poverty, rejection, abandonment, and multiple other effects on those around them. Many have argued that because of human resilience and because we can develop new relationships, that we will be able to recover and it will be all right in the end. Reality testifies otherwise. Scars remain as our society continues to spiral downward.
If we are talking about morals, right and wrong that includes everyone, then upholding this commandment is the moral high ground.
The Eighth Commandment
“You shall not steal.” (Ex 20:15 NAS95)
I think that everyone would agree that they do not want anyone to steal from them. But it is amazing how many people justify stealing from someone else. Probably the easiest way to justify stealing is to depersonalize it. If people steal from the government, a corporation, or a store, they rationalize that it does not affect real people. The reality is that if we take something that does not belong to us then some person or people pay for what we have taken.
The fundamental principles presented in the commandments cannot be violated without having destructive consequences. Even in those cases where the violation of these fundamentals was motivated by compassion, or a desire to achieve justice or equality, the end product is lawlessness. The end does not justify the means. You cannot achieve righteousness through lawlessness. The commandments reflect righteousness. You can not ever find a shortcut to the end of a straight line.
As we as a nation drifted from the principle of laws for the protection of the individual, we migrated to a creation of laws that give certain segments of society an advantage. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that this creates an atmosphere of competition in which people try to use law to their personal advantage. Theft is often rationalized to create equality, but in the end righteousness and justice are lost. We have now created possibly one to two million laws in our quest to maintain order, simply because we have compromised simple principles such as: “You shall not steal”.
In essence people have devised “legal” means to steal other people’s stuff. Without the restraints of these simple Ten Commandments people have devised hundreds of ways to steal what belongs to another person. The multitude of ambiguous and conflicting laws have opened the doors for our courts to be a means to extract wealth and redistribute it through lawsuits and other legal wranglings. Our tax system has become a means of an unrighteous manipulation of wealth. The lack of morals and the influences of drugs and alcohol have created an escalation of blatant theft and lawlessness. These things alone will eventually destroy a society. But if all this was not enough we now have unrestrained borrowing.
Deficit spending with no intention to repay the debt is theft. For a time there is an illusion of prosperity. For a while you can feel good about all the good things you can accomplish with the borrowed money. But in the end when your debt has exceeded your collateral, then your house of cards will collapse. As our country continues to drift from its Christian roots the checks and balances intended to keep us safe also erode.
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
When we as a people are no longer restrained by the laws of God, theft then becomes commonplace. Our outrage is only expressed when we feel that we personally have been violated. The huge debt our country is accruing will not be paid by those who are using this money to pursue their ends. This is theft from our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In essence, it is selling them into slavery.
When I was in the army my friend and I bought a small refrigerator for our sodas in the barracks. One day upon returning, we confronted one of our friends drinking one of our sodas from our fridge. When asked how he could blatantly steal from us, he explained that he had not stolen from us. Rather he was given the soda from others who had stolen from our fridge.
This simple incident illustrates what is happening on a much larger scale. People are being bribed with stolen goods to cause them to ignore the travesty that is taking place right in front of them. One of the side effects of this is the creation of generations of people who believe they are entitled to this borrowed money. They have received so much without any effort on their part that they have lost touch with reality. The truth is that someone has to pay and we are beginning to pay in big ways.
So how did we get to this point where 40% of our Federal expenditures come from borrowed money? We ended up here because we ceded the high moral ground that it is wrong to steal. It is wrong to borrow money you do not intend to pay back. What we have allowed was for the argument to take place on the level of those who are benefiting from theft. At that level it is easy to rationalize and focus on the benefits of lawless behavior. But God said: “You shall not steal”.
The Ninth Commandment
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16 NAS95)
We live in a culture that is rapidly becoming secular. The secular culture rejects the Ten Commandments because they come from the Bible. They claim that in rejecting the concept of a transcendent being and the spiritual realm they are able to rely on facts and reason. Arguing as they do leads them to a realm of circular reasoning and constant contradictions. To lower ourselves to their level of reasoning results in futile bantering that never culminates in truth. Truth, they have been taught, is relative. The truth is that ignoring absolutes is dangerous.
As I have pointed out, these commandments are for the purpose of teaching and guiding us to love our fellow human beings. Bearing false witness is deception. Regardless of the motivation, false witness is telling or living a lie, or both. Regardless of the motivation, false testimony’s final result will be harmful.
“and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (Joh 8:32 NAS95)
“Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Joh 14:6 NAS95)
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (Joh 17:17 NAS95)
Truth and reality are in essence the same thing. Why then is it even necessary to defend the rightness of a command to tell the truth. The traditions in our culture are reflected in the courtrooms where false testimony is outlawed with penalties for violating this law. We used to raise our children emphasizing the importance of telling the truth. As time has gone on, gradually the rationalization of exceptions has undermined the importance and value of living and speaking the truth.
This digression of the valuation of truth has brought our society to a dangerous low. The blurring of the line between truth and fantasy seems to have affected every area of our culture. Confusion and delusion have somehow become the norm. Technology has contributed to our confusion by allowing people to view everything in the cyber world, a world that can be manipulated to make anything seem real. As people spend large portions of their lives in this make-believe world they struggle to face the real world where the laws of God and nature unwaveringly exist.
A list of the excuses, and explaining the rational for distorting the truth, would fill a book. An analysis of these excuses would reveal that distortions of the truth always favor a person or persons at the expense of others. In the end, God’s judgment of liars is that they will not inherit eternal life in the presence of our Lord and Savior.
“Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
Our common oath given in a court of law expresses an understanding of what bearing false testimony really is. First, telling the truth. Secondly, telling the whole truth, because it is only the whole truth that gives an accurate picture of any situation. Thirdly, nothing but the truth, because anything added that is not accurate contaminates the truth of the testimony.
As our country has neglected the commandments of our Lord, the focus in the courtroom has shifted from truth, righteousness, and justice, to achieving victory. With the shifting of the goal from judgment to victory the whole process becomes perverted. Both sides in this drama have the tendency to suppress elements of the whole truth through courtroom manipulation. There is also the tendency to try to introduce elements that are not entirely true or accurate.
The rejection of this simple commandment that you do not give false testimony results in a society that does not have mutual respect one for another. Lying and deception are commonplace throughout every aspect of our society. No one likes to be lied to or deceived. So the battles rage throughout our society as people argue their individual cases, not willing to give up their own exception. As a society we simply cannot make any headway toward achieving righteousness and justice as long as we argue our cases from a lower level. It is only from the high ground of God’s commandment of “You shall not bear false testimony”, that we can achieve justice.
God has ordained that governments be established on earth to carry out the judgment of God. It is in the controlled atmosphere of a courtroom that this is possible. As we can see when the concept of truth is compromised, then judgments even in the courtroom get tainted. Even more evident as we leave the courtroom and enter the public square true justice becomes elusive without truth. Our culture has rejected God and expelled His Law from the public square. In our increasingly lawless land false testimony is abundant. Starting with gossip magazines and finally becoming the norm in the mainline press, false news and fake news are filled with false testimony. As this climate persists people become enraged and judgment is often carried out in the public square.
Laying aside the foundational precepts upon which our nation was founded, people are losing their positions, jobs, and reputations without the benefit of a trial or any of the benefits intended by our legal system. Public opinion stirred up by false testimony is stripping people of their dignity, livelihood, and sometimes even their life.
The bottom line is that people have lost their fear of God. Without the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, justice is lost. I have heard mobs chanting, “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”, but it is their rejection of order and truth that precludes justice and insures that there will be no peace. They march for victory, not justice, for if they were concerned with justice they would seek truth. Perjury is a serious offence in God’s Book.
The Tenth Commandment
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Ex 20:17 NAS95)
Is this the mother of all the commandments? Is not this where most of our problems with the commandments begin? Is not coveting or desiring something that belongs to someone else often the root cause for violating the other commandments? Why does a person murder, steal, lie, or commit adultery? Usually it begins with a desire for something that is not theirs. That desire can be for a thing, but can also be jealous envy for a position or approval that someone else has received. The point is that the sin of coveting usually leads to other sins.
Before a person sins he is usually confronted with a temptation. In the Book of James he points to the source of that temptation, which is lust or desire.
“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (Jas 1:14-15 NAS)
Later James names the same source for wars and fighting among them.
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (Jas 4:1-3 NAS)
Lusts or desires in themselves can be good or bad. It is not wrong to desire a wife. But it is wrong to wish to fulfill that desire by depriving another man of his wife. The same is true for anything that belongs to someone else. God-given desires are to be fulfilled from a God-given source. James points us to the source for the fulfillment of our desires, God. You may not have what you desire because you are trying to get it from the wrong place. You do not have because you did not ask. And what you did, ask for you asked for the wrong reasons.
God has provided for us everything that we would need and many pleasures besides. When we try to bypass the path that God has provided to receive our desires, we undermine his plan and purpose for us.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” (Jas 1:16-17 NAS)
If we look back to the first sin we can see that Eve was deceived when Satan created in her a desire for what was not hers to partake of. Eve saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise; she partook and ate of the fruit.
Today in the United States we live in probably the most affluent and charitable country that has ever existed on earth. Even though in my lifetime we have reached our pinnacle and are in steady decline, we still offer most people more opportunity for wealth and well-being than at any other time and place in history. We have risen to this position because our nation was founded on the principles laid forth in God’s Word. The forces of evil have been held in check by a culture that was based upon the Ten Commandments and a faith in the God of the Bible.
But all of that is rapidly changing, and the civility that once reigned is descending into chaos. At every level of our society we see the same deceptive strategy of the enemy, which is to instill jealousy, envy, and covetousness. Our society is purposefully being fractured by causing people to focus on what someone else has. The American dream of endless opportunity has been replaced by desire to achieve personal gain by depriving someone else. It seems like every aspect of our society has resorted to this deception. Politics has focused on promises of wealth deprived from others. Covetousness has become the tool of business and the economy. An insatiable desire for more and more has consumed the entire society. This insatiable desire for more has undermined even people’s ability to think logically. Extreme deficit spending without regard for the consequences has become rampant.
It is the lack of regard for this simple commandment that has for us, in the most privileged generation in history, produced the most spoiled, thankless, irreverent, young people on the planet. Their self-centeredness and self-righteousness have blinded them to the realities of life. The promotion of covetousness is bankrupting this once vibrant country financially, morally, and spiritually. We are beginning to see the debt pile up and the payments of life, liberty, and happiness being extracted from our people.
As with all the commandments we need to hold the high ground to promote its practice. Anything short of “You shall not covet” will fail. Coveting begins in the mind and needs to be restrained at that level. Once it reaches the heart level it begins its destructive work; jealousy, envy, and hatred begin eating away at a person’s integrity. From there covetousness begins to exhibit itself in the way we treat other people and then, like a cancer, it affects those around us.
As with all of the commandments, we need to teach it, preach it, and live it. Hold fast to the high ground!