HOME Tips for Daily Living through Bible Study Lancaster SC Church Listings List your church Christian Articles Find Gospel Groups in Your Area Attention Kids (& Parents) - Go here for fun & exciting ways to learn about God Youth Stuff - Some interesting laws & things found Only in America! Tsunami Disaster Relief ... International Mission Board World Vision Email Bob

 Many Laws are Meant to be Broken but Not the 10 Commandments

By Bob Pardue

The 10 Commandments

I had what you would call a religious up bringing. We were taught the 10 commandments at a very early age.

 

In fact the 10 commandments have played such a large role in my life I cannot remember when I learned them. I remember having to memorize them for Sunday school, but that was more trying to remember what order the 10 commandments came in rather than learning what they were.

 

Because the 10 commandments have been a part of my life since I was a little child, I have not spent much time reflecting on them.

 

As with so many aspects of my Christian faith I have just accepted the 10 commandments as a fact of life.

 

But recently I have spent more time pondering them due to all the media attention of having the 10 commandments displayed in public buildings.

  

I had to stop and review exactly what the 10 commandments are and why someone may be offended seeing them in print.

 

I had to stop and reflect whether or not I had just accepted something that may be offensive just because it has always been part of my life.

 

I have to admit that trying to recall the 10 commandments in order was a true memory exercise.

 

I could not remember all of them and the middle ones were especially a challenge.

 

I mentioned this to my wife and she could not understand why memorizing the commandments made any difference since you could look them up in the Bible or online.

 

I thought she had a valid point, that it did not really matter that I couldn't remember them all or what exact wording I used to remember them, it was the idea behind each of the 10 commandments and the important message that we are to take to heart.

Read all 10 Commandments

After thinking about each of the 10 commandments I have decided that for me they are not at all offensive. I would not feel discriminated against or violated in any way seeing them in print.

The message with each of them is clear to me and in general I feel they outline a decent and courteous way to conduct my life.

I respect other people's beliefs and accept that not everyone has the same set of beliefs that I have.

In fact I think life would be boring if we did all think the same and had the same beliefs. I understand that we are not all from the same belief system, but I still cannot understand why someone would be offended by seeing the 10 commandments in print.

There are many billboards and bus advertisements that I find offensive, but I know there are others that disagree with me.

If I find something offensive I try to look at something that is more appealing or positive to me.

We do not all need to believe the same things in order to exist together, we do not even need to understand each others beliefs, we just need to learn tolerance.

So, whether or not you are a Christian or believe in the Bible, I encourage you to at least read the 10 Commandments before you make a final decision.