by Ann Nelson-Russell

Created on: September 19, 2008

Do the Ten Commandments Matter?

The question is not geared toward if the Ten Commandments ever mattered in the history of humankind. The purposed question is targeted more toward expanding one's thought process toward the challenges and questions surrounding the expectation to keep the commandments. By examining 3 of the commandments and applying them in the world that exists in 2008 the challenges may be quite startling and too thought provoking for many to try to grasp.

Commandment 6 states "You shall not murder" Exodus 20:13 (NKJV). The definition of the word "murder" in a wide array of dictionaries always seems to include; kill intentionally, premeditated, with malice, to put an end to, or to destroy. At first thought the general population may nod their heads in agreement and think that the definition and the sixth commandment are easily comprehended.

However, there are many people that are left pondering how this commandment fits into their views and lives. In Ecclelesiates 3:3 it states "A time to kill, and a time to heal". Why would this Bible verse state that there is a time to kill? It becomes even more confusing when Leviticus 24:17 states, "Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death" (NKJV). How then does this apply to our military personnel? Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying, "To my mind, to kill in war is not a whit better than to commit ordinary murder". Does God's commandment pardon the military personnel?

1 Samuel 16:7 states, "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (NKJV). Does that mean that man has broken the commandment if he despises another person and in his heart wants to murder the man, but he restrains himself from committing the physical act? Where might this commandment lead some spiritual leaders that have starved and murdered people's spirits? Discussions of "going green" can be heard or read about from any source in today's society. Our actions and behaviors are destroying Mother Earth and her precious nonrenewable resources, thus are we intentionally murdering future generations?

The eighth Commandment states, "You shall not steal" Exodus 20:15 (NKJV). One's initial thoughts about not stealing and upholding the commandment may be seen as not too difficult to accomplishment. Perhaps this commandment is more difficult to keep than initially thought. Malachi 3:8 says, "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, how do we rob you? In tithes

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