by Michael Shepard

Created on: March 28, 2010

Asking if the Ten Commandments matter is as sensible as asking whether Ursus Arctus var. horribilis (Grizzly Bear) performs bowel extirpation (producing scat) in Glacier National Park.  Obviously, sins of: coveting the neighbor's wife and/or ox, making idols, worshiping other gods, committing murder, gossiping, not resting on Sunday, trashing mom and dad; well; these are all behaviors God doesn't much care for, and are punishable.

Yes, the Commandments address the seven deadly sins; do matter; and are as applicable today as in the moment Moses brought them down from the mountain.  The trouble is this: nobody is able to follow them and therefore unpopular so everyone wants absolutely no reminders of commandments triggering shame of disobedience.  Strength of communal desire to ignore commandments recently manifested itself by an engraved monument depicting said orders successfully removed from our City Civic Center.

Jesus brought another commandment, greater than all other ten combined.  This is: “Love your God with all your heart, mind, and soul; and your neighbor as yourself”.  If one is very clear about what love is in relation to self and others; no disobedience (or other commandment) is necessary.   If anyone other than Christ could claim sin-free status, the life, death, and resurrection of Messiah would also lack in necessity.

Truth is, no one can honestly claim this status. If one does deny sinful nature, self deception becomes the aggrieved offense.  This is why the comment, “You're in denial” grows in popularity in psychobabble circles.  There is no real defense for the statement.  If one responds with “No, I am in reality”, the other can touche with, “See, I told you so”.

So, the conundrum of inability to not sin; causing breach in human relations; demands a restorative solution.  This is, of course, Christ and his selfless propitiation on Calvary.  Acceptance of Divine sovereignty empowers one to practice forgiveness, find truth, and grow in wisdom.  On the flip side of the coin, a fool never learns.  Powerful guilt forces external transference of wrongdoing, otherwise known as the “Always someone Else's fault” syndrome.  These poor creatures suffer incarceration and become homicidal and suicidal maniacs.  Nothing to be envied there, therefore no sin is being committed.

Eric Fromm, in his book,   The Art of Loving, stated that the only viable solution to the problem of humanity is love.  God loves humanity and earnestly desires for us to not hurt one another.  He understands our beastly nature and inability to follow rules, so gave us a path to righteousness through His Son.  He who is baptized and believes will be saved.  This means saved from the self.  Gratitude is the best response to the commandments, prayer for strength to keep them is good, and asking whether they matter is inviting trouble.

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