I would put money on it – only going by my own sad performance that many – if not most Christians, especially the young folk, don’t know the ten commandments (did you also realise there are two different sets of 10 commandments?.. yes for real! Catholics have their own modified version (see below) that removes 1 command altogether and splits another into 2 to make their ten – if you don’t believe this (as I didn’t and I have since learned most Catholics do not realise this) please see the official Vatican website and compare their ten with the original ten in 99% Bibles).
Why should Christians know the ten commandments anyway?… after all we are always being told we are in the ‘grace covenant’ and not the ‘works covenant’, even though Jesus said; “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it.” You mean he came to do it? It would appear so. He didn’t come so that we wouldn’t have to keep the law, but so that we wouldn’t have to die for not keeping it – as was the case prior to him taking on our penalty for sin. We are no longer under the condemnation (death penalty) of the law. Yet I never ever heard anyone tell me in 20 years going to church that we should be keeping them.
“Hey… I don’t know all Ten Commandments. The only ones I remember are ‘settle down,’ ‘act your age,’ and ‘take that out of your mouth’!”
Begs the question though…. since when has not stealing, or honouring one’s parents by not treating them like most teenagers, or not lying been a ‘work’? An odd concept I must say. I thought a ‘work’ involved some kind of… well work – strange as it seems. You know, like helping an old lady across the road or comforting someone or doing someone’s shopping when they are ill.
Hmm I don’t know – perhaps we better examine these ten commandments and see if we really should be keeping them as Christians – I don’t mean it’s a saving issue as we know it isn’t lest any man should boast, but keeping them because they make perfect sense, and it might just be that these 10 little rules are the answer to all – and I mean all – the world’s problems!
To be honest, since people are forever obsessing about the latest way to reduce crime figures when the answer has been staring us in the face since almost the beginning of time, I never could figure out why the 10 commandments weren’t hung on the wall behind the pastor in every church in every nation (let alone schools and court houses) in great big – giant letters for all to see.
I have since learnt the reason – namely that the pastor might be worried he may lose half his congregation (an unnecessarily fear I hasten to add since Jesus is always there to forgive our sins!), and the court house judges might worry he’d soon be out of a job! As the Bible never wrong about anything tells us; “the love of money is the root of all evil.” But of course neither would have a problem as God would bless them both for honouring Him.
So pastors and judges – let’s put the commandments back where they belong and trust God that He will provide all our needs!
Abbreviated Protestant Ten Commandments:
- You shall have no other gods but me.
- You shall not make unto you any graven images (removed in Catholic version below)
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
- You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
- Honor your mother and father
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness
- You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (Vatican divides this into 2 to make up for the lost 2nd – see below)
Abbreviated Catholic Ten Commandments:
- I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain
- Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day
- Honor your father and your mother
- You shall not kill
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife (10th commandment divided into 2 to make up for the lost 2nd)
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods (10th commandment divided into 2 to make up for the lost 2nd)
Please note; all murder (i.e premeditated) is killing but not all killing is murder e.g accidental death is not murder.
I love God, Christ, The Bible. art, painting, playing music, improvising music, guitar (first instrument), drumming (not very good at it:), and anything musical or art related. Quick note – my articles are usually spun off in minutes so forgive any errors – hopefully you get the essence of the article and I’ll pick up mistakes later. If you want to write of 101ChristianMagazine and inspire and edify Christians with articles on faith, general news, hobbies or anything that interests you email me at: epgb101@gmail.com:)
