A Top 10 List We All Should Contemplate
I am more or less an Episcopalian, but one with Sufi tendencies, such as good-humored mysticism.
At a hearing conducted this year by the Episcopal Church on the matter of heresy, in this case the ordination of a gay man, the Ten Commandments came up. Cullen Murphy wrote about this hearing in the November Atlantic Monthly magazine.
The gay priest’s lawyer argued successfully that not everything in Holy Scripture fits formal Episcopal doctrine. He referred to the Ten Commandments.
I was prompted immediately to list them. Since I was on an airplane at the time, I asked the flight attendants and my seat-mates for assistance.
First of all, hardly anyone I talked to can name all 10. Try it now.
OK, they should be posted in more public places. Let’s go through them together.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Few people seem to claim that there is another god, although we give God different names and disagree about various prophets.
“Thou shalt not make any graven image of anything, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: thou shall not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.”
I think the point here is that it is O.K. to have all sorts of art, but not to worship or serve anything depicted in that art. After all, the pope has authorized the use of Vatican images for T-shirts, coffee cups and greeting cards.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
An Ethiopian taxi driver I consulted in Grand Rapids said he was concerned about blasphemy because of phrases like “god-damn.” I reassured him that Americans called on God for assistance, not disrespect, when they hit their thumb with a hammer. I am right, aren’t I?
“Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” Many groups consider Saturday the Sabbath. Besides, with a worldwide time clock, Sunday moves around. The intent seems to be to stop after six days and remember God. So, which is more important, the specific day, or the 6-to-1 ratio?
“Honor thy father and mother.”
This is where trouble starts. What if your parents abused you or abandoned you? Should this be revised to a more general “honor seniors” kind of rule?
“Thou shalt not kill.”
The immediate text doesn’t say anything about war or executions or the killing of animals. What about Zaire? Do we have a worldwide mandate to intervene everywhere to stop killing? If this is just an individual obligation to not kill others, what are the exceptions?
“Neither shalt thou commit adultery.”
This is an important rule, but what are the implications for divorce and remarriage? Could we rewrite this one to simply require fidelity in whatever relationship you are in?
“Neither shalt thou steal.”
You should not take someone’s personal possessions, but what about individuals or corporations that seem to steal from the environment, the federal budget or their workers? Do our governmental regulations, tax laws and social customs encourage some kinds of stealing? Can you steal food, but not stereos? What would bring down the wrath of God?
“Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
In the last election everyone seemed to be lying about everyone else. Have you been victimized by rumors, gossip or lies?
“Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s.”
Whew! I assume this now includes husbands and cars.
A review of the top 10 makes one wonder what percentage of Christian Americans are headed for hell.
When the Southern Baptist Convention studied this question in 1993 and applied a rating scale, Los Angeles County led the list with 6.9 million lost souls. How many commandments have you broken?
Many religions have added extra commandments and even try to help dead lost souls clean up their files. In Israel posthumous circumcision is practiced.
The Mormons have baptized George Washington, Joseph Stalin and Elvis Presley. At least there will be entertainment in the next world.
There are some commandments we could add: Thou shalt not drink and drive, thou shalt care for the environment, thou shalt not abuse nor abandon thy child, thou shalt keep thy sense of humor.
Do we need to draft a new revised list of commandments? Who should we trust with this work? Cullen Murphy suggested Oprah Winfrey.
Why not prepare for Christmas by asking your family and friends to review the Ten Commandments? You can discuss possible revisions or additions. Help me begin the holiday season with a clear conscience.
The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jennifer James The Spokesman-Review