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Aug 29 2008
Articles of Faith: The Righteous Exceptions to the Ten Commandments
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I know what you may be thinking. “What the heck does he mean that there are exceptions to the Ten Commandments?” Well, don’t worry I haven’t abandoned my faith in the least. To the contrary, my faith has never been stronger. My point is simply that there are only small technical points that may be shifted in very specific cases in which certain otherwise sinful acts are completely taken away from their originally evil context.
So now I’ll go through each Commandment (some of which do not have direct exceptions, but when read too literally can be easily misconstrued).
he 10 Commandments - God’s Revelation in the Old Testament
The 10 Commandments are found in the Bible’s Old Testament at Exodus, Chapter 20. They were given directly by God to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai after He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt:
“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God…
ONE: ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’
Exception: There officially is no exception here in the Judeo-Christian tradition as God is only one God even in unity with the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. However, some argue that because each of the three persons of the Trinity is thought also to be distinct, this violates having only one God.
TWO: ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.’
Today, this is read in the context of the rampant worship of carved statues. Obviously, many cultures allow sculptures of religious figures though never for those objects to be worshiped as gods. Still, in a purely literal sense all cultures violate this principle through all religious sculpture and some other forms of art.
THREE: ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.’
Exception: One exception I see is if one is acting in a play or film. Clearly, if someone is acting a part, they don’t mean to take the Lord’s name in vain.
FOUR: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’
Exception: If one has to work during religious hours (i.e., if one works as a nurse in a hospital).
FIVE: ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
Exception: If one’s parents are trying to kill a child and that child defends his life.
SIX: ‘You shall not murder.’
Exception: ALL Biblical Holy wars are included. Also, killing is self-defense is permitted.
SEVEN: ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
Exception: The hypothetically situation I think of is if one is ask to have sex with someone in order to cure a disease… BUT this is highly unlikely.
EIGHT: ‘You shall not steal.’
Exception: Christian teaching prohibits following any law that contradicts the Word of God. So for instance, in Zimbabwe where prices have become too high to afford, stealing food from the corrupt government to feed one’s family may at times be just.
NINE: ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.’
Exception: There are a few here: lying when acting, working undercover, or hiding the truth when planning a surprise for someone.
TEN: ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.’
Exception: In the age of mass production, buying a copy of your neighbor’s favorite movie is not the same as stealing his only copy.
The 10 Commandments - Christ’s Summation in the New Testament
About 1,400 years later, the 10 Commandments were summed up in the New Testament at Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the religious “experts” of the day:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).
A reflective reading of Christ’s teaching reveals that the first four commandments given to the children of Israel are contained in the statement: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” It continues that the last six commandments are enclosed in the statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself”
(allabouttruth.org).
Wax well!<a
