We have succeeded in taking 10 simple rules and twisting them into a million little pieces to fit every possible situation that we could twist out of 10 simple rules. What a crazy train!
I assist with creating policies. Sometimes I wonder why we have to keep creating them. Many conversations around the discussion table are about ethics and moral issues and the same sentence comes forth "that should be common sense".
Of course, I needed to ponder this today. Let's take a look at two things.
1) What is a law?
2) What is common sense?
First the Mirriam-Webster's online dictionary defines law as:
The whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
Second the Mirriam-Webster's online dictionary defines common sense as:
The ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions
That in itself confuses me with how we operate today. First off, who gets to create the laws? Why do we trust them. People as we know are flawed, we make mistakes all the time. We have decided that we entrust a bunch of people that are elected, or have the most money, to make our decisions for us. Then we tell everyone to use "common sense" which is their own opinion of how they choose to live their life. It is a vicious circle. Where is stable ground? Where is truth?
If you wonder why I preach on the Bible so much is because it holds the 10 rules that ultimately are the easiest to follow, yet people don't like to follow them. People end up twisting and turning them to fit their wants, desires and needs and then they call them "laws". It amazes me that we can't even follow the 10 a perfect God gave us, so how do we anticipate following the millions flawed people have been created since?
Take a moment to read them: See what you think...do you think that you can base the foundation of your life around these as law? I'm interested in your thoughts.
Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community
Then God gave the people all these instructions
2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
3 “You must not have any other god but me.
4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[b] who love me and obey my commands.
7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You must not murder.
14 “You must not commit adultery.
15 “You must not steal.
16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.
Proper Use of Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. 23 Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me.
24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. 26 And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.
I assist with creating policies. Sometimes I wonder why we have to keep creating them. Many conversations around the discussion table are about ethics and moral issues and the same sentence comes forth "that should be common sense".
Of course, I needed to ponder this today. Let's take a look at two things.
1) What is a law?
2) What is common sense?
First the Mirriam-Webster's online dictionary defines law as:
The whole system or set of rules made by the government of a town, state, country, etc.
Second the Mirriam-Webster's online dictionary defines common sense as:
The ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions
That in itself confuses me with how we operate today. First off, who gets to create the laws? Why do we trust them. People as we know are flawed, we make mistakes all the time. We have decided that we entrust a bunch of people that are elected, or have the most money, to make our decisions for us. Then we tell everyone to use "common sense" which is their own opinion of how they choose to live their life. It is a vicious circle. Where is stable ground? Where is truth?
If you wonder why I preach on the Bible so much is because it holds the 10 rules that ultimately are the easiest to follow, yet people don't like to follow them. People end up twisting and turning them to fit their wants, desires and needs and then they call them "laws". It amazes me that we can't even follow the 10 a perfect God gave us, so how do we anticipate following the millions flawed people have been created since?
Take a moment to read them: See what you think...do you think that you can base the foundation of your life around these as law? I'm interested in your thoughts.
Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community
Then God gave the people all these instructions
2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
3 “You must not have any other god but me.
4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[b] who love me and obey my commands.
7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You must not murder.
14 “You must not commit adultery.
15 “You must not steal.
16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
19 And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
20 “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.
Proper Use of Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. 23 Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me.
24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. 26 And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.
RSS Feed
