Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, March 3, 2020
by Daniel D. Maurer, Clergy Stuff
Did you know that different denominations enumerate the Ten Commandments differently? Jews and protestant churches from a Calvinist background do it one way, and Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists do it a different way.
So which way is right?
My first inclination is to go with the Jews. It was their text first!
Being a Lutheran, though, I have to at least give a nod to my own denomination.
Regardless, the Ten Commandments remain a societal fixation on whether or not they are to be posted in public places. The argument goes that from one side in that the Commandments are a part of history, American history, and need to stay that way. The other side says either that God-talk doesn’t belong a part of the government, because of the Constitution, or that the God mentioned in the Commandments is a very particular God, that is the God of the Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
Whatever the argument, and whatever side you see yourself falling on it, to the people of faith, we have the opportunity to always turn back to scripture to see a glimpse of God’s intentions for humanity.
Falling short, we don’t need to throw the Commandments (the baby?) out with the bath water. However, we also don’t need to obsess how they’re enumerated or whether they’re posted in a government park. God will bring God’s justice to us, no matter what. It’s our choice to participate in this and to return to the good news of Christ to make it happen.
What’s your view on the 10 Commandments?
An
Exceptional
People
Blog Posts
SIGN UP NOW