As we noted in the previous blog, laws play a significant role in our development toward the people that God desired for us to be. In other words, the law takes nature where nature wants to go... most of the time. This was particularly true for the Israelites, God's chosen people. They received an assortment of commandments, some written, some communicated orally, some inscribed on tablets, destroyed, and others inscribed on more tablets; roughly 613 total. And a lot of these commandments were weird. You couldn't wear clothing of mixed material, eat grapes skins, plant different seeds in the same field.. odd stuff like that. But with we understand this smorgasbord of laws in the context that they were given to Israel, we come to realize that they weren't actually a smorgasbord at all. They all served a very specific purpose. They were designed to set the Israelites apart so that they could remain in relationship with God and avoid going astray. The tribes that surrounded them had their own variety of peculiar behaviours, and we all know what happens when we hang out with people with face tatoos... ideologies are soon to follow.
None of these laws were more prominent however than the decalogue or the ten commandments. The commandments given to Moses were designed to set the Israelites up for ultimate success. If they could abide by these commandments, both literally and thematically, they would not be led astray. So takes a look at what exactly these laws were, and how they were designed to set them, and ultimately us, apart.
Commandment one: No other gods.
This commandment is the first commandment, and thematically, it is the commandment of love. Love the Lord your God, love your neighbor as yourself, love, love, love. And it is no surprise that this one is first. Jesus tells us: "If you love me, you will follow my commands". It is pretty easy, love and then follow because you love. Therefore, this commandment comes first because if we don't love, we won't follow, but if we do, we are more likely to buy into the rest. However, there is another part of this commandment that cannot be overlooked. It is the "only one God" clause. This serves the purpose of eliminating any conflict when it comes to who to follow. Nothing can be more difficult than navigating authorities that are telling you to do different things, and thus, God does away with it all together. He says, follow Him, don't follow anyone else, unless they are preaching the same thing. Because then, they too, are following Him. That's why this commandment speaks out against tarot cards, magic, seances, and stuff like that. We have to be weary of making ourselves vulnerable to other masters... worldly and otherwise.
Commandment two: Don't use the Lord's name in vain.
This commandment is rather straight forward. Don't curse the name. Don't lie with the name. Don't claim to know what God will do. That kind of thing. This commandment is all about proceeding respectfully toward the Lord, which is a key to understanding the relationship we are meant to have with Him. It should be intimate while simultaneously filling us with awe.
Commandment three: Keep holy the sabbath.
This commandment does not mean that we always have to attend church (there are extenuating circumstances), it does not mean that only Christians can have a relationship with God, and it certainly doesn't mean you can't do anything on Sundays... What it does mean is that we are meant to take time to build our relationship with God. And we should also be willing to make sacrifices for that relationship. That is a sign that it is genuine and that we are grateful for it.
These three commandments come together to create the theological principles. They govern what Christians are meant to believe: that there is only one God, that He is deserving of our respect, and that we are meant to be in relationship with Him. If we cling to these understandings, the rest of the commandments become quite simple. Love Him, and we will treat His creation with love as well. The brilliance of this lies in the fact that God knows us so well. We are loyal to those we respect and with whom we share relationship. For them, we will do anything.
The commandments that follow are known as the moral principles (what we should do).
Commandment four: Honor your mother and father and you'll get the land (i.e. heaven).
This commandment illustrates the importance of adhering to authority while also establishing that there is a reward for doing so. But not in the sense of a prize, but rather in the way that there are natural rewards for doing the good. (If you don't drink under age, you don't get MIPs) In the same way, following the commands leads you to holiness, heaven, and a relationship with God.
Commandment five: Don't kill (or more accurately, treat everyone with dignity.)
This commandment centers around dignity. It is the foundational notion of no harm to self or others. It covers all kinds of death, drug use, and the killing of things physically, metaphysically, emotionally, and otherwise. The importance of the commandment lies in the fact that if we can treat others with dignity (an ourselves) we will never find ourselves in violation of the commandments that follow.
Commandment Six: Do not commit adultery (or do anything else sexually immoral...)
This is a big commandment that covers all manners of activity; however, the key to it lies in its requirement for self control. It does not call for celibacy, it calls for chastity, and these are very different concepts. Everyone is called to chastity (married, unmarried, priests, etc.) because everyone is called to be in control of their sexual urges and exploits. And this self control then helps going forward. Self mastery not only leads to a healthy sex life, but it also helps us to control our envy and desire, the issues that lie at the root of subsequent commandments.
Commandment seven: don't steal
Anything. Intellectual property. Physical property. Someone's dignity.
However, feel free to own property, own things, borrow things, just be clear what your are doing and do it.
Commandment eight: don't bear false witness
Essentially, do not defamate another's character through the telling of lies, rumors, or the keeping of secrets. Avoid the gossip. But do know that this doesn't mean the fifth amendment is nullified, the seal of confession still holds, and you are allowed to keep the secret ingredients in grandma's salsa a secret ;). This one is complicated - but it is made easier when we pursue the truth, when we provide the truth, and when we don't with hold it from others. At least not those who are entitled to it. (That is a way more complicated conversation than what we have time for though, so feel free to follow up.
Commandment nine and ten: don't covet your neighbors wife and stuff.
In other words, be happy with the life you've been given. Trust God, love Him, and you won't want for anything more. Which brings us full circle. Find the love, establish the relationship and the happiness will follow because so will the natural law and eventually your purpose.
If only it were that easy though. Follow the law, be happy, the end. However, the problem lies in how we fulfill this law of love in our lives today. Which is a task easier said than done.
But that is where the beatitudes come in to play. In the very etymology of the word, the beatitudes suggest that we must learn to "be of a certain attitude". And what exactly is that attitude? Well one in which we recognize a need for God in our lives. We need to become poor in spirit. This is both the first and "most important" beatitude in that our recognition of a need for God will lay the ground work for everything else to come. We will mourn for the state of the world as it is, we will feel powerless in our ability to change it, we will then hunger for righteousness, become more merciful, patient, and moral in the process, and then eventually we will seek to change the world. And what will be our reward? Well ultimately the kingdom of heaven, but here, in this world, we will be persecuted. You see, that is the key to understanding the beatitudes. The poor in spirit are the mourning, they are the peacemakers, they are the persecuted.
But that is the way of life, those who seek the truth are challenged for it. Those who seek to align themselves with the objective good are bullied, marginalized and ostracized. But there is blessing in that. How do you know you're on the right track? Someone is probably trying to steer you off...
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