| This chapter is going to be about as short
as they get. I am really … is it necessary that I think I an such a detailed expert
that I should profess to have new knowledge about the ten commandments and that this topic
needs to be covered again? Honestly, this subject has been even covered in famous epic
movies that are played every year on television.
There are ten commandments. They are in the Bible. What is so tough about this? In
fact, many people are forced into religion at an early age and are made to memorize all
ten of the commandments. There is probably a good chance that you have the commandments
memorized yourself! Why am I even bothering wasting this printed page? Alright, enough
ranting and raving already. This chapter will be short. I will type out the ten
commandments just to take up space in this book and we will be done with it.
To save myself time, I am going to commit the terrible act of plagiarism. I need to
finish this book fast! There are lots of Bible versions out there and they are written in
numerous languages and many revisions and interpretations. Many people have taken great
license in an attempt to make God’s words on this topic clear. Gosh … I hope
they were right and I hope I plagiarized the best version. Please do not try and figure
out which version I plagiarized, just be content that I did indeed copy the words.
I promise that I have not made them up.
One more explanation and then I start copying out of the book. Each commandment has
some kind of meaning. Well, no kidding! So to take up a little more book space, I will
copy out the commandment and add a short meaning to each commandment. This is sooo easy,
here goes:
First Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Meaning: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all
things.
Second Commandment: Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not
curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by God’s name, but call upon it in
every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
Third Commandment: Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not
despise preaching and God’s word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
Fourth Commandment: Thou
shalt honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest
live long on the earth.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not
despise our parents and masters, nor provoke them to anger, but give them honour, serve
and obey them, and hold them in love and esteem.
Fifth Commandment: Thou
shalt not kill.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not hurt
nor harm our neighbour in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.
Sixth Commandment: Thou
shalt not commit adultery.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may lead a
chaste and decent life in word and deed, and each love and honour their spouse.
Seventh Commandment: Thou
shalt not steal.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not take
our neighbour’s money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help them
to improve and protect their property and business.
Eighth Commandment: Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not
deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbour, but defend them, speak well
of them, and put the best construction on everything.
Ninth Commandment: Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may not
craftily seek to get our neighbour’s inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of
right, but help and be of service to him it keeping it.
Tenth Commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor
his manservant, nor his maidservant, not his cattle, nor anything that is thy
neighbour’s.
Meaning: We should fear and love God that we may
estrange, force, or entice away from our neighbour his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge
them to stay and do their duty.
Before closing this short chapter I want to add some of my
own comments to amplify some of the meanings already stated. About the Sabbath day,
wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could take one day off in common? Friends, family,
loved ones would all have a common day that they would not have to work. If desired, they
could easily coordinate and spend it together and not be disappointed because of one party
having to work … especially when that work is not of any lifesaving type nature. Why
not spend some time to contemplate the big picture and get off that gerbil wheel of life
when all that is being collected is some extra peanuts. Will you be remembered for
spending time with someone and loving them? Or, do you incorrectly believe you will be
remembered for collecting those peanuts? If you believe in God, would it hurt so much to
spend one measly hour to think about and worship God? In the Bible it states that God
created the Universe in six days. The little bit of humour is that even God took off the
seventh day for some rest. While we do not realize it, we have extended this commandment
to take off two days, and call it a weekend. I don’t know but maybe people and God
were trying to practice good sense and have time for reflection and a get a truly good
fresh charge on our "batteries". Why must we complicate and stress things for
the sake of money and that almighty super-convenience?
What is wrong with once and awhile going to a church, a synagogue or a temple of any
sort? I have found that usually these are the one place that consistently teaches about
peace, love, and service to a fellow human being … no matter what background they are
from. If you are going to worship at any place that does not teach tolerance and
love for all living things and people, no matter where they may be on this earth, then I
seriously suggest questioning that church or temple, and look elsewhere.
What is wrong with emphasizing a strong and healthy family unit where there is lasting
and true love? Would children raised under such conditions "turn out" good, or,
bad? What are the possibility calculations? My bets are that the odds are highly in favour
of consistently having happy, healthy, well-balanced, loving children who grow into kind
and respectful adults. What are your thoughts?
.....................(excerpt only - continues) |
