- “You shall not murder.” Jesus taught in Matthew 5 that even our anger against another will be judged harshly. If this is the case what kind of person would we be if we were to fully obey? Would you aspire to be such a person or do you admire people who are violent, aggressive and dominant?
Someone who has good self-control, who prefers peace and cooperation and seeks to build rather than destroy. Yes, though the ability to bring arrogant people down a notch is very tempting. Yet you teach “vengeance is mine” and so it would seem that that is not a role you want us to play.
- “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus taught in Matthew 5 that even to lust after another would already be a breaking of this command. What do you think it means to lust after another; does it mean to be sexually excited, or it is more than that?
I think we are built to respond sexually to sexual situations so I think that is not an issue. Once again, self-control is needed as a sexual response need not be satisfied or acted upon and we do not need to give in to such desires and instincts as that would become lust.
- “You shall not steal.” Paul says in Ephesians 4, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” In other words, Christians seek to give rather than take. What do you think?
I think the understanding of possession in modern times has become very fluid and so stealing is very difficult to define. At the same time the exploitation of possession has become unjust with the law siding those who have against those who have not and these laws are out of reach of the have-nots because they do not have the power to make the laws more just and fair and kind. A man can lawfully have many properties and exploits them to make more money to buy even more properties and he is held in high esteem while another is prosecuted for stealing some money or food to feed his family. Who is evil? I like Paul’s way of looking, that we are to be generous and share with those in need and we go against the spirit of the command when we are selfish and exploitative. It transcends possession.
- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Do you think this is about lying, that is, not telling the truth about anything, or it is specifically about harming someone with your lies? On the other hand, do you think Christians should especially care about truth?
The command clearly is set in the context of lies that harm but biblically there is a broad sense that lies and deception are of the devil and truth and openness is of God. Jesus said “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” and calls the devil “the father of lies”. There is no glory to indulge in lies and the deeper you are mired in lies the closer you move towards the devil. Truth however leads you closer to Christ. In other words, Christians care about truth and seek to be open and honest. However, it would be foolish to obsess over issues in social communication such as being brutally frank over being kind, situations where your job may require you to lie and deceive, exaggerate or to encourage people to see the better side of your client or hide their darker side. I think in these, and many other “grey” areas, the harmfulness and intent to harm is an important factor, as is in this command.
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” In Luke 12, Jesus said, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” At the heart of covetousness is the notion that we will be happy when we possess what we covet. What do you think your happiness depends on? What will make you happy?
Happiness depends on ourselves and what or who we choose care about. And if central to who we care about is God, then we will have every opportunity to be happy. Happy people. Making people happy in their walk with God.