Northeast Family Update
“Above all, love each
other deeply” (1 Peter 4:8)
March 6, 2005
Should the Ten Commandments Be
Posted?
Wayne Jackson
“If the Ten Commandments were a ‘ministration of death,’ as the New
Testament affirms (see 2 Cor. 3:7), why are so many people clamoring for these
commandments to be posted in public places all over the country?”
There are several issues in connection with this
question that require some attention.
The Ten Commandments were given by God to the Israelite
people following their exodus from Egyptian bondage. These laws embodied both
religious and moral obligations. There was nothing intrinsically evil about the
Decalogue. It’s weakness lay in the fact that it
possessed no permanent remedy for those who broke the commandments, hence, who
were deserving of death. The Mosaic regime had only the “blood of bulls and
goats,” which, in an ultimate sense, could never take away sins (Heb. 10:1,4).
These commandments really were merely the core of the
larger body of legal regulations of the entire Mosaic system. They were never
intended to be the Law as a whole. To separate the “moral” law from the
“ceremonial” law, as modern Sabbatarians have attempted to do, is both
arbitrary and artificial. Why is it that Seventh-day Adventists contend that
only the Ten Commandments remain an obligation today, and yet oppose the
consumption of pork – which has nothing to do with the Decalogue?
The death penalty was attached to each of the Ten
Commandments (see Num. 15:32ff). If the Commandments are binding yet, where are
the penalties, e.g., death for breaking the Sabbath?
The Scriptures clearly teach that the Law of Moses,
including the Ten Commandments, was abrogated by the death of Christ (
The fact that today’s world is not bound by the Ten
Commandments does not imply that man is free to practice idolatry, steal,
murder, etc. The law of Christ (cf. Isa. 2:3; Jer. 31:33; 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2; 2 Pet. 2:21) has both
religious and moral restrictions that circumscribe human conduct.
Does anyone who migrates from England to New York
imagine that he is free to commit murder simply because he has become a citizen
of the United States, and thus is subject no longer to the “crown”? One law may
supersede another, or, in principle, overlap many of the same functions.
Having made these points, we must observe this. Those
who wish to see the Ten Commandments posted on courthouses or in other public
places, etc., do so because they are alarmed at the accelerating rate of crime
and immorality in the nation. They believe that the visible presence of these
laws will serve as a reminder of the obligation every person has to the
Creator. It reflects a sincere effort to restore some sense of moral sanity to
the nation.
Most people have little concept of the differences
between the Old Testament religious scheme, and that which is obligatory today
– namely the reign of Christ through New Testament law. But the Christian
should know better. And he has more valuable things to do with his time and
resources than to get on a “band-wagon” to have the Ten Commandments posted
publicly – as well-motivated as the underlying goal may be.
© 1998 - 2005 by Christian Courier Publications.
Wednesday Bible Class
“Golden Rules”
@ 7:00 P.M.
Make plans to attend
SLEPT THROUGH IT
By
Tom Moore
Remember the story of Rip Van
Winkle? He fell asleep one day in a quiet spot on the banks of the
This almost happened once to
Jesus' disciples. While Jesus prayed they drifted off to sleep (Luke 22:39-46).
They were oblivious to events that all of heaven watched breathless.
Many times we have our heads in
the clouds, enclosed in our own little world and losing sight of the more
important things, and sleep through opportunities, or have our heads in the sand
with regard to important issues facing the church. How many times are we
preoccupied with our own self-importance—forgetting what is really important?
We become prisoners in our own little world of trivialities.
Peter said, "Be sober, be
watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). "Be ready unto every good
work" (Titus 3:1).
Sunday
Evening Sermon Series
Thessalonians
Textual Insight
Ladies ThursdayBible Class
Each Thursday @ 9:30 A.M.
“Esther”
********
Upcoming
Events
Area-Wide Youth Rally
“Jesus Christ Crucified”
With Willie Franklin
March 6, 2005 - 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Gospel Meeting
March 6-9, 2005—@ 7:00 P.M.
—————
Gospel Meeting
“Christianity Is For The
Committed”
With: Josh Linton
March 6-9, 2005
Sayre
—————
Elders & Deacons Meeting
March 7, 2005
@ 7:00 P.M. in Fellowship Room
—————
March Fellowship Meal
March 13, 2005
After Morning Worship
Come and bring a friend!
—————
Singing Practice
March 13, 27, 2005
@5:30 P.M.
In the
Auditorium Everyone is encouraged to attend
Christian Plan of Salvation
Hear the Gospel - Rom.
Believe in Jesus - Heb.
11:6; Jn. 8:24
Repent - Acts
2:38; Lk. 13:3
Confess Jesus as Lord - Ro. 10:9-10; Mt. 10:32
Be Baptized - Mk.
Lord Adds To Church - Acts
2:47
Live Faithful - Gal.
5:16-26; Rev. 2:10
The Northeast Family Update is published weekly by the
Lord’s church in Sentinel,
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Our Elders: Junior
Blanton (674-3987), Otis Martin (393-4936)
Leland
Womack (666-2243)
Our Deacons: Curtis Chandler (393-2167),
Tommy Hagen (393-4542),
Ron Morris (486-3574),
Bud Robinson, (393-4560),
Jackie Todd, (393-4383),
Robert Whinery (674-3463),
Our
Minister: John E. Werhan (393-4898 office) (393-2264 home)
Our Address:
Northeast
1111 E. N. Boundary