My good friend (and former fellow presbyter) Kevin Carroll has an interesting blog article here on the great need we have for modifying the Ten Commandments.
Modify the Ten Commandments you say? Why would anyone do that? Because in our day and time, it seems that so many seem to want to neglect or ignore or qualify the 2nd and 4th commandments.
Kevin is not necessarily speaking of the laity in our congregations (though that does happen, of course); he is speaking of ministers of the gospel who take exceptions to the 2nd and 4th commandments during their ordination examinations before presbyteries.
Kevin uses a fictitious candidate (I. Wannapreach) who comes before a presbytery. Imagine if this candidate voiced the following objections:
Moderator: “Mr. Wannapreach, do you take any exceptions to our Standards?”
Wannapreach: “Yes, Mr. Moderator, I do.”
Moderator: “Please tell the Presbytery what they are.”
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the First Commandment. Specifically, I think that other world religions have aspects of truth to them. All roads leas to salvation.”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Third Commandment. Many of the so-called blasphemies that historically have been looked down on are actually very appropriate in sermons and everyday speech. They make me more relatable in my efforts to evangelize.”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Fifth Commandment. Let’s face it. Our government stinks. I see no need to teach God’s people the need to submit to such a wicked system!”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Sixth Commandment. Specifically, I think that abortion is justified when the emotional health of the mother is disturbed.”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Seventh Commandment. Specifically, my wife and I enjoy the recreational use of pornography both as a couple and as individuals. We believe it enhances the sexual aspects of our marriage.”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Eighth Commandment. Specifically, I think that it is unconscionable how much we are taxed. I don’t think it’s immoral as a minister to underreport my income. I mean, how else am I going to have enough for retirement?”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Ninth Commandment. Specifically, I think that it is wrong to warn people that sharing information about others could possibly be sinful. I want to encourage a ‘genuine’ congregation. How can we pray for one another as we should, unless we really enter into one another’s situations?”
Or:
Wannapreach: “Well, Mr. Moderator, I take exception to our understanding of the Tenth Commandment. Specifically, I think that the church that is calling me is a stepping stone in my career. I really don’t want to stay there that long because, let’s face it: I’ve put in my time. Other guys than myself are already in much larger churches and no one at Waypoint PCA expects me to stay very long anyhow. ”
This is not to say that none of us are faultless in our obedience before God. Indeed, we break His commandments daily in thought and word and deed, as the Westminster Standards remind us. That’s why we need a Savior and that’s why we need to be clothed by His perfect righteousness. But that is also a far different thing from a deliberate rejection of 20% of the moral law of God. And in some circles, we have the problem of ordained ministers who willingly teach against the commandments (through written works, sermons, SS lessons, etc.). These things should not be.
Kevin sums it up like this:
Put another way: Pictures of naked women? Bad! Pictures of Jesus? Yawn. Fail to pay your taxes? Bad! Fail to keep the Sabbath Day holy? Yawn.
Confessionalism is important, at least in (supposed) confessional denominations. Instead of yawning, we need to wake up to that reality.
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