"Save" the Ten Commandments?

Who says they need "saving"?

Every time someone sends me one of those "Save the Ten Commandments" (or other such) emails, I delete it, often after answering the email with a few reasons why it's the wrong fight.

Cal Thomas, one of the few unabashedly conservative Christian (as opposed to a political conservative who claims some "Christian" values) mainstream columnists has a good column that pretty well sums up my own position:

Read the whole article here.

A small taste:

Christians, who sometimes seem so bellicose about these things, believe Jesus Christ fulfilled every one of the Ten Commandments and thus became the perfect "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Christians also believe "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16) and "all who rely on observing the law are under a curse" (Galatians 3:10). They believe anyone who wishes to be judged by the law falls short and is condemned.

If Christians believe such things, why would they "settle" for the posting of the Ten Commandments through which they believe no one can be saved? Why not lobby for the display of their favorite verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)? The display of that verse on public property would surely be ruled unconstitutional, but at least Christians would be consistent with what they actually believe.

What puzzles me is the extent to which those who want government to endorse their faith seem ready to compromise their true beliefs in order to receive an honorable mention from the state.

Indeed. Of course, most "Christians" in our culture are "cultural Christians" and not believers. (And even many who claim to be believers are Pelagians in word and deed: where's St David when you need him?) Most need the props of the state and society to either directly support them or to rebel against in order to find support for their "faith."

Regardless of ACLU, Congress, local wackadoos or anyone else, we are to obey even illegitimate laws, unless they seek to prevent obedience to God, in such things as worship, witness and daily life of faith (the last two, of course, being really just aspects of "the worship offered by mind and heart." Rom 12:1 NEB). Witness Peter and John when forbidden to heal, eh?

"Save" the Ten Commandments? "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my word shall not pass away." Luke 21:23 Let those who attack the Word first pull down heaven itself. (In their dreams... )