We must observe the Ten Commandments

THE EDITOR: This letter is in response to Sylvan James of Debe, who, in an eagerness to discourage the bondage into which some Ministers of Religion place their flock, appears to be suggesting that we should not be under the rule of the Ten Commandments. Now, I wholeheartedly agree that Ministers of Religion place bondage on their flock which should not be there at all. But to say that we do not need to heed the Ten Commandments is almost a good as saying that Christians could live anyhow they please, claim ‘freedom’, cry Lord, Lord and expect to be pleasing GOD. No, No, No!.

When the Lord Jesus Christ came and died on the cross as an atonement for sin for each and everyone of us, thereby becoming the very Gospel that Christians preach, He did not do away with observance of the Ten Commandments. He did say that He came to bring a new law though. Read Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7. In Matthew 5:17,18 He said: “ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” He further went on to encourage a much stricter observance of some aspects of the law i.e. the law says Thou Shalt Not Kill but Jesus Christ discourages even becoming angry with your brother! Again, The law states Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery and the Lord discourages even so much as looking at someone with lust in your heart, let alone to go on to adultery! etc. Read the scriptures and meditate on it. Now, regarding tradition however, Jesus Christ openly broke many of the traditions of the Jews. Eating with unwashed hands, doing good on the Sabbath day, eating with publicans and sinners, not observing certain rituals of fasting etc. What I believe the Lord wanted to impress on us and teach us was that we do not have to observe traditions which encourage us to believe that we can purify or sanctify ourselves by observing rituals.

That will lead us to think that we can be an end in ourselves when we gain a semblance of “righteousness” by observing strictly our church rules. Preoccupation with church rules could blind well meaning Christians into disregarding those of God! The Lord encouraged observance of God’s Law to us when He proclaimed the greatest commandment in Matthew 22: 37-39. These two commandments sum up the Ten Commandments which basically speak of loving, respecting and honouring God and treating others with love and respect. On the other hand, The Blessed Lamb of God was disgusted with many traditional practices. So, Ministers of religion, please do not keep your flocks in bondage to the whims and fancies of your religious persuasions. The clothes and hair styles, hat or none, jewelry or none, make up or none, wine or grape juice and many more observances that various sects adhere to do not matter one way or the other to our Christianity! We observe all these traditions, we are in Church everyday calling on the name of the Lord and yet we break the greatest commandment by not loving one another.

It is also very common to find Christians being very careful to observe their “church rules” and blatantly break one or more of the Ten Commandments with no remorse! Mr. Pastor, when you touch a young lady in the church’s office that does not sanctify the sin. Minister of religion, when you lie about someone to save your face, you are breaking two commandments. You are both bearing false witness as well as murdering! Yes, a lie, well told, can kill a spirit, a character! Lastly, Christ did come to bring us freedom in our relationship with Himself and His Father. But that freedom can only be experienced through the Holy Spirit of God. It speaks of freedom to walk in the newness of life that we gain after being washed in the Blood of Christ. It does not refer to license to break God’s laws and live immorally.

JEAN JACQUES
Constabulary Street
Carenage