I have two problems with the Ten Commandments flap in Alabama.
You may recall that a state Supreme Court judge positioned a weighty stone depiction of the commandments in his courthouse down in Alabama. Of course, the judge is absolutely right that the commandments represent the foundation of law, and he should have the right to display them. The Supreme Court of the United States, in fact, also displays the commandments.
One of the problems I find with the whole issue is that this seems to be an in-your-face attack on pagans, and a silly way to "witness" to one’s faith.
The commandments were given by God to show his standard for holiness. They were fulfilled by Jesus Christ and we know from scripture that anyone who tries to live according to the law cannot and is condemned.
My second problem is that once again unbelievers see Christians in a harsh, negative light. Whatever happened to living one’s faith instead of trumpeting it before others? Why are we always known for combat and not the compassion of Christ?
Besides, how many are being lead to Christ by this display of the Ten Commandments? Is the entire brouhaha simply a ploy for fund-raisers and big ministries?
I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.
