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Sept 5, 2003 Driving back home from a short business trip this afternoon, I turned on the local afternoon talk- radio station. It was really uncomfortable for me, a Christian, to hear the heated debate over the 10 Commandments monument located in government buildings in Montgomery,Alabama. I'm sure it leaves many Christians aghast hearing the savage intellectual beating these well- intentioned Christians take at the hand of more liberal callers and talk-show types. Trying to discern Roy Moore's "true motives", dissecting the fees paid to his lawyers, and other such matters hopelessly confused the listeners as well as the issues. The main reason I was uncomfortable however was the fact that I earnestly hold to a very strong view of Scripture and yet find the argument for the posting of the 10 commandments without merit. The very same Christians who passionately believe in this cause would have to admit that the posting of the Old Testament Law in no way addreses the central theme of the Bible, which centers in Christ. Posting of the Commands does nothing to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28, does not reference the substitutionary atonement,etc. The most explosive moment in my own commitment to Christianity (while a student at the Business School at the University of Miami) came when I first realized that morality and indeed, even adherence to the 10 commandments were impossible goals. The Christian Gospel goes far beyond any of this. The point is that all these Christians are wasting energy, time, and money over an issue that is, indeed a non-issue. I am in a state of sorrow becase now, in order to present a coherent account of my faith to others, I have to fight through all the misperceptions foisted upon the general public by nightly news updates featuring Christians in a frenzy over a stone monument being removed from a building in Mongomery,Alabama. Let's suppose that, arguments concerning church and state aside, somehow the Commands were suddenly permitted to be on display in all public buildings. Is there magic in the stone or in the printed words? What result would occur? What would be the effects? Nothing that I can see that would advance the central message of Christianity or the Kingdom of Christ. It would seem that true Spirituality resides in one's heart and mind and that true morality is never imposed from the outside in but rather the inside out. My personal delight is to obey the Laws of God. I am very hesitant to make public displays of the issue. I understand the zeal but feel it is misguided at best and counterproductive at worst. It leaves me aghast! ------------ About the author: Registered Rep for Jefferson-Pilot Securities in Chattanooga, Tn. Graduate of University of Miami, Florida, BBA 1965, Graduate of Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, Pa. Master of Theology 1970. Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, President of Monarch Financial Group. Email Herbert L. Broadwater, Jr.: HB5405@aol.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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