28 Jun 05 Split Decision

With only casual interest have I been following the Supreme Court hearing regarding public displays of the Ten Commandments. Ironically, I find myself divided between two opinions.

I understand the deep feelings and emotions of those who believe this event is further evidence of removing God from the fabric of our nation. I also understand the deep feelings and emotions of those who say it opens the door to the promotion of other religions of every kind.

Though I understand both sides, I still wonder: How long before we are banned from singing ‚ÄúGod Bless America?‚Äù How long before we are banned from saying “one nation under God?” How long before the removal of ‚ÄúIn God We Trust?‚Äù

Does it make any sense that a courthouse cannot display the words of God yet sworn testimony is given by the help of God? It is still curious to me why tolerance usually means tolerant of any and everything but Christianity.

One of our church members sent me an e-mail with the following thought and a question:

The God I worship is tough enough to handle not having His Word hung from every public gathering place. My freedom to peacefully worship has not been affected.

Where are the people who are calling for the display of the Beatitudes or other words of Christ, for example?

He’s on the right track. Forget courthouses and state capitols. When were the ten commandments removed from our churches?

The battle is not to have the commandments displayed on a wall. The struggle is to live obediently according to the will of God.

Twice in Ezekiel (11:19-20; 36:26-27) God envisioned a time when His way of life would be engraved deep within a receptive heart.

I will give them a desire to respect me completely, and I will put inside them a new way of thinking. I will take out the stubborn heart of stone from their bodies, and I will give them an obedient heart of flesh. Then they will live by my rules and obey my laws and keep them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

I’m not so sure we might be fighting (and losing) the wrong battle. The best monument is the commands of God engraved on a receptive heart not some display on a wall. What honors God more is someone living by His commands not staring at them in some courthouse or state capitol building.