Exodus 31:18 – And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. (NKJV)

I once taught a faith and science course in which I challenged my students to bring a Christian worldview into their academics. Sessions included guest speakers who harmonized their Christian beliefs with the secular scientific view of the world. One speaker was Dr. Bert Brockhouse who, in 1994, was the co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. The work that he did for this prize had been completed 40 years previously, at the start of his career. He told me that he was probably the most surprised person in the world when he first heard of his accomplishment from a news reporter asking for an interview.

Dr. Brockhouse brought into the classroom not only his Nobel medal, but also an interesting perspective on the authority of Scripture. He had a clear vision of what we should do, as listed in the Ten Commandments, but he said that we should not follow these commandments simply because the Bible tells us to. Instead, they are words of wisdom that are absolute truths needed to ensure a healthy society. He pointed out that experience itself attests to the value of these rules.

Today, the teaching of biblical rules is banned from public schools, but has this been helpful? Are schools better run and students better citizens after removing the Ten Commandments? Is society really happier and more harmonious with all its freedom without these rules? It may not be possible to prove a cause and effect, but the world that I witness is not in a particularly healthy state.

I believe that ignoring the Ten Commandments does more harm than good. They might be considered religious and judgmental, but they bring freedom: to have the next generation respect and honour you; to be able trust your partner without the fear of being betrayed; and not to have to worry about being robbed, attacked, or killed.

Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (NKJV)

These are the greatest commandments, but they are probably the hardest to follow. Maybe that is why God started us with a few smaller ones before He challenged us with the greatest ones of all. As Christians, let us practice the Ten Commandments so that we are better prepared to keep the greater commandments — to love God, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for providing us with rules to live in harmony with others, even when we can't love someone as much as ourselves. May we grow to appreciate Your rules, for they bring freedom and give us life more abundantly. Amen.