the 10 golden rules...

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how much do you know about the 10 commandments? having gone to church for over 20 years and being a Christian for almost the same time, i was still not confident of quoting all the 10 commandments (although i am pretty sure i know the gist of it!).

i was at life bookshop a week ago, picking out a present for ting-en when i stumble upon this book in the youth section. i'm a sucker for nice front covers and nice text layout and font. so i casually took this book and gave this a browse. flipped to the second chapter over a glance at the contents page: Amercian Idols. "this must be pretty interesting", i thought to myself. but at that point of time, i wasn't so willing to fork out money to get the book. however, i found myself thinking about the 10 commandments pretty often after that day.and i told myself i had to get that book...

it's a simple read. nothing too literary, yet not as contemporary as most youth books. it states in simple language the crux of each commandment and its implications to current-day issues. i appreciate the author relating commandments like "Thou shalt not use God's name in vain" to issues like Jesus' name on bumper stickers, "Thou shalt not murder" to war, abortion and suicide, and "Thou shalt not steal" to mp3 downloading.

it set me thinking that the commandments weren't just words God had inscribed on two pieces of stone and passed to Moses on Mount Sinai. there's more to the commandments than helping us keep a disciplined life. it's about God giving us freedom (if we observe his laws). if we seek to obey the commands of God, we would not be worried about many things in life. wouldn't that be freedom from the bondage of fear and guilt? i understand that when we say the word RULES, it scares people off and they would start to think "rules are just to limit the fun we can have". why not think of rules helping us to enjoy what we have, without the need to worry whether we are right or wrong?

i have yet to finish this book... but i'm earnestly reading it to have a wider perpective of what God is teaching me. for those who are interested in giving it a browse, just let me know and i'll be glad to lend it to you when i finish it.

as for now, i'm quite sure i know the commandments by heart... (paraphrased them myself)
1. You shall not have any gods before me.
2. You shall not make any graven images or idols of anything, and worship them.
3. You shall not use the name of the Lord in vain.
4. You shall remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. You shall honour your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not lie.
10. You shall not covet your neighbours' possessions.