Post The Beatitudes Instead of The Ten Commandments

For those who want to post The Ten Commandments on the internet because they (rightly) cannot be displayed in government facilities, I suggest The Beatitudes instead. They are a much more incisive expression of Jesus’ life and teaching, while The Ten Commandments tends to reinforce comfortable moralism with the futile hope that they will deter someone bent on evil.

Do understand, I have no objection to The Ten Commandments. They are a concise expression of life that flows from honoring God. With The Beatitudes Jesus goes even deeper to a heart that is congruent with the heart of God. The Ten Commandments evoke a nostalgic wishing for a time when we imagined more people lived by them. The Beatitudes, however, make us all squirm with some sense of inadequacy and dependence on God’s mercy. At the very least, The Beatitudes will annoy those who interpret life in terms of pride and power.

I want to be totally clear that I do not believe The Ten Commandment, or The Beatitudes, or any other “religious” expressions are appropriate for display in government facilities. The First Amendment to the US Constitution rightly prevents Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. By excluding religion from government, we have great freedom to express our religious convictions personally on the internet, in our homes, even in our businesses. Of course, if you are an employee, you respect the policies of your employer. Additionally, I have no objection to teaching history and literature of the Bible in public school, as long as it is not done to promote or debunk religion. The courts have held this as constitutionally legitimate. Of course, both wonderful and horrible things have been done in the name of religion, which is also legitimate and healthy to be taught.

Further, I am fully convinced that not just government (such as state churches that were typical of the original Thirteen Colonies and persisted in Europe) but social consensus versions of religion dilute and diminish authentic Christian discipleship. Thus, not having government (or even social consensus) support for (generic) religion is good for the spiritual health of those who follow Jesus and for Christ’s Church.