What's the problem here?

Why is there an uproar in America about having the Ten Commandments posted in public view? You might have been told the issue is separation of church and state, but that isn't true. Some of my friends who call themselves atheists, and with whom I get along fine, don't have a problem with the Ten Commandments.

Although many faiths could be mentioned in this Reflection, I will mention only Islam, Judaism, and Christianity: Three monotheistic religions.

Let's briefly look at and comment on the commandments found in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The first four reflect on our relationship with God.

1. You must not have any other gods before (in priority over, or other than) me. Every person in the world is religious, and every country in the world has its own god or gods. Also, whatever someone worships or idolizes becomes a god. Three common examples are money, sex and musicians.

2. You must not create an object to worship. Adherents of Islam agree with this; and agnostics and atheists have no problem with it.

3. You must not use the name of God thoughtlessly or loosely. Most people misunderstand this one and ignore it.

4. You must honor the Sabbath day. Labor unions worked hard to give their members a day off from work each week; and the courts who invalidate the commandments won't sit in session on Saturday or Sunday.

The next six commandments relate to human interpersonal relationships.

5. Honor your father and mother. Properly understood and applied, this command is one of the primary supports for most civilizations on earth.

6. You must not commit murder. We have stiff laws prohibiting murder. This command attempts to protect us from mentally sick and evil people who purposely kill others.

7. You must not commit adultery. Many people -- including members of our courts, legislative bodies and some presidents and pastors -- have disregarded this one simply because sexual perversion is one of the world's primary gods. (See Command #1.)

8. You must not steal. We arrest and send people to jail for this.

9. You must not lie. We have contracts to keep people honest, and can arrest people if they break contracts or commit perjury.

10. You must not think of taking your neighbors wife, house, land, or whatever else belongs to him. This command covers a lot of territory, and the courts support this.

We've just seen that U.S. citizens are not bothered with seven of the rules, so what's the problem with the Ten Commandments? Here it is: the sound of "The Ten Commandments" reminds people of the God of the Bible. They may not be against a moral code; they are against God. However, any culture that adheres to and lives by these 10 laws -- including honoring a Sabbath day -- will be a healthier society.

I have friends who disagree with me, but I am still convinced these laws are the basic foundation upon which our nation was founded.

When we examine the Ten Commandments, it's likely that only three of them are offensive to the general public. They are numbers 1, 3, and 7: Many people don't want God in their lives, and they want to enjoy their evil, sexually-perverted lifestyle.

Some adherents of Islam agree with the ideals included in nine of the Ten Commandments. But they disagree with it all simply because the laws originated from the Judeo-Christian God; and, of course, commandment #1 disallows serving another god.

Other people all around the world have their own gods, and don't change their religion in the face of disagreement or opposition. But we in America are changing our historical, foundational belief in God to accommodate people who disagree with us. What's the problem here?

I'll tell you. Many Americans have been convinced that in order to be tolerant, we must set our own beliefs aside. We have been deceived into thinking that stating our own faith is an intolerant act.

But wait a second! Hasn't our country led the way in guaranteeing personal freedom? Haven't we openly accepted freedom of expression of faith of all religions? So why are we now denying our own citizens the freedom of religious expression?

Think of this: If we destroy our culture, how can we expect to help anyone?

The Ten Commandments are wholesome, life-saving laws. Let's not lay down our integrity in order to support hypocrisy. If we don't stand for truth, we will stand for nothing.

-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, mentor and president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.