Many people consider that religion is mainly an activity advising people to practice good deeds. In fact, moral teachings form an important part of Christianity. Christians believe that there is a God, that the Bible is God’s word, and what God proclaimed is important and should be obeyed.
God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites through Moses:
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
Let us examine the origin of these commandments if there is no God. The first four commandments relate to God, while the last six commandments relate to people. If they were designed by a person and not by God, that person must be very smart. He knew that he should mention God first and address human relations thereafter, so that people would be afraid and obey them. Additionally, he designed the principles very well so that they cover the most important issues of society. Lastly, he made ten, a perfect number, as the total amount of rules.
However, another possibility is that these commandments were given by God. In fact, maybe God had the Ten Commandments in mind and then created the world, a world that would be regulated by these principles.
When Jesus came, he summarized the Ten Commandments with two golden principles: First, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. (Do as you would be done by.) This is the essence of the moral teachings of Christianity.
All of us know that to admonish others is the most difficult thing among social communications. Asking people to accept Christianity is equivalent to asking people to change their old, bad behavior. I feel strange that a man like me is acting as a moral teacher. No, I am not saying I am a good example, and asking you to behave well as I do. I am asking you to follow the steps of Jesus Christ, the holy and perfect one. You will do a job better than I do.
The Bible says God will judge people according to what they do during their lifetimes. It also says we all fall short of God’s standard. These rules are so simple and clear, yet no individual can follow them flawlessly because of our sinful nature. However, Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, so God forgives our sins and the Holy Spirit cleans our hearts so that we can be transformed and follow God’s rules in our new life.
