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The Foundations of Community by Peter L. DeGroote |
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Notes for Bible Talk: September 21, 2005 Please read: Exodus 20: 12-17 |
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Bible Talk is an informal
discussion of biblical passages, ideas, and related material. The discussions are on Wednesday
evenings at 7:30 pm, following the Service of Word and Table. Occasionally,
they will not be held due to special events. These Notes are intended to
assist participants in thinking about the passages and some of their
implications prior to the gathering. Usually, the Notes are
prepared and the discussion is led by Rev. Peter L. DeGroote The sources for biblical quotations are
labeled as follows: NRSV: The New
Revised Standard Version, Copyright ©1989, The National Council of
Churches of Christ in the SV: The Scholar’s Version; i.e., The Five Gospels, The Search for the
Authentic Words of Jesus, Robert W. Funk and Roy W. Hoover, and The Jesus Seminar, Copyright © 1993 by Polebridge Press. TM: The
Message, The New Testament in Contemporary Language, Copyright ©
Eugene H. Peterson 1993. navpress,
M: My paraphrase. |
Turning to the portion of the Ten Commandments
concerning the relations between people, we set aside the sixth for next
week. 1.
The Ten Commandments were a basic constitution of an early community of
nomadic herdsmen. As they encountered new problems, additional rules were
added. Later, when the Israelites began to settle in villages, towns, and
cities, they experienced immense changes in their society and culture. Those
changes required many additional laws that would respond to the new
conditions. However, we do not understand any of the laws or rules if we do
not understand the principles on which they were based. Those principles
include the following: ·
God created all things; all that
God created is good. ·
God remains active in creation. ·
The purpose of human life is to
live in harmony with God, each other, and all of God's creation. ·
All persons are entitled to the
fruits of creation, the necessities of life—it is a birthright. ·
All of creation belongs to God;
human possessions are gifts given in trust to sustain life, secure the
community, and assure that God's intentions are accomplished. 3. Keeping
these principles in mind, at least two primary conditions need to be
understood in order for us to grasp how they worked. They arise from a nomadic tribal society in which all property is
understood to belong to God, or at least to the community. Our concept of the
sacredness of private property would not have been understood. The tribes'
very survival depended on communal understandings. The underlying assumptions led to what we would call an egalitarianism of
social, economic, and political rights. This was not a democracy, but rights
for all were recognized. As with all rights, they were accompanied by
responsibilities. The Ten Commandments were a definition of those rights and
responsibilities that served as the foundation for much more. 4. The
commandment to honor our parents is not about blind obedience. The Hebrew
word translated as "honor" means "give weight to" or
"to not regard lightly"; i.e., to treat with respect. Respectful
treatment of the elderly was not common at the time (nor sometimes today). In
turn, the elderly had the responsibility to pass on the memories of what God
had done for the community (to tell the stories), to offer the wisdom of
their years, and to reinforce the communities sense of mutual responsibility.
We might say the latter was partly accomplished by their very existence. 5. The
command against adultery has four elements, some being the result of later
reflection: First, it recognizes that sexuality is a wondrous gift. Second,
the command reflects the understanding that sex can be celebrated only when
used responsibly, with a degree of discipline, and with a deep respect for
the well being of one's partner. Third, that the relationships formed between
people need to be honored, respected, and supported by the entire community.
Fourth, that unrestrained sexuality can wreak havoc in a community,
threatening its very survival. 6. One does not steal. Because all property was
understood to belong to God, this is about taking what God has given to
another. It is assumed that resources were divided so that all would have the
means to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Stealing
was taking from someone what God had given to sustain life.
We should note that the Ten Commandments do not deal with the problem of a
person having much when others are unable to acquire the basic needs of life.
This is a very important point because later prophets condemned kings and the
wealthy for not taking care of the marginalized and poor. Further, Jesus
carried the prophetic understanding forward in his teachings. A short
explanation is that it is not necessary to make a law for a problem that
doesn’t exist. Ancient tribal nomads were no more generous than later people, or people today. Rather, it reflects the communal
nature of tribal society. The tribal structure found a place for and assured
that the needs of all were met—the tribes survival
depended on it. 7. The
prohibition on bearing false witness relates to the need for judicial
procedures to settle disputes and to the damage caused by spreading of
falsehood in a community. Society cannot run if judicial systems do not
operate on the truth. Likewise, small tribal societies could easily fall into
chaos without a curb on those who would spread untruth by rumor and innuendo.
Much of the latter is called gossip today. 8. The prohibition against coveting is not about
desiring but about what it is we desire. It is a summary of what has been
already said. Be content with what God has given you. Do not desire what God
has given another. This commandment is misused when people are told to be
happy with what they have when a society’s organization fails to assure the
necessities of life for all. Peter L.
DeGroote |
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