Are the Ten Commandments still relevant in today's world? One newspaper reader does not think so, telling world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham that the Ten Commandments are actually "thousands of years out of date" and thus preachers should stop pushing them on people.
Graham disagrees, telling the reader in his column for The Kansas City Star that the Ten Commandments have no expiration date and are still applicable no matter what century people live in.
"I can't help but wonder if you've ever actually read the Ten Commandments (you'll find them in the Old Testament, in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5)," he writes. "If so, which would you throw out? Would you abandon the commandments against murder, or stealing, or lying, or unfaithfulness? Would you toss out the command to take care of our health and our environment by allowing for sufficient rest? Would you omit the commands against greed or the neglect of the elderly (especially our parents)?"
Graham doubts anyone in their right mind would abandon any of these commandments, because doing so would definitely lead to chaos.
The evangelist suspects that people who want to make alterations on the Ten Commandments have an ulterior motive. This motive would be to run one's own life apart from God. As thrilling as it might sound for non-believers, Graham warns that leaving God out of one's life is not wise and would lead to dire consequences.
"God made you, and He knows what is best for you. Why deceive yourself by thinking you're wiser than God? The first commandment declares, 'You shall have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3)," says Graham.
So instead of questioning and wishing to change the Ten Commandments, Graham is encouraging people to face honestly their need for God's forgiveness and wisdom, then commit by faith their lives to Jesus Christ.
