Bowling and Heaven

Bowling can help us understand the Bible’s message about salvation. A perfect score in bowling is 300. To get this you need to throw a strike in all ten frames plus the two extra balls at the end. If you leave any pins standing, your hope of a perfect game is shot.

Now, imagine that you’re in a bowling contest and the prize for bowling a perfect 300 in one game is a million dollars. If you find yourself in the middle of the game with several open frames and gutter balls, you have no hope of a 300. At that point it won’t help to get serious and bowl perfectly from then on out. You can improve your score, but your chance of winning the prize is totally gone.

Many people treat their lives like a bowling game they are trying to salvage. We look back on our lives and realize that we have thrown a lot of gutter balls and left a lot of pins standing. We get convicted and realize that this isn’t a score that we would want to bring before God one day. So we decide that from here on out were going to turn over a new leaf. We think that if we can get very serious and try for perfection from this time forward, we can salvage the final score and please God in the end.

We can’t.

The truth is, God demands perfection. Jesus actually said this. He didn’t say, “Try your best and it will be okay.” Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). James 2:10 states, "whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all." Only perfect is perfect. Yet, we have not been perfect. We’ve sinned, and trying hard from here on out can never erase the gutter balls in the frames of life we’ve already played. 

Think of it another way. What if each of the ten frames were one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).  If that were the case, would you have a 300 game going? I know I don’t. In fact, when I really think about God’s commands, I don’t think I’ve had a strike in any of them. Have you? Have you consistently kept God number one in your life (commandment #1)? Have you always honored Him with your words (#3) and your time (#4)? Have you ever told a lie, even a small one (#8)?  

Maybe you’re proud because you have a few strikes because you have never murdered someone (#6) or committed adultery (#7).  Okay, but Jesus taught that if you hate someone you have murdered them in your heart (Matthew 5:21-22). As far as adultery, Jesus also said, “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). There go those strikes.

This is bad news because not only does our score fail to win the prize, but it also earns us a penalty. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). What we earn—what we deserve—from our life of sin is spiritual death—eternal punishment and separation from God.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that Romans 6:23 goes on to say, “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God demands perfection, but he knows that we’re not going to be able to give it. We come into this life with a bad score from the first frame. To be right with God, He needed to make another way. That is why God came into this world.

Jesus Christ is the only human being to ever throw strikes in all ten frames. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He always knocked down every pin and never left any standing. Jesus, the Son of God, was the only person to ever get the perfect 300. He is the only one to win the prize rather than the penalty.

When we look at the score board, we see our gutter balls and Christ’s perfect game. The amazing thing is what Jesus offers to do for us. Jesus offers to switch scores.

The Bible states, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20b-21). In effect, Jesus offers to erase His name from His score and to put your name there. In exchange, He agrees to claim your failed score. You get His prize. He takes your penalty. That is what the sinless Son of God was doing on the cross. The Lord died on the cross in the place of everyone who will trust Him as their substitute. Because of what Christ did, God is willing to look at you and see Christ’s 300 rather than what you threw.

Will you turn to Him and accept Christ’s offer? Or will you keep trying to get your own perfect score?

In Michigan it is Illegal to Kill a Dog Using a Decompression Chamber

I’m not sure what people want to blow up dogs in decompression chambers, but in Michigan it is illegal.  There is actually a law specifically against this. I’m not making this up. I quote:

287.279a Killing dog or other animal; use of high altitude decompression chamber or electrocution prohibited. Sec. 19a. An animal control officer or other person killing a dog or other animal pursuant to the laws of this state shall not use a high altitude decompression chamber or electrocution for that killing.  

Sure, I agree. If you were thinking about doing this, don’t. No one wants to see Fluffy turned into Puffy. But what amazes me is the fact that someone was concerned about this enough to make sure there was a law against it. Was this once a big problem? Was this what people did to pass time before the internet? Or was there a very forward-thinking State Senator who said, “I know our society needs animal control officers, but we must not allow the possibility of them killing dogs using a high altitude decompression chamber! We need to nip this in the bud!” 

This law is fine. As I looked around online, I learned that this really is an issue. However, I doubt that many people would put this law in their top ten. If your state could only have ten laws, would you pick this one or would you save the spot for something more important? My guess is that this one wouldn't make the cut. I think the same thing is true for the Third Commandment, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7). If you only had ten laws for mankind, would you pick that one? Why not something that seems more important, like “Thou Shall Not Commit Arson” or “Thou Shall Not Litter”? 

We tend to think of the Third Commandment as a throw-away commandment. God doesn’t view it that way. He made it third on His list and He takes it seriously. If you don’t think so, read the account in Leviticus 24:10-23 where God directed a blaspheming boy to be stoned to death for breaking this commandment.

God takes His name seriously because His name is His reputation, His glory. Yes, YHWH is the most sacred name of God, but this commandment goes deeper than merely guarding some set of letters or sounds that identify God. The main point is not about the specific sounds. In English the word “bog” means a swampy area but in Russian it means “God.”  As Edward Clowney writes in How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments, “Using God’s name is a serious act not because certain sounds are holy, but because God himself is present in his name, and all his works reveal that name” (40). 

Consider how the Bible speaks about someone’s “name.”  For example, Proverbs 3:3-4 states, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 22:1 states, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Thus when Psalm 8:9 states, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” it is talking about God’s reputation, his glory, and there is nothing more important than this.

This commandment diagnoses our disrespect for God’s reputation when we see some of the specific ways that we violate it.  For example:

A.       False oaths. Leviticus 19:12 states, “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” Now, not all oaths and vows are outlawed.  (See Deut. 6:13 and 2 Cor. 1:23.)  However we need to remember that when we pledge by God’s name, we are staking God’s honor on our faithfulness to this vow.

B.       Casual or disrespectful use of God’s name. How dare we use God’s name as a four-letter swear word? We barely even notice it when God’s name is used this way on a show. It’s also wrong when we use His name as a casual exclamation, as if “Praise the Lord” just means, “That’s neat.” When we do that, aren’t we using His name is a vain, empty manner? Finally, what about the constant use of the abbreviation “O.M.G.” by everyone from yahoo.com to Christian teenagers. Christians should not use that abbreviation. No one is going to think it stands for “Oat Meal Gopher.” 

 “Casual use of God’s name is prohibited precisely because it wears away our sensitivity to the enormous reverence we owe it.” -Michael Horton, The Perfect Lew of Freedom, p. 104. 

C.       False Prophecy. God does not like it when we put words in His mouth. Deuteronomy 18:20 says that a prophet who falsely presumes to speak in God’s name should be put to death. Jeremiah 14:14-15 declares God’s distain for the false prophets who were preaching “delusions of their own minds.” Their message of peace and safety was popular with the king and the masses, but it wasn’t from God. Today we have politically correct pastors and denominations who would rather proclaim what is acceptable than what is true. They claim God’s authority to justify sin and disobedience.

D.      False teaching about God. God is glorified when we see the truth about who He is and what He has done. Instead, false teachers claim that God doesn’t have the attributes the Bible says He has. He hasn’t created what the Bible says He created.  He hasn’t done all that the Bible says He has done. False teaching changes God and robs Him of His glory.

E.       Manipulative God-talk/ Using God’s name to advance our own agendas.  Everyone from politicians to sports fans to Survivor contestants wants to claim God for their cause. Marketers use God to sell their stuff. Everyday Christians claim God’s authority for their own decisions saying, “God told me” or “I’m being led…” Those phrases sound spiritual, and they are conversation stoppers. But in most cases, wouldn’t it be better to say, “I think this is what God wants me to do…”?  Don’t pretend you have a direct line to God if you don’t.

This command directs us to honor God’s reputation with our lips and our lives.  If you call yourself a Christian, you are identifying yourself with His name. How is God’s reputation being lifted up or dragged through the mud by the way you live your life? If you call yourself a Christian, live like it. Don’t be a jerk or a hypocrite. Don’t put a fish on your car and then drive like you’re the only person on the road who matters. Don’t say you’re a Christian on your business card and do sloppy work or rip people off. Don’t wear a youth group shirt to school and talk like a pervert in the halls. And remember, even the angels see what you do in secret.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The good deeds you do, do in His name, for hHs reputation, not in your name for your reputation.

The Third Commandment isn’t a throw-away commandment. There are good reasons God make it #3 on the list. God’s glory is worth it.

And ask yourself, if this were the only commandment you had to keep, would Jesus still have needed to go to the cross to save you? If so, remember that His name is also your only hope, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rm. 10:13). 

The Thirty Commandments

Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Reformed, and Jews all number the Ten Commandments differently.  Why are there such variations and what is the best solution?

The commands of God which were written on two stone tablets are referred to several times as “the Ten Commandments” (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13; 10:4).  The Hebrew word translated “commandment” is dabar, meaning “word” or “statement.” Thus, these commands are also known as the ten words. This is translated in the Septuagint in Greek as deka logoi, from which we get the term Decalogue.  The commands are recorded in Exodus 20 and again in Deuteronomy 5 but nowhere in Scripture are the commands are specifically numbered.  Roman Catholics and Lutherans combine the command to have no other gods before the LORD and the prohibition against idols together as the first commandment.  In the Reformed tradition these are the first and second commandments.  To offset this, Catholics and Lutherans split the prohibition against coveting into two commandments: the prohibition against coveting your neighbor’s wife as the ninth commandment and the prohibition against coveting your neighbor’s house, land, servants, and the rest as the tenth commandment.  In each of these systems, Exodus 20:2 is viewed as a preface to the ten words.  However in the traditional Jewish numbering system Exodus 20:2 is considered to be the first word, even though nothing is actually commanded in this verse.  The Jews then combine Exodus 3-6 as the second word.  After this point, the Jewish and Reformed understanding is the same.  The Greek Orthodox understanding is the same as the Reformed understanding.

Abridged Statement (ESV)	Jewish	Roman Catholic & Lutheran	Reformed & Greek Orthodox
I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Ex. 20:2)	#1	preface	preface
You shall have no other gods before me.  (Ex. 20:3)	#2	#1	#1
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above… (Ex. 20:4-6)			#2
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain… (Ex. 20:7)	#3	#2	#3
Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy… (Ex. 20:8-11)	#4	#3	#4
Honor your father and your mother… (Ex. 20:12)	#5	#4	#5
You shall not murder.  (Ex. 20:13)	#6	#5	#6
You shall not commit adultery.  (Ex. 20:14)	#7	#6	#7
You shall not steal. (Ex. 20:15)	#8	#7	#8
You shall not bear false witness...  (Ex. 20:16)	#9	#8	#9
You shall not covet…your neighbor’s wife… (Ex. 20:17)	#10	#9	#10
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house… or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.  (Ex. 20:17)		#10

Roman Catholics point to Augustine who agreed with their system.  The Reformed are able to point to Josephus and Philo whose systems match their system, except that Philo inverts the sixth and seventh commandments.[1]  Calvin writes that Augustine used the same numeration as Calvin in a letter to Boniface, but “for a very insufficient reason” Augustine choose elsewhere to combine the first two commandments so that there would be three rather than four commandments in the first tablet (Institutes, II.8.12).  Augustine felt that this better manifested the mystery of the Trinity.

In the Roman Catholic version, the division of the coveting law seems to be arbitrary and unnecessary except for the need to reach a total of ten commandments rather than just nine.  A bigger problem is the fact that although the prohibition of coveting your neighbor’s wife is listed first in Deuteronomy 5:21, in Exodus 20:17 the neighbor’s house is listed first and then the neighbor’s wife.  In Exodus, wife is sandwiched between house and the remaining items, making it extremely unlikely that it is intended to be isolated as an individual command.

In the traditional Jewish understanding, the preface to the commandments is considered to be the first word.  However, the lack of an actual command or “shall” statement weighs against this understanding.  In addition, most modern scholars have noticed the formal similarities between the Decalogue and second-millennium Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties.[2]  In this format, the stipulations are preceded by a historical prologue.  Whether or not Exodus 20:2 is considered to be a preface, the first word, or part of the first word, it is intimately connected with the entire Decalogue and presents these commands in this context as a gift given to God’s people as a way for them to respond in gratitude to what the LORD has already done for them.

One of the theological issues at stake here is the mode of worship.  In the Catholic understanding, the prohibition against idolatry might be understood as merely another statement against worshipping false gods.  However in the Reformed understanding, the second commandment is not merely about what deity to worship, but the proper manner in which God must be worshipped.  Therefore as one Reformed theologian has observed, “Whether to include Exodus 20:4-6 as part of the first commandment has more to do with the interpretation of the second commandment [in the Reformed counting] than with the first.”[3]

Based on these observations, I believe the Reformed understanding seems to be correct.  However even Calvin did not regard these divisions as being of great importance, writing that, “each man ought to have free judgment, and ought not to strive in a contentious spirit with one who differs from him” (Institutes, II.8.12). 

A related issue is the division of the commands into two tables as indicated in Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 5:22 and 10:3.  Calvin saw the first four commandments as composing the first tablet of the law, relating to our duty to God; The last six commandments compose the second tablet, relating to our duty to neighbor.  The Heidelberg Catechism (Q. 93) and the Westminster Larger Catechism (Q. 98) also reflect this same division.  However, as Harrelson states, “the reference to two tables was intended from the first to refer to two copies of the entire list of the Decalogue, rather than to a division of them.”[4] In a suzerain-vassal treaty, one copy was made for the suzerain and one copy was made for the vassal.  Thus it could very well be that the reference to two tablets is a reference to two duplicate copies of the entire list rather there being some of the commandments written on one tablet and the rest written on the other tablet.  Certainly, we can still notice the shift in emphasis between the first four commandments and the final six, but this division may not have been used when they were originally inscribed on stone tablets.

As we have noted, the Roman Catholic numbering does not include the prohibition of graven images as a separate commandment (CCC 1852[5]).  In their traditional catechetical formula, the text concerning the making of graven images is omitted (CCC p. 496).  This opens Catholicism to the charge that they have combined the first two commands in order to reduce the visibility of the injunction against images. Calvin states that they “erase” or “hide” the prohibition concerning images (Institutes, II.8.12).  In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the veneration of images is defended first by noting the Old Testament examples of the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim (CCC 2130).  Next, the Catechism points to the judgment of the seventh ecumenical council at Nicea of 787 in which the veneration of icons was justified.  It is argued that the incarnation of the Son of God introduced a new economy of images (CCC 2131).  Finally, the Catechism appeals to Aquinas and asserts that the veneration given to images does not violate the command since the honor given to the images is transmitted to the prototype of the image, not the image itself, and further because this honor is “respectful veneration” not the adoration due to God alone (CCC 2132).  Aquinas distinguishes between latria, which is worship proper to God alone, and dulia, which is “piety whereby we honor our neighbor” (STh II-II, 81, 3-4).[6]   Reformed Christians find this distinction to be unconvincing and believe that their own numbering system does a better job of guarding against idolatry and against worshipping God in an improper manner.  In this understanding, the first commandment relates to the object of worship while the second command relates to the mode of worship.

In conclusion, there are not thirty commandments even though there are three different systems of numbering the Ten Commandments.  The content is the same.  Obeying them is more important than numbering them.  Evem more, our failure to keep them shows us our need for a Savior.

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[1] Walter Harrelson, The Ten Commandments and Human Rights (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980), 47.
[2] Walter Kaiser, “Exodus” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990), 2:422.
[3] Calvin VanReken, “Response to ‘The Face of Ethical Encounter’” in The Ten Commandments for Jews, Christians, and Others, ed. Roger E. VanHarn (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007), 19.
[4] Harrelson, Ten Commandments, 48.
[5] Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1852.  References to CCC will be to the paragraph unless otherwise noted.
[6] Interestingly, the Greek Orthodox venerate icons but number the commandments the same as Reformed Christians.