“Trump Endorses 10 Commandments.”
I paused short of reading the full headline, which continues with “in schools, implores evangelical Christians to vote in November.“
“Has anyone read the ‘Thou shalt not steal’? I mean, has anybody read this incredible stuff? It’s just incredible,” Trump said at the gathering of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. “They don’t want it to go up. It’s a crazy world.’’
Toronto Star, June 22, 2024
His enthusiasm seems almost child-like.
So, in my opinion, how does Trump stack up: 51 out of 10.
1. You shall have no other gods before me (FAIL)
This means “we must put God first in our lives. He is more important than anyone or anything else.” It’s not clear to me this is the case with Trump. He seems to put himself before anything or anyone else [God First: First Commandment].
2. You shall not make idols (PASS)
The Second Commandment against idolatry is recorded in Exodus 20:4-6: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” While I see no evidence that Trump has or makes carved images etc., he appears to be jealous and he has suggested retribution, so the question is whether he is placing himself in God’s roles [Idolatry: Second Commandment]?
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (PASS)
To not take God’s name in vain means to not take it lightly and to never use God’s holy name as a thoughtless, hateful curse! This is perhaps the most common and lightly treated sin today, as profanity is splashed all over our music, television shows and movies. But God tells us to stop using blasphemy and filthy language and to bless rather than curse.
The apostle Paul also commented “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14). On this point, Trump might have failed, if we consider his repeated assertions of being persecuted, and his claim for the right of vengeance, which puts him squarely against the gospel: “‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution; In due time their foot will slip. For the day of their disaster is near, And the impending things are hurrying to them.’” (Deuteronomy 32:35) [Profanity: Third Commandment]
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (PASS)
God recorded the Fourth Commandment in Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
While he may not participate in traditional religious practices on the Sabbath. There is a lot of evidence he doesn’t work; as well, I think he can be granted some immunity given his role, when he was President [Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day].
5. Honour your father and your mother (PASS)
6. You shall not murder (PASS)
7. You shall not commit adultery (FAIL)
Stormy Daniels.
8. You shall not steal (FAIL)
The attempted theft was of the 2020 presidential election.
9. You Shall Not Bear False Witness (FAIL)
Modern laws about perjury are based on this concept of reinforcing the importance of truth and truthfulness. The Ninth Commandment is designed to prevent slander and perversion of justice. As God told Moses and the Israelites: “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. … “You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:1-2, 6-8). Lying and dishonesty pervert and corrupt hearts and are abominations to God.Lying and dishonesty pervert and corrupt hearts and are abominations to God [Lying: Ninth Commandment].
10. You shall not covet (FAIL)
God recorded the 10th Commandment for us in Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” In modern terms, coveting often includes our neighbor’s cars, electronic gadgets, money, prestige, etc. God even ties the 10th Commandment about not coveting to the Second Commandment against idolatry. When we put our greed and selfishness ahead of God, it can become idol worship [10th Commandment: You Shall Not Covet]
- I’ll give him #3 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain and #4 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy ↩︎
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