“The” -
Explanation of Website Title
“The” is a definite
article that specifies something particular. We are bold to
proclaim what we believe is an accurate interpretation of God’s
Word. We could have adopted the title, “A Christian and Biblical
Worldview for the 21st Century.”
However, Christians
have been too soft on their philosophical and ethical principles
that are derived from the Bible. For example, this author (Ed)
has come to recognize different levels of Biblical commands.
This level is seen in Psalm 119, the entirety of which is about
the Law of God. In the New King James Version of the Bible,
words include law, precepts, His ways, decrees, commands,
statutes, and counsel.
There are the ten
commandments that every one knows. But, what you may not know is
the fullness of application of each commandment. For example,
discussed below are the “sins forbidden by the Sixth
Commandment” from the Westminster Larger Catechism #136.
The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all
taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except
in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary
defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and
necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger,
hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions,
distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor,
and recreations; provoking words, oppression,
quarreling, striking, wounding, and whatsoever else
tends to the destruction of the life of any.
History of the
Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession, Larger
and Shorter Catechisms
What is fascinating
about this commandment is that in the short phrase, “all taking
away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of
public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense,” the complete
view for those who are pro-life is found. We can be against
abortion (“all taking away of life”), for capital punishment
(“public justice”), for a just war (“lawful war”), and the
taking of a life in self-defense (“necessary defense”). And,
this document was written almost 400 years ago!
And, thus we see the
movement from the commandment itself to its more specific
applications. God even takes His Commandment beyond the actions
of men into their thought life. “You have heard that it was said
to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and
whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew
5:21).
“The” includes the
entire range from the literal commandments to the specific
applications listed above in the catechism, even to the thought
life, as Jesus taught. “You have heard that it was said to those
of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you
that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
Thus, the full range of worldview is seen in this commandment
from the mind of God to the mind of man.
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