Ten Commandments on ABC's Nightline - ABC News

via abcnews.go.com

I found this out from a post over on Mars Hill Church's FaceBook page, since ABC interviewed Pastor Mark for the second Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

There's a cutsey little quiz - "How big a sinner are you?" sort of thing - which, biblically speaking, is pretty worthless. The only way to pass the test is to get nothing less than 100% perfect non-sinner - and if you get that, you're a liar. We are ALL sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, and ALL worthy of wrath and condemnation.

The quiz's middle range was "Earth Angel:" You're not perfect, but God knows you're trying, and that's all that counts. BEEEEEEEEEEEP! Wrong! One hundred percent perfection is the standard, and if you fail at any point, you are condemned. As it says in the epistle of James,

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

That is why Christ had to come and die for our sins - there is no way any of us can live as perfect and sinless in any part or our life! Jesus, in His love and mercy for us, came down and lived a perfect life FOR us, and then died the death we should have so that the penalty and punishment for our sins could be paid in full. When He saves us, He clothes us in the perfect righteousness of His life, while at the same time applying His shed blood to completely pay for our sins - past, present, and future.

Christians can now live in freedom from the penalty of sin. Instead of following and obeying because we're terrified of the consequences - cringing and wincing like beaten dogs - now we can obey out of love and awe at all our great Savior has done for us.

At any rate, it looks like an interesting series, although I note a few flinch-worthy items:

1. I don't see the fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and mother," anywhere
2. The use of "Do not kill" vs. "Do not murder," along with an article about a person who teaches people how to commit suicide (!!!!)
3. A discussion of adultery/open marriage as a good thing (I didn't actually read/watch that - the squick factor was pretty much pegged for me)

I'm sure there are several more, which really shouldn't surprise me in a secular production. Still, props to Nightline for even discussing the topic, I suppose...