Thank your for shining a light on the deep grief that so many of us are feeling. It's difficult to wake to the new mercies that come each morning when a mere click away are endless loud voices lifting up and bowing down to a false gospel. God help us all to live close to the heartbeat of Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have written this so beautifully in a time when we need to speak with strength and love, both. The path we are on is dark, but the light is showing us the way, and we cannot remain silent. They will know we are Christians by our love, not dominance.
As a Texan who has been following this, I'm grateful to see another person saying the same things I have about this. Frankly you did so more eloquently than I could because it frustrates me to see my state spending money on things like this when there are so many other problems in schools and communities that could be addressed. It's hard not to despair when I see people using scripture to score political points. And frankly that's what a lot of this is. However, I am not surprised because Jesus was pretty clear about the fact that things like this would happen. So, we go on.
Oh my! Moist eyes! Thank you for so skillfully, thoughtfully, carefully but boldly sharing thoughts it’s hard for me to put into words! God through His Spirit and His Word is still working in my life, and I’m grateful, through 6 decades in the church in Holiness and Conservative Evangelical churches. I’m always processing all these thoughts, ways and doctrines, trying to do it with some wisdom and gratitude, while moving away from attitudes and choices that are not right and true! It ain’t easy! I’ve shared your article with all my adult children who have processed the way they were raised and all landed in different places.
Thank you so much for your amazing, encouraging and skillful work in leading Anchor Hymns—so rich!
Ah, thank you so much, Mark. So glad you're enjoying Anchor Hymns. Looking forward to bringing you more songs there in the coming years. Thanks for passing this essay on, as well. That means a lot.
I’m old. I remember seeing the Ten Commandments posted many places—courthouses, parks, and, yes, school. They were posted without explanation and without any expectation of anyone being converted by them. The commandments were placed in the open and in sight of the population to assert that a standard existed. Most of society lived by those standards whether they went to church or not. People (mostly) agreed that lying was wrong, and so was stealing and murder. Yes, people have always wanted to live by their own rules and they can do that, but we have gone from a culture that knew the difference between right and wrong to a culture that believes there is no such thing as right and wrong. I don’t think we need to panic over the possibility of someone seeing the Ten Commandments in their community. This is not co-opting or dominating others. I’m cringing slightly inside in anticipation of sending this comment. It is not okay for us to hate anyone, much less those who only disagree with the opinions that are in vogue.
Hey Suzanne, thanks for writing this. I'm glad you did. I waited two days to post my essay because I was cringing in anticipation, so I get it.
Without a full awareness of what led to those earlier signs being posted, I'm not sure what led to them, but I do know they must have come well after the First Amendment, so they probably happened in similar contexts to where we are now. To anyone arguing that we need to post the Ten Commandments to teach morality, I would say that living by example is an infinitely better teacher.
While I stand by my essay, I do resonate with the sense of loss of right and wrong. From all sides of political and moral spectrums. I feel that we are a society ripe for both an economic and political uprising, and (I pray) a spiritual awakening - which would lead to more just and moral communities.
Thank you for your kind words. I do agree teaching by example would be better than any sign.
Still, if we had freedom of speech a teacher would be allowed to put up a poster of the 10 Commandments, which he/she is not.wouldn’t be the same as legislating that something MUST be posted. Those posted, carved or engraved Commandments I grew up with were old when I was little. In St. Petersburg, Florida, where I grew up, they are gone—I’d have to research why.
I do know how moved I’ve been by reading signs and messages in museums or on plaques in public places, even epitaphs in old cemeteries. It seems to me to be a very nonthreatening way to communicate a message—the words sit silently available. No one has to read it unless they want to.
Agree 1000%. And we should never post or teach the ten commandments (actually ten words in the Hebrew) without including the preface! I like the way Eugene Peterson called them the ten conditions for flourishing community fwiw.
Good words. I recently tried to tackle this idea and what “winning” actually looks like. I don’t think there’s a step 2 to this plan. They’re the dog that caught the car they’ve been chasing and now don’t know what to do with it.
These religious fakers are all about making the hoi polloi obey the bible, while they think the king can do whatever he wants. Whitewashed walls, all of them.
Let's make the fakers a deal: a compromise.
We'll let them erect their 10 commandments monuments all over the place...
But only if, right alongside those monuments, they erect an identically sized monument with these verses:
Dueteronomy 17:18-20
Let's see if the fakers go for that deal. Probably not.
Honestly, it's like _The_Last_Battle_ where you can't even talk about Aslan anymore because so many people have co-opted his name for their own gain.
From Texas, I offer my thanks.
Man, what an apt image.
Thank your for shining a light on the deep grief that so many of us are feeling. It's difficult to wake to the new mercies that come each morning when a mere click away are endless loud voices lifting up and bowing down to a false gospel. God help us all to live close to the heartbeat of Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have written this so beautifully in a time when we need to speak with strength and love, both. The path we are on is dark, but the light is showing us the way, and we cannot remain silent. They will know we are Christians by our love, not dominance.
Amen!! "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."
As a Texan who has been following this, I'm grateful to see another person saying the same things I have about this. Frankly you did so more eloquently than I could because it frustrates me to see my state spending money on things like this when there are so many other problems in schools and communities that could be addressed. It's hard not to despair when I see people using scripture to score political points. And frankly that's what a lot of this is. However, I am not surprised because Jesus was pretty clear about the fact that things like this would happen. So, we go on.
Oh my! Moist eyes! Thank you for so skillfully, thoughtfully, carefully but boldly sharing thoughts it’s hard for me to put into words! God through His Spirit and His Word is still working in my life, and I’m grateful, through 6 decades in the church in Holiness and Conservative Evangelical churches. I’m always processing all these thoughts, ways and doctrines, trying to do it with some wisdom and gratitude, while moving away from attitudes and choices that are not right and true! It ain’t easy! I’ve shared your article with all my adult children who have processed the way they were raised and all landed in different places.
Thank you so much for your amazing, encouraging and skillful work in leading Anchor Hymns—so rich!
Now to listen to your new single!
Thank you!
Ah, thank you so much, Mark. So glad you're enjoying Anchor Hymns. Looking forward to bringing you more songs there in the coming years. Thanks for passing this essay on, as well. That means a lot.
Let's Go Andy O! Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for this. Sincerely, A Lyle Lovett Loving Texan
Some other great Lyle Lovett songs: Church, If I Had A Boat, The Fat Girl, Record Lady, The Road To Ensenada... the list goes on and on
Step Inside This House, Closing Time, Texas Trilogy, Walk Through the Bottomland. And I love 12th of June on his latest album.
Thanks for speaking up on this, Andrew.
Thanks for saying all this. 100% with you.
These words are so needed. Thank you ❤️
Amén, to all if it, especially this:
I am tired of seeing the church I love and the Jesus I follow being used as a political pawn to manipulate and control others.
I’m old. I remember seeing the Ten Commandments posted many places—courthouses, parks, and, yes, school. They were posted without explanation and without any expectation of anyone being converted by them. The commandments were placed in the open and in sight of the population to assert that a standard existed. Most of society lived by those standards whether they went to church or not. People (mostly) agreed that lying was wrong, and so was stealing and murder. Yes, people have always wanted to live by their own rules and they can do that, but we have gone from a culture that knew the difference between right and wrong to a culture that believes there is no such thing as right and wrong. I don’t think we need to panic over the possibility of someone seeing the Ten Commandments in their community. This is not co-opting or dominating others. I’m cringing slightly inside in anticipation of sending this comment. It is not okay for us to hate anyone, much less those who only disagree with the opinions that are in vogue.
Hey Suzanne, thanks for writing this. I'm glad you did. I waited two days to post my essay because I was cringing in anticipation, so I get it.
Without a full awareness of what led to those earlier signs being posted, I'm not sure what led to them, but I do know they must have come well after the First Amendment, so they probably happened in similar contexts to where we are now. To anyone arguing that we need to post the Ten Commandments to teach morality, I would say that living by example is an infinitely better teacher.
While I stand by my essay, I do resonate with the sense of loss of right and wrong. From all sides of political and moral spectrums. I feel that we are a society ripe for both an economic and political uprising, and (I pray) a spiritual awakening - which would lead to more just and moral communities.
So glad you shared. Please keep doing so!
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your kind words. I do agree teaching by example would be better than any sign.
Still, if we had freedom of speech a teacher would be allowed to put up a poster of the 10 Commandments, which he/she is not.wouldn’t be the same as legislating that something MUST be posted. Those posted, carved or engraved Commandments I grew up with were old when I was little. In St. Petersburg, Florida, where I grew up, they are gone—I’d have to research why.
I do know how moved I’ve been by reading signs and messages in museums or on plaques in public places, even epitaphs in old cemeteries. It seems to me to be a very nonthreatening way to communicate a message—the words sit silently available. No one has to read it unless they want to.
Thank you for your kind reply. Suzanne Tietjen
Agree 1000%. And we should never post or teach the ten commandments (actually ten words in the Hebrew) without including the preface! I like the way Eugene Peterson called them the ten conditions for flourishing community fwiw.
Good words. I recently tried to tackle this idea and what “winning” actually looks like. I don’t think there’s a step 2 to this plan. They’re the dog that caught the car they’ve been chasing and now don’t know what to do with it.
Thank you for this! Very well said and very encouraging.
These religious fakers are all about making the hoi polloi obey the bible, while they think the king can do whatever he wants. Whitewashed walls, all of them.
Let's make the fakers a deal: a compromise.
We'll let them erect their 10 commandments monuments all over the place...
But only if, right alongside those monuments, they erect an identically sized monument with these verses:
Dueteronomy 17:18-20
Let's see if the fakers go for that deal. Probably not.
Christian Natcon quoting Leviticus 19:32:
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
(ʘ‿ʘ)
Christian Natcon accidentally reading the very next verse:
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
ಠ⌢ಠ