Christians: are there exceptions to the Ten Commandments?

Question

For example: you blame a girl for not honoring her father, after that same father had raped her?

You blame the mother in Africa, that couldn't feed her child for a week, for stealing an apple?

I'm just wondering if the 10 Commandments are of absolute value to you, or if certain exceptions would make sense to you as well.

Answer 1

There should be lots and lots of exceptions...

Answer 2

Anybody that says there are exceptions are nuts.

The case of the father raping the daughter the father is in the wrong and violated the commandment. The daughter must call the law and bring the father to justice and he will be the one to pay for the crime, not only by man but by God at judgement time. Either the father or the daughter needs to be removed from the area(home). But the Scriptures also teach FORGIVENESS, they do not teach TOLERANCE OR ACCEPTANCE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. You can still honor someone without having respect for them. You are honoring the position they hold not the person.

As for the mother stealing the apple to feed her child. Stealing is stealing. My question is how can she allow her child to go without food for a week? It would be starving in that time. The mother can offer to do something (Trade something, do something-work)to pay for that apple. Why do some many people seem to think that the only form of payment is money, hasn't anybody heard of trading labor or something that they have for something they need. IT IS CALLED FAIR PAYMENT FOR SOMETHING.

I went to the link that one person gave about the Catholic Church, all I can say is I am glad I do not belong to a church that advocates breaking the Commandments, for whatever reason. And, then say they believe what the Bible says.

As for the ones that say the 10 Cammandments are under the Old Testiment and that is the old law, and Jesus fulfilled that law, so we are not under it, I feel sorry for you. Jesus may have fulfilled the old or lower law but he also gave us HIGHER LAWS, and the 10 Commandments still fall under them, AND ARE STILL THERE. The 10 Commandments were not just for the Jews at that time, they were for ALL PEOPLE FOR ALL TIME.
Just like when new laws are made in modern times a lot of the older laws are still on the books and CAN STILL BE ENFORCED.
I guess that is why so many other religions and people have problems with the church I belong to, WE HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS AND HOLD OURSELVES TO THEM.

Answer 3

Our God, our creator has more respect for the life of the raped girl and the starving child than the letter of the law. Our God who made us and those same commandments understands all the circumstances of each persons situations. I thank God that he is fair and doesn't just live in a black and white existence. In the old testament levitical law a father would be stoned to death for raping his child so that proves that God upholds life and fairness over the letter of the law. The 10 commandments do have value to me even the 4th commandment (which I observe on the seventh day sabbath as God memorialized on his last day of creation at the beginning of the world) I'm glad that I don't have to decide who and what is fair and right but GOD JUDGES FAIRLY and is a faithful and compassionate God!

Answer 4

I am not a Christian and should not be answering this, but I had asked the same of my teacher in Catholic school and he gave me this answer, and I wished to share it with you.

The Commandments are the Will of God. His Directions to the Human Race. Thus they should not be compromised whatever the circumstances by a Righteous man. The Will of God is said to be mysterious and what might seem as desperate circumstances warranting for compromise may not indeed be so.

So, if a girl is raped by her father, there was a Mysterious Purpose for such a horrible thing to happen. But in continuing to honor her father, she is stating her obedience to God as larger than her own misfortunes. A woman whose family starves, but who refuses to steal because it would mean disobeying God's will, again places God above her own family.

However, most moderate Christians believe God is a lot more merciful than that and can understand the desperation of human nature. The more orthodox however believe in the immutability of these commandments, and claim it that is higher than any circumstances life allows.

Answer 5

Yes, maybe you don't really understand...

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18)

Then again, maybe you do. My bad.

And yeah, that woman should get more accomplished and just have faith in God. That way, she can just believe her child is eating. Surely that would solve the problem.

Hmm. Since "That was the Old Testament," and now we are "Under a new law," well... I think maybe this is the best argument I have yet seen for removing the Ten Commandments from public buildings.

Answer 6

The Spiritual Essence of God's Law says, if you have a disire to do something, its the same as doing it.

The Spiritual Essence of God's says to honor your father and mother, not becasue they desire it! There sinners. We honor them becasue God says to honor them.

Remember the law was made for man, not man for the law. The only purpose of the law was to lead mankind to Calvary

Jesus said; Have you not read what David did when he was hungry? How he went into the temple and those with him and ate the shewbread, of which under the law, was forbidden to do?

So yes to a certain degree there are. However, we are no more under the law by grace.

Answer 7

There is no honor in raping a girl. The father for his part have sin for raping her. Incest is against Scripture. Stealing for apple is wrong but people are desperate for food. They will do anything to survive.

Any Christian who breaks the commandment must repent and restore his union with God. We are all sinners. We must avoid sin and we if we do sin, we are called for repentence with contrite hearts.

Answer 8

What about in the Word where it talks of parents not angering their children? Causing them to grieve? Should a daughter honor her father? She should forgive him. Does that mean continue to be in his presence? No.

Also what about caring for the widows, the orphans and the poor? Is the women in Africa held to the harsh standard that you seem to want to give God, or is the people that have helped put her in that situation?

I am glad that I am serving a God that is just, and knows that I do my best no matter what.

Answer 9

>>You blame the mother in Africa, that couldn't feed her child for a week, for stealing an apple?<<

In Catholicism, this is not considered stealing.

Answer 10

If the Ten Commandments are OT, then why are the things still held up as essential laws when Jesus supposedly repealed the OT?

BTW: Did you know that there are actually two sets of Ten Commandments? And they're different?

Answer 11

Maybe you really don't understand?

We have had all the law and commandments fulfilled thru the sacrifice of His son. And He tells us that all the commandments are expressed by 2. Love God with all you have, and to love your neighbor more than you love yourself. Which, if you look at the original 10, enable you in all the others.