October 4, 27A (Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20)
Rules help us sustain life in community, whether we like it or not.
When I was a kid I got into a fair amount of trouble. I’ve spent time in the corner (time-out’s ancestor), I’ve been grounded from playing outside, and like many in my generation, I have even heard the words “Go get the paddle.”
But nothing ever filled me with more dread than “Wait until your father gets home.”
Sometimes I think this dread of a looming, punishing father is why some Christians don’t like to spend a lot of time in the Old Testament. And to hang out at the foundation of all of the rules, the Ten Commandments, can seem downright oppressive.
