Editorial February 10, 1934 Issue

The Ten Commandments—Today

Duncan Sinclair

An outstanding feature of Christian Science is the stress it lays on obedience to the Ten Commandments, which embody the moral law. Throughout the ages it has been more or less clearly discerned that moral rectitude is of value to those who uphold and practice it. This was especially clear to Moses, whose vision of righteousness resulted in the Decalogue, which was received by the Hebrews as from God Himself. No one doubts the value of the Decalogue to the people whom Moses delivered from the slavery of Egypt, in keeping them allegiant to God, in helping to make their relations with one another just and considerate, in holding under restraint the vicious tendencies, which, given free play, must have resulted in their discomfiture.

Besides, obedience to the Ten Commandments meant to the obedient a measure of health and happiness which otherwise would have been denied them. Moses was a great lover of his people, a great leader, a great deliverer; and while mankind will continue to treasure his memory as such, what will persist outstandingly will be the recollection of the fact that he was the enunciator of the moral law, which law will continue throughout all time to remind men of their duty to God and to one another. Today, obedience to the Decalogue is as necessary, as essential, as ever it was. Referring on page 67 of "Miscellaneous Writings" to certain of the Commandments, namely, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, Mrs. Eddy says, "Obedience to these commandments is indispensable to health, happiness, and length of days."

Sound morals, then, invariably result in happiness, health, and longevity. In Christian Science practice it is found that a moral fault will hinder the recovery of health. What, obviously, is necessary? That the sick person shall become right morally. As soon as a moral weakness is uncovered, and the false or unreal nature of evil is seen through the understanding of the perfection of real being, healing becomes manifest. And with the sense of health comes harmony also. When one is healed in this way and the value of thinking which is morally correct has been proved to him, it is natural that his respect for the Decalogue should increase, and that more than ever he should study the Commandments and strive to live in accord with them.

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