Ted Turner Ain't Moses Series

Timeless Truths For Troubled Times

(A Study of the Ten Commandments)

"Ted Turner Ain’t Moses"

Exodus 20:1-3

This sermon was preached by Pastor Tom Dooley at the Harrison Church, Minford, Ohio,

September 14, 1997 in the a.m. service.

www.preachingtheword.com

A while back, Ted Turner, who is the owner of the Alanta Braves baseball team, CNN News

Network, and TBS television, was speaking to a group of broadcasters. In his speech he said to

them that the Ten Commandments are out of date.

Mr. Turner modestly offered to replace the Ten Commandments with his own version which he

called the Ten Voluntary Initiatives. I won’t bore you with all of his suggestions, but listen to his

first two.

The first one: I promise to love and respect planet Earth and all living things on the earth,

especially my fellow species.

The second one was: I promise to treat all persons everywhere with dignity, respect and

friendliness.

That one he violated in the same speech. For later in the speech he he bashed Christians and

called them losers and bozos. He also said, "I don’t want anybody to die for me."

Later he apologized for his remarks about Christians. He has not yet, however, to my knowledge

apologized to the Lord God for trying to undo His Ten Commandments.

Is Ted Turner right? Are the Ten Commandments out dated. Do they have any relevance for a

society that is on the brink of beginning a new millenium?

As I look at the world in which we live, the more convinced I become that there has never been a

time when the Ten Commandments needed to be studied in detail and depth as they do in our

society. These "Timeless Truths" touch on every problem we have in America.

Some would argue that "The Ten Commandments" are a part of the Old Testament law and

therefore do not apply to the Christian.

Before you jump to that conclusion, let’s make a clarification. Israel had ceremonial laws and civil

laws that pertained specifically to their worship and lifestyle. Israel, however, was also given the

moral law of God.

As we discover in the New Testament, the Christian is not under an obligation to live by the

ceremonial and civil laws intended for the Old Testament followers of the Lord. In Christ all of

that is fulfilled.

You and I however, like individuals of all ages, are responsible to obey God’s moral law. God’s

moral law applies across the board to everyone. And the Ten Commandments definitely fall into

that category.

As a matter of fact, "The Ten Commandments" were not only given by God on tablets of stone,

but the Bible teaches in Romans 2:15, that the law of God

has been written on the heart man - it has been etched into the human conscience and they apply

to everyone who has ever lived.

Jesus believed that these commands apply to everyone.

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was He responded by

summarizing the Ten Commandments and grouping them into two sections.

Remember He said, (Mark 12:28-31)

Number one - love God with everything you have.

Number two - love your neighbor as yourself.

When you look closely at theTen Commandments you will notice that they group themselves into

those two divisions.

The first four commandments focus on man’s relationship to God. And the final six

commandments deals with man’s relationship to man.

These "Commandments" are not obsolete. They are "Timeless Truths For Troubled Times". If

we will let them speak to our hearts and guide our steps, these truths will serve as a compass that

will direct through

the dangers of our days.

Look with me at our text. Exodus 20:1-3.

The children of Israel have gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Moses has returned from being in

the presence of God and receiving from God, the Ten Commandments.

Let’s focus on the first of these great truths. Read with me verse 3... "Thou shalt have no other

gods before me."

What does that commandment mean?

First of all it means that we must...

1. AFFIRM THE REALITY OF GOD

Notice in verse 2 that God declares the fact of His existence. He says, " I am the LORD thy

God.."

Let me ask you a question. Now don’t answer too quickly. Here’s the queston. Do you truly

believe that God is real?

There are a lot of people who though they may not intellectually deny the existence of God, who

Monday through Saturday, live as if He did not exist.

They don’t talk to God in prayer. They don’t let God speak to them through the Bible. They

don’t concern themselves with what would bring glory to His name.

They ignore God. Frankly, most people are practical atheist. Most people do not want God