A HUGE problem with the way we tend to think about the Ten Commandments as separate rules for how to live our individual lives is that it isn't true. The deeper message behind each of God's utterances is always one of growing a community based on love and care rather than one set on rules and condemnation. That doesn't mean we don't have responsibility to uphold certain things as individuals, but it does mean that we need to stop thinking "What does this mean to me?" and get back to thinking "How do my choices effect the whole community?" And, if you think, "My little thing isn't hurting anyone," or "My thing is only hurting one or two people," or "My tiny, insignificant thing is just a spark that's going to wink out of existence and not matter to anyone," then you're ignoring the reality that even the smallest of sparks can become the largest of conflagrations.

Is the Ninth Commandment about lying? And does it matter? Join our discussion today and find out.