In the cover of darkness the Ten Commandments monument was removed from public grounds in Oklahoma a few weeks ago after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 7-2 the monument violated t
he state constitution. Curiously the original lawsuit was brought by a “baptist pastor”
The monument has had a rocky ride to say the least. It was established by a Republican led congress in 2012. The statue was demolished into rubble in 2014 when a 29 year old mental health patient ran his car over it. In recent months it had again become the center of attention as various fringe groups petitioned to have their “venerated” objects memorialized. For example, a satanic church in New York wanted to erect a 7-foot-tall statue that depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard. A Hindu leader in Nevada, an animal rights group and the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster also made requests.
A few saddened supporters stood nearby as the statue was detached from its base on October 5 in the nighttime hours (because we all know how violent those wacky Christians can get) and carried away to a nearby warehouse. You think there might be some fodder for sermon illustrations in Oklahoma pulpits over this?
I do not know if we need giant statues of the Ten Commandments on public property or not, especially if noodle-headed officials and courts think it also means we need to have 7 foot tall statues of Baphomet nearby as well. But I do know this, the primary place the commands of God are to be displayed is in the life of the Jesus follower. (Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.”) That would be a monument that could never be knocked down or stored in a warehouse. And until congressmen in Oklahoma are a little more focused on that reality, I am not sure how significant the statue is in the big picture.
The truth shall set you free,
J Beckett