The Positive Approach to the Ten Commandments

By David Gjesdal

“It is often stated that the Ten Commandments are so negative, “Thou shalt not….” It seems such an infringement on the positive thinkers, who are turned off by such negativism. However, even positive thinkers have to realize that “thou shalt not” and “no” and “never” have an important part in the English language.

Children, for instance, need the concise instructions of a “no” or “do not.” When a parent wants to get across to a toddler not to put his hand on a stove it would do no good to tell him all the places where he could put his hand. When a parent wants to tell him not to go into the street, it does little good to tell him all the places he can go without mentioning not to go into the street.

God made the Ten Commandments very concise, and the best way of getting across the point…”

(this article is an excerpt from the March 1988 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 8, click this link: https://biblesabbath.org/media/tss_371March1988.PDF