One of my longstanding concerns about American Christianity is that it tends to be more American than Christian. While it is easy for Christians to stand around and lament our decaying culture in the West I fear that in doing so, too often we secretly take comfort in the fact that and even thank the Lord that “we are not like them.”

Such focus on immorality around us tends to blind us to the lawlessness within us. And, it seems to me, evangelical Christians in American are becoming increasingly lawless. This has nothing to do with legalism but everything to do with Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me you workers of lawlessness.”

Increasingly, it seems to me, we are becoming a society (both inside and outside the church) where people pretty much do whatever seems right in their own eyes. So in the spirit of truth in advertizing, I offer the following Modern American Christian Version of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments (MACV)

1. You shall not have too many other gods besides Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself too many images or dreams that you serve or to which you bow down.

3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain too often or in ways that are too obvious.

4. Remember the Sabbath morning to keep it holy or if not, at least catch livestream or a podcast of a sermon. The rest of the Day you shall do whatever you want.

5. Tolerate your father and your mother. Try not to embarrass them too much so that they will tolerate you.

6. You shall not literally murder. Slander is ok, though.

7. You shall not commit adultery unless you are  in love or at least really like your partner.

8. You shall not steal too much; unless you steal from those who deserve to have their stuff stolen.

9. You shall not bear false witness in ways that are obvious. Unless you are a blogger.

10. You shall not covet, whatever that means.