The Ten Commandments: Mission Statement for Mankind
By: Ron Wexler

2006-04-06 -- www.TenCommandmentsDay.com

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of the government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity … of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

-- James Madison, 1778

Recent Supreme Court rulings and a host of potential "civil liberties" lawsuits have made the Ten Commandments an issue Americans cannot afford to ignore. Just as we have seen prayer disappear from our schools and public expressions of faith in God come under an aggressive assault by "civil libertarians," so we will soon see the Ten Commandments, the very foundation of our Judeo-Christian moral and faith tradition, disappear from our culture if we as Godly leaders do not step to the forefront to stop the attack.

One wonders how far our nation must drift from its moorings of faith before good people stand up and declare, "Enough is enough!" At a time when a handful of un-elected judges are issuing decrees that will change our nation forever, religious leaders from across our great nation must lead a concerted campaign that will once again raise the banner of God's righteousness for all Americans to follow.

For generations of Americans that banner of righteousness has been represented by God's Ten Commandments, a common foundation for our national commitment to the rule of law and righteousness.

It is worth considering why we, as "one nation under God," have always identified our national righteousness with the Ten Commandments. Perhaps James Madison reflected best the importance of our commitment to God's standard when he noted in 1778 that America 's success was dependent upon the determination of "each and every one of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

But what gave this venerable Founding Father the boldness to make such a declaration? To discover this we must examine the very essence of the Ten Commandment. Without a doubt they form the single greatest source of morality that the world has ever known -- and they are the moral foundation of many societies throughout history.

The principles laid out in the Ten Commandments -- such as the brotherhood of man, the importance of a just legal system, and the vision for eternal peace -- form the basis for a successful civilization. In fact, a basic theme of the Ten Commandments – in fact of all of Scripture – is God's desire for humans to fulfill the great potential for which He created them.

At some point in time, perhaps during a personal crisis, each on of us has sensed something powerful within helping us to overcome and succeed. I strongly believe that this is the stirring of that potential God has placed within each one of us. Unfortunately, most people have little understanding of this potential and God's desire to help them achieve it. Often, visiting a cemetery, I have wonder how many are buried under the tombstones and monuments who never fulfilled the potential God had for them -- or even understood what that potential was.

I believe the Ten Commandments mark the starting point for such fulfillment. Understanding God's holiness and perfect law is the first step in discovering and reaching ones potential. Our Founding Fathers understood this, and it is why they declared that all people are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" – including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

America's Constitution is the encoding of God's law, as understood by our Founders, into our nation's civil law structure, and as such represents the work of the most brilliant and able minds our young nation had at its disposal. It is the culmination of their understanding of the importance of incorporating God's unchangeable law into the realm of man's constantly changing environment.

It is alarming, then, that the Ten Commandments – the representation of God's unchangeable law to generations of Americans – should now face such merciless attack from our nation's highest court. Let us be clear: To rip the Ten Commandments from our nation's fabric would be a major step in destroying our foundation in law and morality. Such destruction would surely leave our nation's future in jeopardy.

That is why the Ten Commandments Commission was established – to facilitate a coalition of religious leaders and people of faith all across the nation who will work diligently to defend God's law and righteousness in the public square. Members of this grassroots effort – men and women just like you and me – have made it their passion to contend for the Judeo-Christian moral tradition that made this country great. The recent ruling of the Supreme Court, along with a host of disturbing trends we witness daily throughout our culture, clearly demonstrate that our nation is moving away from that tradition.

But the recent High Court decisions actually provide a rare opportunity for all of us who honor the Ten Commandments to come together in unity and reconciliation and boldly raise the standard of God's unchanging word before the nation and the world.

The Ten Commandments Commission was initiated as the vehicle for this to happen -- to facilitate a broad-based, unified expression of our national commitment to God's eternal authority. We believe wholeheartedly that when God's own return humbly to their knees, confess their sins, and seek His holiness, His blessings will return to us both personally and corporately.

On Sunday, May 7 th , 2006, Christians and Jews from around this nation -- and the world -- will celebrate the first annual Ten Commandments Day, a day in which all who are concerned about maintaining God's righteous standard will join together in a massive and unified show of support.

The Ten Commandments Commission has also created a beautiful Ten Commandments Pin (pictured), a striking emblem that gives expression to the deep reverence generations of Americans have had for the Ten Commandments and the Judeo-Christian principles that have guided our nation from its inception.

I strongly believe that God has raised leaders like you for this very hour to lead the defense of the Ten Commandments and God's righteous standard in our nation. To find out what you and your church or ministry can do to support this effort visit us today at www.tencommandmentsday.com

America's future rests with Godly leaders like you who will take a bold stand for what is right.
God bless you and may God bless America , One Nation Under God.

Ron Wexler is founder and CEO of the Ten Commandments Commission.