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8th Commandment - Part 2

The Rev. William M. Cwirla has a post on his blog called:

The 8th Commandment - A Brief Catechesis


He does a much better job than I do on explaining the atrocious misuse of the 8th commandment by our synod rulers.

An extended excerpt follows, I urge you to read the whole post as well:


...the 8th commandment is not a protective blanket of immunity from criticism for those in public office. Public accountability means being open to public scrutiny and criticism. Anyone who runs for public office knows this and ought to expect it. The very nature of checks and balances requires that those who hold public office, whether in the state or the church, be subject to the scrutiny of those they are elected to serve. The 8th commandment was given by God to protect one's personal reputation, not as a set of skirts to hide behind when the hounds of criticism are on to your scent.

The 8th commandment forbids us from attacking a person's name, reputation or character; it does not forbid criticism of a person's conduct, performance, or actions, otherwise job evaluations, oversight, and public justice would be impossible. The 8th commandment does not forbid dissent and disagreement. In fact, it calls for dissent when the truth of God's Word or the protection of our neighbor's rights is at stake. To do or say nothing in the face of tyranny, oppression, and false teaching is not putting the best construction on everything.
To invoke the 8th commandment against criticism and dissent, as the synodical president and the COP appear to be doing, is to subvert the commandment's very intent that justice and truth prevail.

What exactly does it mean to put the best construction on everything? Does it mean "say nice things and don't call people names" as Mommy and our kindergarten teacher always said? Does it mean that we say Jeffrey Dahmer had "an interesting diet," or that Charles Manson was "socially challenged?" Is the 8th commandment a divine mandate for politically-correct sissified speech in the interest of playing nice?

A quick scan of the Scriptures suggests otherwise. John the Baptizer was highly critical of the religions leaders and called them a "brood of vipers." Jesus called the Pharisees "white-washed tombs," and He called Herod a "fox." The prophet Amos called the spoiled women of Samaria "cows of Bashan," while Jeremiah referred to the apostate nation Israel as a "she-ass in heat." Apparently, putting the best construction on things can involve some rather colorful metaphors.


Luther, who coined the phrase "putting the best construction on everything" had a similarly colorful way of putting things, especially in print. He called the pope names are not printable in today's "polite society." He mockingly called Karlstadt and his fellow radical reformers “heavenly prophets.” He called the charismatics of his day “Schwärmer,” buzzing bees. He mercilessly punned on his opponents’ names, like Hans Wurst. He called Thomas Münzer something even James Kittelson, who always delivered the unvarnished, uncensored Luther, couldn’t translate in his book
Luther the Reformer.

A true theologian of the cross calls a thing for what it is. When Peter pulled a fast one at Antioch and withdrew from Gentile associations to be "sensitive" to the James gang, Paul called him a "hypocrite" to his face in public. Yes, we are called to deal patiently and gently with one other, but when the playground bully sucker punches someone, he can’t hide behind the sign that says “No Fighting on the Playground” and claim immunity. There’s a time for war and a time for peace. There is a time to speak up and a time to shut up. And there are times when the best one can do is what Luther advised timid Philip - “sin boldly, and trust Christ even more boldly.”

That’s how free men and women in Christ deal with things.

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