LETTER: Cowards in cloth? Pastors need to respect 10 Commandments

I recently learned that several local clergymen have asked the progenitor of all of the God’s Ten Commandments signs here in the valley to cease putting them up. The reason is that these overt signs “turn people off” to Christianity. This is gutless.

I sympathize with those who are struggling to find faith and are reluctant to engage Christians on the matter for fear of looking stupid, offending, being politically incorrect, and a variety of other reasons, but the purpose of the clergy is to put the message out there.

I have wandered in and out of faith for many years. Recently, I made the choice to move back to Christ. It was daunting. It was awkward. It was even frightening. The Ten Commandments signs, Jesus skiing on Big Mountain and large church crosses had nothing to do with it, just like they had nothing to do with my walking away. I am skeptical that such symbols are frightening people away from joining churches. They are convenient excuses, however.

Whether you agree with the signs or not, the Ten Commandments are fundamental in law and basic societal rules. Even atheists recognize that it is wrong to steal and murder. Given the downward trends in our society, reinforcing the historical and spiritual basis for our laws is not a bad thing.

Someone will always be turned off or offended by whatever someone wants to put out for public view. If there is a cause, then there are those who are against it. Such people weren’t coming into your church anyway, pastor, but you might just push some of the members out with the “Buddy Christ” approach.

Support those who are trying to do what you told them to do, Reverend, or just sell shoes. —Joe DeCree, Whitefish