We talked last Tuesday night about what are called the Noachide Laws, or the Laws for all mankind, given through God's covenant with Noah. In the text in Genesis, there are only a couple of commands that God gives: basically don't murder, and don't eat the flesh with the blood in it. The rabbis developed this, and articulated seven laws that they said were general laws concerning all humanity. They were:
- Do not murder.
- Do not steal.
- Do not worship false gods.
- Do not be sexually immoral.
- Do not eat a limb removed from a live animal.
- Do not curse God.
- Set up courts and bring offenders to justice
"The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Noahide Laws in legislation which was passed by both houses. Congress and the President of the United States, George Bush, indicated in Public Law 102-14, 102nd Congress, that the United States of America was founded upon the Seven Universal Laws of Noah, and that these Laws have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization. They also acknowledged that the Seven Laws of Noah are the foundation upon which civilization stands and that recent weakening of these principles threaten the fabric of civilized society, and that justified preoccupation in educating the Citizens of the United States of America and future generations is needed. For this purpose, this Public Law designated March 26, 1991 as Education Day, U.S.A.")
What's really interesting about this to me is that it is very likely that when the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 came together to decide what should be required of the Gentiles who were coming to Christ, whether they should formally become Jews or not through circumcision, they very likely discussed and reflected in their decision these Noachide Laws.
Also, in Jesus' day, it had been determined by the sages that for the sake of life (that is threatened life) one could break all the commandments except commit idolatry, immorality, or murder. This too may be what's reflected in the Jerusalem council's decision.
These laws are similar to the Ten Commandments, but with some obvious differences. I just think it's amazing that the Jerusalem Council would be so sensitive and concerned with how to include the Gentiles in this move of God that they didn't even instruct them (us) to observe the big Ten. Their graciousness toward the Gentiles eventually led to the tension and fueled the split between the synagogue and the church. Their point wasn't so much to enforce laws, of course, but the way of Jesus who is the embodiment of all we are to be and do.
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