Contrary to modern ideas of freedom, "God demands freedom from Egyptian slavery so that the Hebrews may go out into the wilderness to worship (Exodus 3:18)." In contrast to other ancient societies and their gods, Yahweh's call is unique: "This God has a peculiar notion of worship in comparison with other gods. Some gods are into war or sex or gold. Here is a God who wants a holy people, a family where everyone is clergy" (16). Consequently, "The commandments are not guidelines for humanity in general. They are a countercultural way of life for those who know who they are and whose they are" (18).
In order to embrace the commandments we must reject our culture's anemic definition of freedom. "Because we live in a culture where submission to any authority other than our own egos is considered unduly authoritarian and unfair, command-obedience is difficult for us. We have freed ourselves from all external authority except servitude to the self. This we hail as freedom, though Israel testifies that slavery (particularly slavery as the necessity to do "what I want to do") comes in many guises" (26).
I'm in the process of reading multiple books on the Ten Commandments for a Summer sermon series. But if you can only buy one book for personal use, this is the one to purchase. As usual, Hauerwas and Willimon provide much food for thought!
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