11. Emulate His Ways

The 11th commandment of Mosaic Law is to emulate His ways.  

Where in scripture?

Deuteronomy 28:9

Provided that you keep the commandments of the LORD, your God, and walk in his ways, he will establish you as a people sacred to himself, as he swore to you

New Testament references

Matthew 5:48 

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.  

Luke 6:36

Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Ephesians 5:1

So be imitators of God, as beloved children

Catechism of the Catholic Church

918 From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.

932 In the Church, which is like the sacrament- the sign and instrument - of God's own life, the consecrated life is seen as a special sign of the mystery of redemption. To follow and imitate Christ more nearly and to manifest more clearly his self- emptying is to be more deeply present to one's contemporaries, in the heart of Christ. For those who are on this "narrower" path encourage their brethren by their example, and bear striking witness "that the world cannot be transfigured and offered to God without the spirit of the beatitudes."

2345 Chastity is a moral virtue. It is also a gift from God, a grace, a fruit of spiritual effort. The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ.

Catholic Encyclopedia

Imitation of Christ

A work of spiritual devotion, also sometimes called the "Following of Christ". Its purpose is to instruct the soul in Christian perfection with Christ as the Divine Model.

Early Church Fathers

St. Clement – First Epistle on Virginity

Paul, also, and Barnabas, and Timothy, with all the others, “whose names are written in the book of life,” — these, I say, all cherished and loved sanctity, and ran in the contest, and finished their course without blemish, as imitators of Christ, and as sons of the living God.

Discussion

Imitatio dei is Latin for "imitating God." It is part of Sacred Tradition. Scripture grew out of Sacred Tradition because much of Sacred Tradition predates Scripture. As I discussed in an earlier post, Sacred Tradition can never conflict with scripture. Instead, the two complement each other.

In regard to the 11th Mosaic Law, we have the following:

·        The Jewish Tradition that Deuteronomy 28:9 means we should emulate His ways;

·        Scripture in the New Testament very clearly specifying that we should imitate Christ;

·        Early Church Fathers, such as St. Clement saying that we should strive to imitate Christ; and

·        Phrases (and concepts) such as “What Would Jesus Do?” gaining popular acceptance in today’s culture.

It would seem that this should be a brief write-up for me concluding that this is binding on Christians - and they I’d be off to work on the next commandment.

However, there is a bit more to be looked at here.

According to Wikipedia, “In Protestantism, however, the picture is different. In the Anglosaxon tradition Imitatio dei is widely accepted, whereas the Lutheran tradition prefers to talk of conformitas, or in German of "Nachfolge" instead of "Nachahmung" (imitation), because Jesus was singular and cannot and need not be imitated, but followed in his spirit, to which the believer is not forced, but enabled.”

The Lutheran concept is similar to the one adhered to by Catholicism, but it is not identical. Words are important. Similar, but different words create subtle nuances in meanings.

Though Martin Luther espoused sola scriptura (scripture alone), the concept of nachfolge was an intentional departure from scripture itself. Nachfolge (like sola scriptura) is a tradition because it is not found in scripture. However it is not Sacred Tradition, because (like sola scriptura) it is a relatively recent man-made invention and it is not found in, or based upon, scripture.

Scripture compels us to imitate Christ.

Conclusion

Binding on Christians

Summary 1-10

Commandment	Conclusion
1. Know There is a God	Binding
2. Do not think there are other gods besides Him	Binding
3. Know that He is one	Binding
4. Love God	Binding
5. Fear the Lord	Binding
6. Sanctify His Name	Binding
7. Do not profane His Name	Binding
8. Do not Destroy Objects Associated with His Name - Pt. 1     Part 2	Binding
9. Listen to the Prophet speaking in His Name	Binding
10. Do not try the Lord unduly	Binding

10. Do not try the Lord Unduly

The tenth commandment in Mosaic Law is to not to try the Lord unduly.

Where in scripture?

Deuteronomy 6:16

You shall not put the LORD, your God, to the test, as you did at Massah.

New Testament references

Luke 4:9-12

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and: 'With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him in reply, "It also says, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

1 Corinthians 10:9

Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2119 Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power.51

Conclusion

Binding on Christians

9. Listen to the Prophet speaking in His Name

The ninth commandment in Mosaic Law is to listen to the Prophet speaking in His Name.

Where in scripture?

Deuteronomy 18:15

A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen.

Discussion:

I was going to write a post on Authority, but I realized that in order to cover it properly, it would probably take two or three posts. I’m going to put it off for another week or so when I have more time.

In regard to this ninth commandment, the NAB footnotes to Deuteronomy 18 tell us that Christian understanding of this verse is that Christ is the Great Prophet in whom the prophetic office finds its fulfillment and completion, this passage was understood in a special Messianic sense both by the Jews (John 6:14; 7:40) and by the Apostles (Acts 3:22; 7:37).

The two verses in Acts refer directly to Deuteronomy 18:15.

New Testament references

John 6:14

When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.  

John 7:40

Some in the crowd who heard these words said, "This is truly the Prophet."

Acts 3:22

For Moses said: 'A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.’

Acts 7:37

It was this Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you, from among your own kinsfolk, a prophet like me.’

Christians understand that this Mosaic Law requires them to listen to Jesus.

Conclusion

Binding on Christians

Do Not Destroy Objects Associated with His Name - Pt. 2

The eighth commandment in Mosaic Law is to not destroy objects associated with His Name.

In my previous post I discussed the scriptural origin of the eighth commandment of Mosaic Law. In this post I’ll discuss its applicability toward Christians.

New Testament references regarding the destruction of Holy Objects

There is no scripture in the New Testament that is exactly on-point regarding the destruction of objects associated with God's Name.

We should consider, however, Revelation 22:18-19

I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book.   

The passage addresses only anyone adding to or taking away from the words of the Book of Revelation. It is silent in regard to the destruction of all other Holy objects.

Discussion:

If we decide the applicability of this Mosaic Law based only upon scripture, we are faced with a conundrum. On the one hand, the Old Testament prohibits individuals from destroying objects associated with His Name. On the other hand, we understand that many of the Mosaic Laws are not binding on Christians.

Galatians 5:18

But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  

We know from the previous posts on this site that some of the Laws are binding on Christians. How do we know what to do about this one? Fortunately, the Bible instructs us to abide by Sacred Tradition that is not in conflict with scripture.

New Testament references regarding Tradition

2 Timothy 2:2

And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

Romans 10:17

But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?"  

Luke 10:16

Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.

1 Corinthians 15:11

Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 11:2

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.  

Matthew 23:2–3

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.  

Acts 8:30–31

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

John 20:30

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book.

If we believe that scripture is true, we know that we must pay attention to Tradition.

What the Church says about Tradition

According to the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, Solemnly Promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, “ there exists a close connection and communication between sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end. For sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit. To the successors of the apostles, sacred Tradition hands on in its full purity God’s word, which was entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit.

"Thus, by the light of the Spirit of truth, these successors can in their preaching preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently it is not from sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same devotion and reverence."

Jewish tradition regarding the destruction of old holy objects

According to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the proper disposal of a worn sefer torah is A Torah scroll "which has become worn" is considered to have deteriorated beyond the point of repair. It is placed in an earthen vessel and buried in a cemetery, preferably next to the grave of a Torah scholar.

Catholic tradition concerning the destruction of sacramentals

Catechism of the Catholic Church

There is nothing in the Catechism regarding the disposal of sacred images and objects. Also, there is nothing on the subject in the old Baltimore Catechism.

Code of Canon Law

Can.  1171 Sacred objects, which are designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated reverently and are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use even if they are owned by private persons.

Can. 1269 If sacred objects are privately owned, private persons can acquire them through prescription, but it is not permitted to employ them for profane uses unless they have lost their dedication or blessing; if they belong to a public ecclesiastical juridic person, however, only another public ecclesiastical juridic person can acquire them.

Catholic Encyclopedia

Simony is usually defined "a deliberate intention of buying or selling for a temporal price such things as are spiritual of annexed unto spirituals". While this definition only speaks of purchase and sale, any exchange of spiritual for temporal things is simoniacal. …While according to the natural and Divine laws the term simony is applicable only to the exchange of supernatural treasures for temporal advantages, its meaning has been further extended through ecclesiastical legislation. In order to preclude all danger of simony the Church has forbidden certain dealings which did not fall under Divine prohibition. It is thus unlawful to exchange ecclesiastical benefices by private authority, to accept any payment whatever for holy oils, to sell blessed rosaries or crucifixes. Such objects lose, if sold, all the indulgences previously attached to them (S. Cong. Of Indulg., 12 July, 1847).

Sacred Congregations

According to an article, "Disposing of Blessed Objects" by Fr. William P. Saunders, once a religious object is blessed and dedicated for divine worship or veneration, it must be treated with reverence and not be used in either an improper or profane way (cf. Code of Canon Law, #1171).

However, blessed religious objects break or wear from use. The basic rule for the disposition of these items is to burn or to bury them. During the 1800s, both the Sacred Congregation for the Rites and the Holy Office (now known respectively as the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) issued various determinations concerning this issue. Here are a few examples: A chalice which becomes "unserviceable" is not to be sold, but must be used for some other sacred purpose or melted. Vestments, altar cloths, and linens must be destroyed. Polluted or excess holy water must be poured into the ground. Palms are to be burned, and the ashes then used for distribution on Ash Wednesday or returned to the ground. A broken rosary or religious statue normally would be buried. In all, the underlying idea is that what has been dedicated to God should be returned to God. Never should one just "throw out" what has been dedicated to God.

What do non-Catholic Christians do with old Bibles?

It seems to be a matter of common sense that destroying objects associated with God’s Name is sacrilegious. However, there is no uniformity among non-Catholic Christians in regard to the disposal of old worn Bibles.

TheLutheran.org says, “Dispose of it as you would any other book.”

RBC Ministries says, “It is somewhat a matter of Christian liberty how we dispose of an old Bible.”

Dear Abby says, “I consulted the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and was told: Protestants can dispose of an old Bible by giving it to someone or throwing it away if they are comfortable doing so -- the paper and ink are not ‘holy.’”

This site takes a similar view and says “discarding an old Christian Bible is a matter of personal conviction.”

This site says, “Recycle it. If the book is damaged and no longer readable, such as water damage, consider if it has no other value, then it may be discarded as other books and papers. It can be recycled so that it is not found in a landfill or burn pile. Wrap the Bible in plain paper and put it in your recycle bin for collection with other papers or magazines.”

This site says, “Do not burn or throw away a Bible publicly. Others might misinterpret your action as disrespectful or even incendiary.”

A problem with Sola Scriptura is illustrated by this site that says, “There is no "biblical" way to dispose of an old/damaged/ruined Bible, as the Bible itself does not address this question.” …The problem with taking this position is that it would be impossible for a method to How could the Bible address the disposal of a Bible when the individual writings were written hundreds of years before they were compiled by the Catholic Church into a single Bible?

The Bible-alone is not the only source of truth. This statement comes from the Bible itself. According to scriptures, we are to look to Tradition when answers aren't found in the Bible.

Discussion:

It should be emphasized that there is a difference between Sacred Tradition, with a capital “T,” and tradition that can also be termed as custom.

The belief in the Trinity, in which most Christians believe, is a Sacred Tradition (with a capital T). It is not defined in scripture, yet the Trinity is true and eternal. The Tradition was defined by the Catholic Church and fortunately that Tradition is maintained by most Protestant denominations.

The same is true of the Tradition of the Catholic Church that determined the New Testament’s Canon of Scripture (the Bible). Once again, it is fortunate that most Protestant denominations abide by this Tradition.

Abiding by the eighth Mosaic Law is also a Sacred Tradition. We should not destroy objects associated with His Name.

The manner in which we observe this Law, however, is a matter of tradition, with a small “t.” It is subject to change based upon the times and the customs. Tradition (with a small "t") also applies to less significant matters such as where we place tabernacles in the church or whether we receive the Eucharist in the hand or mouth. The traditions (with a small "t") usually pertain to how we comply with matters of scripture and Sacred Tradition. How we dispose of sacred items in a respectful way is a matter of tradition (with a small “t”).


However, under no circumstances should a blessed Bible ever be thrown in the garbage. That would be a certain violation of the eighth Mosaic Law. It seems surprising that Christians would do such a thing that runs counter to common sense. Throwing sacred items in the trash is sacrilegious.

Future Research:

I probably could write a book on just this one commandment on Mosaic Law (although I don't know how many people would want to read it – However, I think that it's pretty interesting stuff). At a future date, I hope to add additional posts on this.

I have cited a secondary source, Fr. Saunders, in regard to the documents promulgated by Sacred Congregations. I can't find the original documents online. At some point in the future, I will try to get a hold of copies and quote directly from them. (I'm hoping that there is a version in English.) I will also follow up on the writings of Early Church Fathers on this subject.

In at least some parts of the world, there is an old tradition of starting large bonfires on the Eve of the Feast of St. John the Baptist. On that day, old sacramentals are disposed of in the bonfires. At some point I'd like to research original source documents.

Another possible subject for future research would be to determine the development of both Jewish and Catholic traditions concerning the disposal of holy objects. We have Internet sources concerning current practices, but it would be interesting to see whether they have changed through the centuries and if so, have they changed in tandem.

I imagine non-Catholic Christians might ask why (or whether) Catholic Traditions are binding upon them. In my next post I hope to address those questions and discuss the issue of Authority.

…but in regard to the eighth Mosaic Law…

Conclusion

Binding on Christians

8. Do not Destroy Objects Associated with His Name - Pt. 1

The eighth commandment in Mosaic Law is to not destroy objects associated with His name.

Where in scripture?

Deuteronomy 12:4

That is not how you are to worship the LORD, your God.

Discussion:

This is the most interesting commandment that I’ve analyzed thus far. It raises two key issues that are not cut and dried. The first is the nature of the law itself. The second is its applicability toward Christians. I will therefore split up this analysis into two posts, and probably add a third post at a later date.

The scriptural origin of the eighth commandment of the Mitzvot, as stated by Jewish resources, is Deuteronomy 12:4. In order to make sense of it, the verse needs to be read in context.

Deuteronomy 12:2-4 (New American Bible)

2  Destroy without fail every place on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every leafy tree where the nations you are to dispossess worship their gods.

3  Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, destroy by fire their sacred poles, and shatter the idols of their gods, that you may stamp out the remembrance of them in any such place.

4  That is not how you are to worship the LORD, your God.  12:2-4

A plain reading of the passage suggests that the LORD is commanding the Israelites to tear down the places of worship of Canaanites. A plain reading suggests the LORD does not which to be worshipped in the same manner as the Canaanite gods– with sacred pillars and poles. Deuteronomy 12:4 of the NAB translation does not say to not destroy objects associated with His name. The Bible passage seemingly differs from the Mosaic Law.

According to the Douay Rheims translation, Deuteronomy 12:4 says: “You shall not do so to the Lord your God.”  That is closer to the Mitzvot, but not quite the same. Other English translations are as follows:

·        King James: Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

·        New International Version: You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.

·        New American Standard: You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.

Jewish sources don’t seem to translate the verse differently. This site uses the King James translation: Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

It seems that the short verse of scripture in Deuteronomy is not self-interpreting. For thousands of years, Jews have relied on Tradition as the authority as to how this how this commandment should be interpreted. Non-biblical literature and the Oral Law are of great prominence in Judaism and Jewish interpretation of Deuteronomy 12:4 is fairly consistent - to not destroy objects associated with His name.

Though Jewish Tradition is consistent, Christian sources are all over the board on their interpretations of the verse.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes say that the verse means to “not worship Him in several places, mountains, and groves.”

The Matthew Henry Commentary relies upon the plain reading of the verse and says, “The Israelites are charged not to bring the rites and usages of idolaters into the worship of God; not under color of making it better. We cannot serve God and mammon; nor worship the true God and idols; nor depend upon Christ Jesus and upon superstitious or self-righteous confidences.”

This site says it means, “In their desire to be more accepted they adopted some or all of the practices of their neighbors. They did not listen to the law or the prophets.”

This site says, “This verse provides a foundation for how to observe what can be confusing ways of worship to our modern times. Worship is absolutely something done in God’s way not the way of the world around us, and it clearly involves sacrifice.”

This site rather vaguely states, “What does Deuteronomy 12:4 teach us about worshipping God? Answer: There is a right way and there are many wrong ways. Read the context to understand this a bit more.”

This site says, “We have been showing the Jews that the Messiah changed God’s appointed Feasts to Easter and Christmas (This is a false teaching that Yeshua (Jesus) NEVER instituted and would have been a sin if He did. We cannot find these man-made holidays anywhere in Scripture. Matter of fact, God even tells us that we are NOT to take another god’s celebration and make it His.”

This site, in a rambling discourse, asserts that the Catholic Church is the “Whore of Christmas,” and lists the verse among many as claimed support for its contention.

This site poses the question: “The ‘Vestal Virgins’ of pagan Rome and the ‘Nuns’ of Catholic Rome - What is the Connection?” It tries to make the connection and uses the verse as support.

 This site says the verse means, “We must resist attempts by atheists and Jewish traitors who hate their own religion and seek to uproot it. In the USA attempts to remove the Ten Commandments etc from court houses should be resisted. We need to protect all aspects of our Hebraic heritage that our ancestors consciously or subconsciously managed to incorporate into our civil affairs.” 

This poster says, “The Roman church is not considered Christian in my opinion because they do not follow the Christ or obey His Father in their worship. …The ancient Romans were pagans (many still are in their worship) and worshiped their gods/goddesses with their own worship system that unfortunately they kept when they infiltrated the Church started by the Christ and guided by His Apostles. [Deuteronomy 12:4 tells the followers of the LORD to never worship Him the way the pagans worship their gods/goddesses]

The many different interpretations of Deuteronomy 12:4 seem to demonstrate how different people can read the same thing in scripture and believe that it means different things.

Nowadays, many people feel that they have license to interpret scripture in any manner that they see fit. For the first 1,500 years of Christianity, however, no one suggested that this was a wise practice. However, in the early1500s, Martin Luther introduced the concept of Sola Scriptura.

The term Sola Sciptura means "by scripture alone." The concept suggests that the Bible contains all knowledge that is necessary for salvation and holiness.

I want to emphasize that the older mainline Protestant denominations do not deny the value of Tradition. They only posit that all other authorities are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by, scripture. At the same time, however, the doctrine also states that scripture is “governed by the discernible excellence of the text as well as the personal witness of the Holy Spirit to the heart of each man.”

Sola Scriptura asserts that every man is able to interpret scripture on his own, as he is guided by the Holy Spirit. This sounds “good,” as it is consistent with our American ideals – no one should be subordinate to anyone else and we should be free to do or believe whatever we desire.

However, the various interpretations of Deuteronomy 12:4 suggest a problem with Sola Scriptura.

Before Christianity ever existed there was a single meaning of Deuteronomy 12:4. It remained in place for thousands of years. It is the definitive explanation - not destroy objects associated with His name. It cannot be disputed. Other explanations are in error.

Trying to interpret scripture without researching the 2,000 years of Christian writings and wisdom is like trying to write a term paper without doing any research. It is just asking for erroneous conclusions.

Though the concept of sola scriptura seems intuitive at first blush, it unravels when one understands that sola scriptura is contrary to scripture itself.

Scripture regarding Sola Scriptura (every man interpreting scripture on his own with the help of the Holy Spirit)

2 Peter 3:15-16

And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.

Acts 8:30–31

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

Early Church Fathers on the Concept of Sola Scriptura

The concept of Sola Scriptura was foreign to the first Christian. The early Christians relied exclusively on Oral Tradition since there were no New Testament scriptures that had even been written for the first generation of Christians. There wasn’t even a New Testament as we know it until the list of Scripture was compiled by the Church only at Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397, and then it was sent to Rome for confirmation in 419.

The early church fathers emphatically rejected Sola Scriptura.

Irenaeus Iv. 26,5

Where then the gifts of God have been set, there we must learn the truth from them with whom is the succession from the apostles. . . . For these guard our faith, . . . and they expound the scriptures to us without peril."

Tertullian De Praescrip. 19

They who affirm that the truth is with them must say that the corruptions in the scriptures and the falsities in the expositions of them have been rather introduced by us. To the scriptures, therefore, we must not appeal. . . . For the order of things would require that this question should be first proposed: ‘To whom belongeth the very faith; whose are the scriptures; by whom, and through whom, and when, and to whom was that rule delivered whereby men became Christians?’ For wherever both the true Christian rule and faith shall be shown to be, there will be the true scriptures and the true expositions and all the true Christian traditions

Vincent of Lerins Commonitor2

Here, perhaps, some will inquire: ‘Since the canon of the scriptures is perfect and more than suffices to itself for all things, what need is there to join with it the authority of the Church’s mind?’ And he answers: ‘Because on account of its depth, all do not take the Scripture according to one and the same sense, but this man and that man interpret it severally in their own fashion.’ . . . Therefore, it is exceedingly necessary, because of such great deviations of so varying an error, that the line of prophetic and apostolic interpretation should be guided by the rule of ecclesiastical and Catholic sense.

...In the next post, I’ll provide the "conclusion" and discuss how Tradition, and not scripture, primarily determines the applicability of this Mosaic Law to Christians.

7. Do not profane His Name

The seventh commandment in Mosaic Law is to not profane His name.

Where in scripture?

Leviticus 22:32

…and do not profane my holy name

Discussion:

This law is seemingly the same as the 26th law - Not to blaspheme. However, per Wikipedia, Jews interpret this law as a commandment not to bring dishonor or shame to God's name by any act or failure to act. Any behavior or act that disgraces, harms, or shames God and his law is regarded as a desecration of God's name.

Also per Wikipedia, Isaac of the School of Rabbi Jannai said that it would profane God’s Name if a person's bad reputation caused colleagues to become ashamed. Rav Nahman bar Isaac said that an example of this would be where people felt the need to call on God to forgive the transgressor.

It would seem that this law requires people, as representatives of their faith, to comport themselves in a manner that does not cause scandal nor cause others to question the faith, its adherents, or the God they worship.

An example of this came in the form of a question in the Ask an Apologist section of Catholic.com. The poster asked why, if the Catholic Church was established by Jesus, aren't there more "good" Catholics. (In Fr. Serpa's answer, he pointed to the many saints of the Church.)

The New Testament and Tradition emphasize the wrong that can result from an individual who acts in such a way as to profane God's holy name.

New Testament references

Matthew 18:6-7 

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!  

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2811 In spite of the holy Law that again and again their Holy God gives them - "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" - and although the Lord shows patience for the sake of his name, the people turn away from the Holy One of Israel and profane his name among the nations. For this reason the just ones of the old covenant, the poor survivors returned from exile, and the prophets burned with passion for the name.

Respect for the souls of others: scandal

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. …Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep's clothing.

Early Church Fathers

St. Thomas Aquinas (on scandal)

It is not the physical cause of a neighbor's sin, but only the moral cause, or occasion; …as when a person without being directly concerned in the sin nevertheless exercises a certain influence on the sin of his neighbor, e.g. by committing such a sin in his presence (this is inductive scandal in a broad sense). For scandal to exist it is therefore essential and sufficient, with regard to the nature of the act and the circumstances under which it takes place, that it be of a nature to induce sin in another; consequently it is not necessary that the neighbor should actually fall into sin …Hence scandal is in itself an evil act, at least in appearance, and as such it exercises on the will of another an influence more or less great which induces to sin.

Conclusion

Binding on Christians