It all depends on whether your perspective is that the TGCOL (Love God, Love Neighbor) is a synopsis of the Ten. Obviously as you pointed out some of the commandments couldn't have applied before God created other beings.
I would also submit that they were unnecessary prior to Lucifer's rebellion. Apparently evil did not exist previously. Jesus called Satan the father of lies - which I interpret to mean he originated the practice. He also called Satan a "murderer from the beginning", which based on other passages I take to mean from the beginning of his rebellion and not from the beginning of his creation, after all, he was "perfect" in all his ways "until iniquity was found" in him.
I can only assume - the Bible doesn't go there - that the angels were given instructions on conduct right from the start. What precisely that code of conduct might have been there simply isn't any way to know. But since God doesn't change I would assume they contained the same fundamental principles of love towards God and love towards others.
It is fascinating that this whole argument - whether the 10 Commandments are part of the NC - was not really an issue in Christianity at large until the SDA's (and later the WCG) made an issue of the Sabbath.
Prior to that time Christianity was more or less united in a belief that the 10 were the fundamental code of conduct for Christians. The Sabbath was almost universally presumed to be Sunday - in fact it still is in many denominations and in the minds of many believers.
Even now many sincere, devout Christians if asked whether or not they keep the 4th commandment (assuming they even know what it is) would reply "Yes, I go to Church every Sunday".
Why else do you think there has been so much controversy in recent decades over the 10 Commandments being posted in court rooms? They still hold a place of honor in many denominations. Not all of them try to toss them out, or equate them with tassels and mixed fabric garments.
The main proponents of "the 10 Commandments are done away" concept are either former Sabbatarians or individuals and/or denominations who for one reason or another are strongly opposed to the idea of a 7th day Sabbath.
The Sabbath is the one great indigestible lump - the one thing that most people simply cannot or will not accept. And it is only when the Sabbath becomes an issue that the Ten Commandments as a whole become controversial in any way. Absent the Sabbath, the nine other Commandments are nearly universally accepted by Christianity.
All in all, it's just "pick and choose" of a different sort.
---FYI Again critiquing a particular WCG Alumni post making strong assertions that the ten commandments are NOT the eternal ten!
Labels: FYI Again, intelligent quote of the day
