DAV Magazine — September/October 2016
The application of law and religion
Greetings everyone. In recent months, we’ve borne witness to numerous tragedies in this country. These events have shattered many lives and left many Americans feeling vulnerable, angry and understandably heartbroken. In the wake of these terrible events and in the spirit of unity, I have decided to dedicate my next few commentaries to understanding how the basic concepts of religion apply to our daily lives, whether or not we are people of faith.
I want to begin at the intersection of religion and law, and how it applies to what we do within the organization.
My faith teaches that the Ten Commandments are considered the divine laws of the Creator, and all laws should derive from these rules. In other words, if something is not mentioned explicitly, it must be there implicitly. For instance, “Thou shalt not steal your neighbor’s Sunday newspaper” is not a commandment outright, but it’s certainly covered by one of the 10.
These laws can be summed up generally by the notions of reverence and respect—reverence for the Creator, his name, his day and respect for parents, life, truth, property and our neighbors. Even if you don’t believe in a higher power, these moral imperatives serve as good guideposts for living in peace and harmony, and they are well within the bounds of man-made laws.
So how does this apply to our membership and DAV as a whole?
Well, the Ten Commandments are a set of broad principles that individuals can take, interpret and apply to situations within their own lives. The same can be said for how the DAV Constitution and Bylaws serve as a guide for our organization.
The Ten Commandments, and those that govern DAV, are about higher standards of living. The DAV Constitution and Bylaws, approved by the members, are the framework from which we operate. These rules set the standard for how we conduct our business, and it is well worth taking the time to become more familiar with them. If we do not read and carry out those standards, what’s the point?
There are many who try to accomplish their own agenda without first consulting the appropriate documentation to ensure that what they do represents the best interests of the organization or, as it happens, their faith.
So, what is truly important when it comes to the laws intended to govern our lives, actions and ultimately our organization? It’s not just giving lip service about what we believe, but rather carrying out our mission according to the tenets we are built upon. In doing so, people will see the genuineness of who we are and what we represent as we work together to ensure better lives for veterans and their families.
In His Service for You.
I want to begin at the intersection of religion and law, and how it applies to what we do within the organization.
My faith teaches that the Ten Commandments are considered the divine laws of the Creator, and all laws should derive from these rules. In other words, if something is not mentioned explicitly, it must be there implicitly. For instance, “Thou shalt not steal your neighbor’s Sunday newspaper” is not a commandment outright, but it’s certainly covered by one of the 10.
These laws can be summed up generally by the notions of reverence and respect—reverence for the Creator, his name, his day and respect for parents, life, truth, property and our neighbors. Even if you don’t believe in a higher power, these moral imperatives serve as good guideposts for living in peace and harmony, and they are well within the bounds of man-made laws.
So how does this apply to our membership and DAV as a whole?
Well, the Ten Commandments are a set of broad principles that individuals can take, interpret and apply to situations within their own lives. The same can be said for how the DAV Constitution and Bylaws serve as a guide for our organization.
The Ten Commandments, and those that govern DAV, are about higher standards of living. The DAV Constitution and Bylaws, approved by the members, are the framework from which we operate. These rules set the standard for how we conduct our business, and it is well worth taking the time to become more familiar with them. If we do not read and carry out those standards, what’s the point?
There are many who try to accomplish their own agenda without first consulting the appropriate documentation to ensure that what they do represents the best interests of the organization or, as it happens, their faith.
So, what is truly important when it comes to the laws intended to govern our lives, actions and ultimately our organization? It’s not just giving lip service about what we believe, but rather carrying out our mission according to the tenets we are built upon. In doing so, people will see the genuineness of who we are and what we represent as we work together to ensure better lives for veterans and their families.
In His Service for You.
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