After listening to the past couple of news cycles I was thinking that it might be time to make a couple of additions to the Ten Commandments since many Christians aren’t able to comply with the golden rule. You know the “do unto others which you would have them do unto you”?

11. Mind your own business.

That is, make sure you are fully complying with the ten that came before. Particularly the bearing false witness and stealing ones. It’s all to easy to “like” someone’s viewpoint and endorse potentially commandment violating behavior because that person is spreading lies or ignorance and stealing away another’s reputation.

12. Do good works and help those in need without judgment.

But, wait, that directly contradicts #11 “mind your own business”. Not really. If there are people in need in your community, it is the community’s responsibility to lift them up. Need being defined as shelter, food, clothing, education, and appropriate additional assistance if long term illness or disability is the cause of their need. But if somebody does something that you find abhorrent, use your “I” statements and move on with your life.

For example, “I feel scared and sad when someone I admire commits suicide because I’m afraid that someday it will be me. I would like to engage in a meaningful conversation about mental illness and preventing future suicides.”

There is no reason to attack someone who is no longer able to defend themselves, and it is really cruel to impose that burden upon the survivors who are still reeling with the question, “why?”