← All stories

Slideshow · Viral

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today

Ancient Ordinances That Shape Modern Faith

15 min ago

8 Min Read21 Slides
  1. Ancient Ordinances That Shape Modern Faith
▼ Visual Countdown

From the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai to Jesus's ethical commands in the Sermon on the Mount, Christian scripture contains hundreds of behavioral directives. Across diverse traditions today, millions of believers continue to order their lives around these 20 uncompromising biblical standards.

Swipe or tap ▶ to begin the countdown

©Geralt / Pixabay, CC0 & EKMayle / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

📖 Complete Countdown Guide

All 20 Entries in this Story

20 Highlights · Full Editorial Review
#1

1. Worship Only One God

Drawn directly from the First Commandment, Christians profess allegiance to a single God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Believers are instructed to reject modern idols like money, career, or celebrity obsession, keeping their spiritual focus undivided.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Worship Only One God
Photo: Unsplash / Edward Cisneros
#2

2. Reject All Forms Of Idolatry

Rooted in the Second Commandment, believers are warned against substituting created things for the Creator. Whether in traditional forms like carved statues or subtle modern forms like material worship, idolatry is condemned as spiritual betrayal.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Reject All Forms Of Idolatry
Photo: Trailer Archive / Wikimedia / Public Domain
#3

3. Respect The Sacred Name Of God

The Third Commandment commands reverence for the divine name. Devout Christians avoid casual slang like 'OMG' and refrain from swearing false oaths in God's name, viewing speech as a reflection of holy reverence.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Respect The Sacred Name Of God
Photo: Arnoldius / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
#4

4. Keep The Sabbath Day Holy

Observing the Fourth Commandment, Christians traditionally gather on Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. The day centers on corporate liturgy, family connection, and stepping away from commercial labor to nurture spiritual peace.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Keep The Sabbath Day Holy
Photo: Wikimedia / Olaf.herfurth
#5

5. Honour Your Father And Mother

Regarded as the first commandment accompanied by a promise of blessing, Christians view honoring parents as an obligation extending from childhood obedience to adult caregiving during elderly vulnerability.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Honour Your Father And Mother
Photo: Unsplash / Caroline Hernandez
#6

6. Do Not Commit Murder

Christian theology affirms the sacred dignity of every individual as an image-bearer of God. Beyond forbidding physical homicide, Jesus expanded this standard to forbid harbored hatred and venomous malice toward others.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Do Not Commit Murder
Photo: Unsplash / Maxim Hopman
#7

7. Remain Faithful Within Marriage

Christian doctrine upholds holy matrimony as a sacred union mirroring Christ and the church. Adultery is considered a destructive breach of trust, requiring believers to practice rigorous fidelity in action and thought.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Remain Faithful Within Marriage
Photo: Leon H. Abdalian / DPLA / Public Domain
#8

8. Do Not Steal From Others

The Eighth Commandment demands total financial integrity, honest commerce, and respect for neighborly boundaries. Christians are challenged not only to avoid theft but to labor honestly and give generously to others.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Do Not Steal From Others
Photo: St. Louis Circuit Attorney / Wikimedia
#9

9. Do Not Bear False Witness

Scripture demands absolute honesty in legal courts, workplace dealings, and personal speech. Bearing false witness undermines social justice and grieves the Holy Spirit, who is described as the Spirit of Truth.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Do Not Bear False Witness
Photo: Sonya Hebert / White House / Public Domain
#10

10. Do Not Covet What Belongs To Another

Unlike legal codes that punish external actions alone, the Tenth Commandment inspects internal motives. Christians practice gratitude and holy contentment to guard against destructive envy, jealousy, and greed.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Do Not Covet What Belongs To Another
Photo: Ken Ballinger / Geograph / CC BY-SA 2.0
#11

11. Love Your Enemies

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shattered conventional retributive logic by demanding active love for adversaries. Christians are called to overcome hostility through blessing, benevolence, and prayer.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Love Your Enemies
Photo: Amtec Photos / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 2.0
#12

12. Turn The Other Cheek

When insulted or wronged, believers are taught to absorb personal offenses rather than escalating conflict. This posture reflects Christ on the cross, who endured mockery without retaliating in kind.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Turn The Other Cheek
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
#13

13. Avoid All Sexual Immorality

New Testament epistles repeatedly instruct believers to flee sexual immorality, honoring their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Sexual intimacy is preserved exclusively for the lifelong covenant of marriage.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Avoid All Sexual Immorality
Photo: EKMayle / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0
#14

14. Abstain Completely From The Occult

Biblical orthodoxy directs believers to seek guidance solely through prayer and scripture. Dabbling in tarot, mediumship, or esoteric rituals is rejected as dangerous spiritual infidelity.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Abstain Completely From The Occult
Photo: Walters Art Museum / Wikimedia / CC0
#15

15. Practice Unconditional Forgiveness

Jesus taught that harboring unforgiveness blocks one's own spiritual relationship with God. Christians are instructed to forgive seventy times seven, releasing bitterness and offering restorative grace.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Practice Unconditional Forgiveness
Photo: Unsplash / Alex Shute
#16

16. Refrain From Self-Righteous Judgment

The parable of the speck and the log reminds believers to examine their own hearts first. Rather than passing hypocritical moral judgment, Christians are called to offer compassionate restoration.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Refrain From Self-Righteous Judgment
Photo: Guercino / Dulwich Gallery / Public Domain
#17

17. Strictly Limit Grounds For Divorce

Echoing Jesus' teaching that what God joined no person should separate, traditional Christian confessions restrict divorce strictly to cases of unrepentant adultery or permanent marital abandonment.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Strictly Limit Grounds For Divorce
Photo: Pixabay / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
#18

18. Avoid Drunkenness And Sensual Excess

Scripture contrasts drunken intoxication with being filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians are warned that substance abuse clouds spiritual discernment, harms the body, and destroys family stability.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Avoid Drunkenness And Sensual Excess
Photo: Gogerr / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0
#19

19. Keep Your Word With Plain Truth

A Christian's word should carry absolute reliability without needing theatrical oaths or legal guarantees. Transparent honesty and integrity in promises form the bedrock of Christian character.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Keep Your Word With Plain Truth
Photo: UK Foreign Office / Wikimedia / CC BY 2.0
#20

20. Support The Poor And The Church

From the earliest days of the Jerusalem church, disciples shared resources to ensure no member suffered poverty. Giving generously to local ministries and caring for orphans and widows remain sacred hallmarks of faith.

20 Strict Rules Some Christians Still Follow Today — Support The Poor And The Church
Photo: Wikimedia / Andre Carrotflower

Up Next · Recommended Stories

6 stories