Show of Hands

Poll Q:

1st commandment. "I am the lord.....You shall have no other Gods before me". Have you broken the 1st commandment?

This user is currently being ignored

Completely agree, ronderman.

I disagree. The commandment doesn't qualify "If you believe, . . ."

You may not recognize the God or the commandment, but you are breaking it.

The same would be true if a deity you recognize (but I don't), made a commandment and I broke it.

I don't believe that. I think religion is a personal experience. The rules only apply to the ones that are part of it.

I totally get that. However, if I don't believe in the speed limit, but I'm driving 90 miles an hour, I'm still breaking the speed limit even if there is no policeman there to see me.

That's all I'm saying. You don't believe, so it's understandable that it doesn't mean anything to you. It shouldn't. That said, God (understandably) isn't the top priority in your life. Therefore, believe in him or not, you break the law.

I do get what you are saying though.

Laws and religious guidelines are different, but I understand what you're saying.

Your first mistake is assuming such a thing is possible.

In my view, that means that you have ALWAYS broken the commandment.

What the commandment means is that God should always be your top priority. Since God has never been your top priority, you have always broken the commandment.

No judgments, just my opinion. For me, it's the hardest of the 10 commandments to keep.

Agreed. Only the most devoted have never broken this commandment.

You worship yourself, probably.

At least I know I'm real and anything I ask of myself, I actually do.

You are likely a slave to your passions. I'd rather serve the Lord.

You can serve whatever unprovable invisible deity you want, I don't care.

... Or your favorite pop singer. Some people worship their money. Others worship their jobs. How about your car, or a fancy sports car that you've got your eye on? This next one could get uncomfortable, so I'll make it a little extreme...we can indeed worship our children: What about a "pageant mom" who spends all her time entering her seven-year-old daughter in beauty pageants and auditioning her for TV commercials, even dressing her up in skimpy adult outfits and heavy makeup?
• i'm sure most people will get the idea by now. We are all guilty, to varying degrees, of violating the First Commandment. And I haven't even said a word about the other nine…
In this Christmas season, let's take a little time to contemplate our relationship with our Creator. When He made us in His Image, all He really wanted was our love and friendship. But that comfortable relationship was broken when Adam and Eve sinned. That's why Jesus had to come as a baby: to restore us to a good relationship (More...)

...with our Creator/Father/God. Of course, the rest of the Story continues with the Crucifixion and Resurrection. But for now, I'll leave you to explore that yourself. Start with the Gospel (means "Good News") of John or Matthew. Have a blesséd Christmas, and/or a Happy Chanukah, my friends. ✟✡

Tom, the word Christ used in Matt 4:10 when He referred to the first commandment was "proskunēseis." It literally means "to come forward (pros) and kiss (kunēo)," which can mean worship, but that word doesn't quite capture that it comes out of a deep sense of adoration and love.
While I agree that people fall short when they put other things before their relationship with God, I think that it's incorrect to say we're worshipping those things, and that severe interpretation leads to scrupulosity. In its original context, and in the context of Christ invoking it in Mt 4, it has to do with literally worshiping false gods. The things you mentioned might be better described as sins of sloth (being too lazy to go to church), greed (over ones own time), or vanity (believing we're good enough without God).

Milk, I can see your points, and appreciate your perspective on this. I agree with your interpretation of the Greek term, too. And who among us wouldn't want to avoid "scrupulosity"? Most people can't even spell it! It'd probably be a good name for a punk band, though. :^D

Sorry Tom but I don't agree.

@tlaney1 this is one of my favorite posts of yours that I've read. This was really inspiring and a great read, especially with Christmas a week away.

Thanks, jr. Have a blesséd Christmas!

bluerum, what is it you don't agree with? I was just doing an analysis of where the words came from.

Like I wrote above, it's about what's in your heart more than your time.
Just because someone chooses to do other things than give their time to God, doesn't mean they are worshipping that other thing.

We all have. I agree Tom.

Blue, I can see that. I was a little strict, considering that the post was available for not just Christians to read. Indeed, what is in your heart is what counts. Merry Christmas, my friend! •<];o)

Thanks, Ron!