Miscellaneous: “Ron Young Was Right” - Ben

Let me begin by first saying, Ron Young, you were right.  

After I released my initial post on the first commandment in our Ten Commandments for the Modern World series, it was clear that I didn't give the first principle in the Decalogue enough attention. As Ron later pointed out, I basically lumped one and two together. This made his job significantly more difficult as he had the unenviable task of following my post. In fact, in a conversation about this very thing, he insisted that there must be a difference between the first two commandments. This, of course, is true. Hence, my introductory line, "Ron Young, you were right." (I only repeat it here because I know it makes him happy to read those words. He is hardly ever right.)

In my defense, I never doubted that there was a difference. But it is clear from my writing that I dealt far more with how the first few commandments are linked than what I should've done, which was to speak about how they differ. To be perfectly blunt, I said nothing about what makes the first commandment special. And I hope this post will help amend my mistake. Therefore, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to take another crack at the First Commandment. There's so much I failed to tell you. 

Pause for dramatic effect.

A committee did not create the Ten Commandments. They were, quite literally, given to us by the voice of God (cf. Ex. 20:18-19). They are not the sloppy byproduct of some internet poll but are timeless concepts forged within a divine mind. Therefore, since these ideas come from outside human reasoning, the Decalogue (i.e., the "Ten Words") and all other truths within Scripture embody objective truth. Who better to teach us how we ought to live than a being whose judgment is not clouded by shifting opinions, influenced by fluctuating emotions, or pressured by changing circumstances? And the first word upon which all the other divine words stand is this: have no other gods but God.

And why does God begin his commandments this way? Because human beings love to have anything and everything for a god except God. For instance, most polytheistic religions base many of their deities on something in nature. In Norse mythology, Thor was the god of thunder. The Egyptians had Ra as their god for the sun. And the Babylonians said that a goddess named "Tiamat" controlled the sea. Powers like an angry storm, the hot sun, and the vast sea were so impressive that primitive cultures thought they must be divine. 

Now, if we're not careful, we might think that this was a problem for our unenlightened ancestors and that this is no longer relevant in the modern age. But that assumption is wrong. Like those who came before us, we have multiple gods vying for our allegiance today. 

Atheists, for instance, claim to stand on the hallowed grounds of science while bemoaning any and all expressions of religion. They seem not to realize that they are every bit the religious fanatics they so readily mock. The scientific method might as well be called an apostolic creed, for it has converted many. And what a shame since it was first pioneered by men of faith who sought to better understand their Creator rather than disprove him (Francis Bacon was a Christian).  

Or take, for example, those who bend the knee to philosophy. Both ancient and modern Philosophers propose the pathway to objective truth is forged within the crucible of logic. Truth, they claim, is not given but reasoned. And only through careful argumentation can one's mind be genuinely free. But in their pursuit of a world dictated by thought, these deep-thinkers have inadvertently made thought itself their god. 

You see, gods come in all different shapes and sizes, each with its own unique name. They can be anthropomorphic like Thor, Ra, and Tiamat, or they can be physical like science or even metaphysical like philosophy. Whether it's this god here or that god there, all human beings serve some sort of deity. Call it what you will; everyone is religious. And remarkably, in this cacophony of noisy gods, a solitary Being says without apology, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Ex.‬ ‭20:3‬). This is not only the first commandment, it is the first thought of Scripture (cf. Gen 1:1), and it is also the one principle we seem hellbent on disavowing (cf. Gen 3:5). But however much we try to have other gods, the one true God will not relinquish his title. ‬‬‬‬

Yahweh brooks no rival.

And the Lord does not share his glory with anyone for two important reasons: he is our God, and we are his people. Right before he gives the first word in the Decalogue, Yahweh says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." The Lord does not say he is the Egyptian's God, but he said to the Israelites, "I am the Lord your God." The Egyptians were known for their 1,400 different gods. But Israel would be known for its worship of only one God (cf. Ex. 19:4-6). And the Israelites would be God’s because he had emancipated them from Egyptian bondage.  The Israelites were a delivered people who God had redeemed for his purpose. God literally freed them from slavery. Thus, his union with them would be singular, and he expected the same in return. The Lord was Israel's God, and Israel was God's people. 

The point of the first commandment and what makes it distinct from the rest of the commandments is that if there is no other god but God, then we should have no other god but Yahweh. Who else is worthy of our worship? Why would we give anything or anyone who is not a god that sort of devotion that only God deserves? What a waste of worship that would be.