Have No Other Gods Before Me

August 13, 2024

00:00 51:59

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Hey there, Salty Saints listeners! This week's episode was a deep dive into the first commandment of the Ten Commandments - "Have no other gods before me." Randy and I explored the concept of idolatry and the different forms it can take in our lives.

We started by discussing how the commandment is not just about literal spiritual beings but also about not granting deity status to anything else in our lives. We delved into the idea that anything we prioritize over our relationship with God can become an idol, whether it's wealth, social media, or even church itself.

We drew parallels between the idols of ancient times, such as Baal and Marduk, and modern-day idols like fame, clout, and material possessions. The episode highlighted the importance of recognizing and guarding ourselves against these idols to ensure that we keep God as the ultimate authority in our lives.

We also touched on the historical context of idol worship in ancient Egypt and how the plagues in Exodus were direct confrontations against the Egyptian gods. This led us to a discussion about the different gods mentioned in the Bible and how they were often challenged and defeated by the one true God.

The episode concluded with a powerful message from the book of 1 John, where John urges his readers to "guard yourself from idols." This reminder serves as a call to action for us to constantly evaluate our priorities and ensure that we are not placing anything above our relationship with God.

Don't forget to visit our website at saltysaintspodcast.com and check out the other great podcasts on Life Audio. Stay tuned for our next episode where we will be exploring the topic of graven images. Until then, stay salty!

00:00:21 - Introduction to Ten Commandment

00:02:44 - Nuances of the First Commandment

00:12:24 - Contest Between Gods

00:23:15 - Context of Idolatry

00:36:07 - Confronting Other Gods

00:47:25 - Modern Idols

00:49:50 - Final Warning Against Idols

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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Meet Your Hosts

Hey, I’m Zack! I’m a pastor at New Hope Church on the south side of Indianapolis, IN. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Biblical Studies. I am currently engaged to my fiancé Abby, and depending on how often these bios get updated, I may be married by the time you’re reading this. I love apologetics, theology, and hearing about people coming to Christ. My goal as a Christian is to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ, to spread the Gospel, and to disciple others to do the same. In all reality, I could go into depth about who I am, but the best way to find that out is to tune into the podcast… like right now… :)

After 43 years of teaching the Bible and practical theology and church planting in Hispanic cultures, I have now been a pastor at New Hope Church since 2017. In that role, I hope to help others understand God’s Word in ways that will change their lives. My wife Linda and I have four adult children and eight grandchildren.