Why does God demand our worship?

[B]

Surely an infinite being, who simply, by definition, cannot have any wants of need, want our worship?
''Thou shall have no other Gods before me, for I am jealous God''
What is that about? Firstly, God acknowedges the existence of other Gods, but demands that he is put first.
Sounds to me like something a human would write . . . .

 

[Quath]

Originally the Hebrews were polytheistic. It wasn't until a Yahweh priest "found" a scroll in a temple that had been hidden for 200 years that the Hebrews converted to monotheism. So the other gods that the Hebrews had to deal with were Ba'al and El.

However, there are many other gods mentioned. I found this website that lists them (http://www.holysmoke.org/hs00/bible2.htm):

   Adrammelech     II Kings 17:31   Sepharvite God.
   Anammelech      II Kings 17:31   Sepharvite God.
   Ashima          II Kings 17:30   Samaritan Moon Goddess.
   Ashtoreth       I Kings 11:05    Canaanite Goddess.
   Baal            I Kings 18:19    Canaanite God ("Lord") of
                                      fertility, vegitation, and storms.
   Baal-berith     Judges 8:33      A regional variation/aspect of Baal.
   Baal-peor       Numbers 25:03    Moabite regional variation/aspect of
                                      Baal.
   Baal-zebub      Luke 11:19       Philistine/Ekronian regional
                                      variation/aspect of Baal.
   Baalim          I Kings 18:18    Canaanite Gods ("Lords"), a
                                      collective of the different
                                      aspects of Baa.
   Bel             Isiah 46:01      Assyrian/Babylonian/Sumerian God
                                      ("Lord").
   Chemosh         I Kings 11:07    Moabite war God.
   Dagon           I Samuel 05:02   Philistine/Ekronian/Babylonian God
                                      of agriculture.
   Diana of the
     Ephesians     Acts 19:35       Ephesian moon and nature Goddess,
                                      ("Divine/Brilliant").
   Jehovah         Exodus 6:03      Hebrew God
   Jupiter         Acts 14:12       Roman God (possibly derived from
                                      'Zeus-pater', Father Zeus).
   Lucifer         Isiah 14:12      ("Light-Bearer")
   Mercurius       Acts 14:12       Otherwise known as the Roman God
                                      Mercury, God of communication and
                                      travel, and messenger of the
                                      Gods...which is probably why Paul
                                      was called this at Lystra.
   Milcom          I Kings 11:05    Ammonite God
   Molech          I Kings 11:07    Ammonite God, also called Moloch,
                                      most probably Baal-Hammon of
                                      Carthage.
   Nebo            Isiah 46:01      Assyrian/Babylonian/Chaldean God of
                                      wisdom and writing, also called
                                      Nabu.
   Nergal          II Kings 17:30   Cuth/Assyrian/Babylonian war and
                                      underworld God, also called
                                      Meshlamthea.
   Nibhaz          II Kings 17:31   Avites God
   Nisroch         II Kings 19:37   Assyrian God
   Rimmon          II Kings 05:18   Babylonian/Syrian storm God
                                      involved (as Ramman) with the
                                      Deluge, according to Hebrew texts;
                                      also known as Ramman/Rammon.
   Succoth-benoth   II Kings 17:30  Babylonian fertility Goddess ("She
                                      Who Produces Seed"), also known as
                                      Zarpanitu/Zerpanitum.
   Tammuz          Ezekial 8:14     Assyrian/Babylonian God
   Tartak          II Kings 17:31   Avites God

Quath

 

[B]

Thanks! I guess all theists are atheists in the sense that they don't believe in any God but theirs.

Crazy.

 

[Henry]

The poll questoin is sort of silly, it shows that the person asking does not understand what it means when the Lord says he is a jelous God.

But hey what do we expect.

 

[B]

Would you like to elaborate on that? It seems pretty clear to me.

 

[evanman]

The original question was badly worded.

Of Who is God jealous?

These other Gods are not "Who" but "What". the gods of the nations are nothing more than idols, the creation of men. Why wouldn't God be jealous over that! Imagine a wife who's husband preferred a dummy, or a husband who's wife preferred a statue!

 

[B]

These other Gods are not "Who" but "What". the gods of the nations are nothing more than idols, the creation of men. Why wouldn't God be jealous over that

How can an infinite God be jealous? He has everything. He lacks nothing. But you have said yourself he would be jealous of an idol.
Interestingly, you write off all other Gods as ''the creation of men''. Why? They all had prophets, they all have creation myths, they were all created to provide comforting answers.

 

[evanman]

Ps 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

If you want love from your children and they prefer a wooden statue of a bull, elephant or dead human, you would be upset.

 

[B]

If you want love

How can your god 'want' anything? You say he is infinite! By definition, he simply cannot have any needs or wants! If he does, he is incomplete, lacking.

 

[Henry]

B

Would you like to elaborate on that? It seems pretty clear to me.

You clearly have not understanding of what is meant when it is said that God is a jelous God. And it is not really worth the time to answer questions based on misunderstandings, and I do not think you are willing to learn. Or perhaps even able.

You are merely making one arguement after another based on your misunderstanding and I feel really sorry for you, and all like you. So sad.

 

[B]

What a cop-out. :roll:

The bible clearly states that God wants our love, and in fact demands it. Not the actions of an infinite being.

 

[Featherbop]

Those..are...very..poor...poll choices....

Is this a joke?

And where is all this "God can't want love because He is infinite." stuff coming from? Make a real arguement, don't whine about something you claim not to beleive in B.

Oh, and change the poll, it's a joke.

 

[B]

Those..are...very..poor...poll choices....

Is this a joke?

Hell no. God says that he is a jealous god and therefore no gods are top be put before him.

Now, modern christian doctrine teaches that there is only one god. But when the bible was written, people believed in dozens. Hundreds even.
God does not say, 'do not put a statue before me.' He specifies OTHER GODS. Much the same as an early writer would have written.

And where is all this "God can't want love because He is infinite." stuff coming from? Make a real arguement, don't whine about something you claim not to beleive in B.

Would you care to elaborate yourself? He was wants. Yet he can want nothing. He can be no less than perfect. Yet when things don't go his way he stamps his feet and has a temper tantrum, and wipes out thousands (or millions) of people.

'Loving' indeed.

 

[Free]

B,

God does not necessarily demand worship. Just the fact that he is God, the Creator, commands worship. We worship him because of who he is, not because he tells us to.

 

[B]

We worship him because of who he is, not because he tells us to.

But he does tell us to.

 

[evanman]

God has to tell us! We need to be reminded.

We are all like a bunch of sheep that have gone astray and wandered off!

 

[Shana]

Let's not forget, that we are only here because God has created us and yes, as Creator, He is to be recognized and glorified for this. All originate from Him and were created for Him. This isn't a selfish love because as agape love, God is doing what is best for mankind. I believe that God in His mysterious ways, works to bring about this realization in man, not because He Himself needs this, but He does this for our own good and development. In his lost state, man doesn't realize the futility of a life which is out of step with its Creator. Man cannot truly be free or happy until he realizes that God must be the center of His life. There can be no other gods before the One and Only True God and until man realizes this, he will continue to fall short of what he was created to be. God bless.