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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Exclusive Worship</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/e/exclusive_worship.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/exodus/20-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/e/exclusive.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Exclusive Worship</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/e/exclusive_trust_in_god.htm" title="Exclusive Trust in God">◄</a> Exclusive Worship <a href="/topical/e/exclusive_worship_and_avoidance_of_idolatry.htm" title="Exclusive Worship and Avoidance of Idolatry">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition:</b> <br>Exclusive worship refers to the devotion and reverence directed solely towards the one true God, as revealed in the Bible. It emphasizes the rejection of idolatry and the worship of any other gods, deities, or spiritual entities. This concept is foundational in the Judeo-Christian tradition, underscoring the belief in monotheism and the unique sovereignty of God.<br><br><b>Biblical Foundation:</b> <br>The principle of exclusive worship is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, beginning with the Ten Commandments. In <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a> , God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..."<br><br>This commandment establishes the expectation of undivided allegiance to God, prohibiting the worship of idols or other gods. The term "jealous" in this context reflects God's desire for an exclusive relationship with His people, akin to the exclusivity expected in a marriage covenant.<br><br><b>Old Testament Context:</b> <br>Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly admonished to maintain exclusive worship of Yahweh. <a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4-5</a> declares, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This passage, known as the Shema, is a central declaration of faith, emphasizing the oneness of God and the call to love Him wholly.<br><br>The prophets frequently confronted Israel's tendency to stray into idolatry. For instance, Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) serves as a dramatic call back to exclusive worship of the LORD. Elijah's question, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him" (<a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a>), underscores the necessity of choosing whom to serve.<br><br><b>New Testament Affirmation:</b> <br>The New Testament continues to affirm the principle of exclusive worship. Jesus reiterates the greatest commandment in <a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37</a> , saying, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’" This commandment encapsulates the essence of exclusive worship, calling for total devotion to God.<br><br>The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of idolatry in his letters. In <a href="/1_corinthians/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14</a> , he advises, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." Paul warns against the spiritual dangers of idolatry and encourages believers to remain faithful to God alone.<br><br><b>Theological Implications:</b> <br>Exclusive worship is not merely a prohibition against idol worship but a call to recognize and honor the unique nature of God. It involves acknowledging His attributes, such as His holiness, sovereignty, and love. Exclusive worship requires believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else, influencing their values, decisions, and lifestyle.<br><br><b>Practical Application:</b> <br>In contemporary Christian practice, exclusive worship manifests in various ways, including personal devotion, corporate worship, and ethical living. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism, power, or self-centeredness, and to realign their hearts towards God.<br><br>Exclusive worship also involves a commitment to the truth of Scripture and the rejection of syncretism, where elements of other religions or philosophies are blended with Christian faith. This commitment is reflected in the church's teaching, worship practices, and community life, aiming to glorify God alone.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/e/exclusive.htm">Exclusive</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/divination.htm">Divination (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/poetry.htm">Poetry</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/captain.htm">Captain (167 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul (207 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rome.htm">Rome (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/laodiceans.htm">Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/epistles.htm">Epistles (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/proper.htm">Proper (62 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