Learning The Ways of The Heathen
May 22, 2019 18:55:05 GMT -5
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Post by John on May 22, 2019 18:55:05 GMT -5
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. Psalm 106:34-40
Some people have a hard time understanding why God would order the children of Israel to destroy all the people of the land of Canaan when they went in to possess it. Why not let them dwell with Israel, and either make bondservants of them or put them to tribute, or just give them a place in the land? Why the need to utterly destroy them? History shows us what happens because they did not fully obey the Lord in carrying out his orders.
The people of the land had an influence on Israel. The children of Israel took notice of how those people worshipped their idol gods, and many became converts to their religious observances. This is just going to happen, as it does in America. We are a country filled with religious diversity, and many people turn to idol worship. Things got so bad in Israel's worship to idol gods, that they began sacrificing their own children to them. In Christianity, Jesus was the one time sacrifice for our sins, and under Judaism, animals were sacrificed to atone for sin. In many heathen cultures, it required the blood of human beings to be shed to get favor or appease their false gods.
There is no way for us to separate from all influences of false religions when we are in a nation promoting that we COEXIST. One of the things in our Constitution is the right to freedom of religion, and that has been interpreted to mean all religions, including worship of idols, witchcraft and even Satanism. What we must be careful of is not to learn their ways. We should not let their religious observances become mingled with ours, and we certainly should have no respect for their devotions to idols. I am not suggesting we become lawless and seek to rid the land of idols through violence or anything like that, but that we must be a separate people, so that when the judgement comes down, we will not come under it. The result of the children of Israel turning to idols was that God gave them over to the hand of the heathen and let them rule over Israel. Their enemies oppressed them and made slaves out of them.
It is hard to know how many ways we have been influenced subtly by false religions. I know that the heathen culture has had a negative effect on the Christian Church world. We have been discussing the high divorce rate. We know that Christians don't see fornication as any big deal while dating. We know that Christians have been sucked into the tattoo craze, and have learned to dress like the heathen and follow the influences of the culture with regard to family life, and look where that has gotten us. Cult practices have even come into the church. We need to carefully examine how the culture around us has influenced us in negative ways so we can move away from it and back towards God. I mentioned a few things I have noticed that have crept into the church. Can you think of others?
Some people have a hard time understanding why God would order the children of Israel to destroy all the people of the land of Canaan when they went in to possess it. Why not let them dwell with Israel, and either make bondservants of them or put them to tribute, or just give them a place in the land? Why the need to utterly destroy them? History shows us what happens because they did not fully obey the Lord in carrying out his orders.
The people of the land had an influence on Israel. The children of Israel took notice of how those people worshipped their idol gods, and many became converts to their religious observances. This is just going to happen, as it does in America. We are a country filled with religious diversity, and many people turn to idol worship. Things got so bad in Israel's worship to idol gods, that they began sacrificing their own children to them. In Christianity, Jesus was the one time sacrifice for our sins, and under Judaism, animals were sacrificed to atone for sin. In many heathen cultures, it required the blood of human beings to be shed to get favor or appease their false gods.
There is no way for us to separate from all influences of false religions when we are in a nation promoting that we COEXIST. One of the things in our Constitution is the right to freedom of religion, and that has been interpreted to mean all religions, including worship of idols, witchcraft and even Satanism. What we must be careful of is not to learn their ways. We should not let their religious observances become mingled with ours, and we certainly should have no respect for their devotions to idols. I am not suggesting we become lawless and seek to rid the land of idols through violence or anything like that, but that we must be a separate people, so that when the judgement comes down, we will not come under it. The result of the children of Israel turning to idols was that God gave them over to the hand of the heathen and let them rule over Israel. Their enemies oppressed them and made slaves out of them.
It is hard to know how many ways we have been influenced subtly by false religions. I know that the heathen culture has had a negative effect on the Christian Church world. We have been discussing the high divorce rate. We know that Christians don't see fornication as any big deal while dating. We know that Christians have been sucked into the tattoo craze, and have learned to dress like the heathen and follow the influences of the culture with regard to family life, and look where that has gotten us. Cult practices have even come into the church. We need to carefully examine how the culture around us has influenced us in negative ways so we can move away from it and back towards God. I mentioned a few things I have noticed that have crept into the church. Can you think of others?