Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Exclusive Policy

Worshiping like other nations is not in God's policy. As he set the laws for His new nation of 600,000 men, He made it very simple and explicit what He did not want. “You shall NOT do what is done in the land of Egypt... nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan... you shall NOT walk in their statutes.” (Leviticus 18:3). The same directive was repeated in Leviticus 18:24 and 20:23

God discards the assumption that what everyone else does is ok. He perceives the impact of imported opinions on His people. He knew they would do what others do, and that was sinful in His eyes. They were to have nothing to do with idols (Lev 19:4). No child was to be offered to Molech, a Canaanite god (Lev 20:2). Mediums or spiritists were off-limits. 'Cussing out' your mom or dad would result in death. Adultery, in any combination, was not acceptable.

Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.” Leviticus 20:23.



Living according to His judgments is His policy. “You are to perform My judgments and keep My statues, to live in accord with them.” (Leviticus 18:4). Personal chasteness was presumed. Homosexuality was forbidden. Reverence for parents was required ( LINK 29:3). Corners of the fields, and some grapes, were left unharvested for the poor and widows. Neighbors were not oppressed. Workers were paid promptly every evening. Cursing the deaf and tripping the blind was irreverent to God.Impartial justice was imperative. Gentle correction of your neighbor was condoned. Loving your neighbor was legal. Pimpingyour daughter was punishable. Respecting the gray-haired and aged was required. Legal aliens were kindly treated. Preserving fair trade practices was expected.


You are therefore to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them,...” (Leviticus 20:22)

Tolerance, acceptance, or worship for any god or version of God, other than the one stated in the Bible, is not in God's worship policy. “The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 7:25). And, “...I will not give glory to another, Nor my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)

Reverence for these gods (with a little “g”) was rejected.
  • Ashtaroth, a goddess of the Phoenicians.
  • Baal, a god of Phoenicia and Canaanite tribes.
  • Baal-Peor, a god of the Moabites.
  • Chemish, another god of the Moabites.
  • Dagon, a god of the Philistines.
  • Artemis / Diana, a goddess of the Ephesians
  • Molech / Sikkuth, an Ammonite god.

Among His people he condemned the:
  • Golden calf of Aaron.
  • Golden calves of Jeroboam.
  • Any heavenly body.
  • Any household idol.
  • People worshiping.
  • Demon worship.

So, does this mean God rejects Islam? Hindi? Buddha? What about religions that combine the best of each? Will God accept worship from 'Christian' religions that reject parts of His Bible, or add their own spin to sections?

Many years later God punished His people, the Jews, because they continued to not follow His policies. He allowed an evil nation, Babylon, to conquer them and enslave them for 70 years. In about A.D. 70, God completely did away with the Jewish religion. 

So what does He do now?

Conversion is His policy. He still rejects the worship of all gods, or modifying of His plans. Instead of terminating their offensive worship through genocide, He converts them to His policies. His Apostle Paul spoke to worshipers of the “unknown God. He proclaimed the God of creation. He implored them to “grope” for God. He cautioned them to not think of God as gold, silver or stone formed by man's hands. He forcefully concluded, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness...” (Acts 17:30-31a)

His policy is exclusive. “I am the Lord YOUR God.” Leviticus 18:2

1 comment:

  1. Interesting concept, that conversion to Christ is the politics we should be following. If we converted the abortionists to Jesus, the gays to Jesus, the Supreme Court to Jesus....etc. etc. wouldn't this be a great world? Oh yes, and the murderers, the liars, the adulterers, the materialistic idol worshippers. Sounds like that might be more effective that "the votes."

    ReplyDelete

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