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
