These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle. These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods. [Judges 3.1-6]
Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading is just a bit depressing because it seems Israel would not stay true to God. By "true to God" I mean, stay away from idolatry. The reason this all happened is because Israel, instead of maintaining a distinction between themselves and the Canaanites, blended in with them. Instead of driving the Canaanites out as God had originally commanded, Israel first became content to live among them (failing God's test) and from there, eventually blended in with them through marriage. Their "blending in" is where Israel became spiritually diluted as they began to worship the gods of those they blended in with.
The second half of Judges 2.19 says:
They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. [Judges 2.19b]
Is it a coincidence that Jesus mentioned the "ways" of man?
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
The evil practices and stubborn ways of man can be summed up as idolatry. The entire Bible bears this out. Israel, of the Old Testament, foreshadows the Church of the New Testament. We just read a few days ago what was said about Israel of the Old Testament that also describes us today:
You must recognize that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people. [Deuteronomy 9.6]
How did we ever get to the point that the evil practices and stubborn ways of man today are NOT idolatry? And, how can we let ourselves "off the hook" regarding this same indictment of idolatry when Jesus said you must give up your own way?
Instead of making a distinction between ourselves and the world, the Church today has the completely unscriptural idea that "we are in the world but not of the world" means that it is okay for us to blend in with the world and its ways but, as long as we 'say' "we are in Christ and therefore not of the world" - that all is well. Therefore, for provision, protection, health and convenience we dilute our faith in God alone with the man-made idols of the world: debt, insurance, medicine and technology, never minding one bit that Jesus called us to miraculous distinction in all these areas not only by His words but by His example.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
In the meantime, my church and others like it keep preaching "faith" and, in contrast, others keep preaching "it has all passed away" while neither group questions why their congregations are ultimately the same regarding the miraculous distinction Jesus called all His followers to. Both groups are preaching their version of "Jesus" but neither are preaching Jesus of the WHOLE BIBLE.
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]
There is a reason the alleged Church today effectively denies the power of God by their own powerlessness (regardless what they say). It is the same evil practices and stubborn ways of ancient Israel, rebelling against God's well-documented demand to trust Him alone, refusing to "give up your own way" of idolatry to the man-made gods of the world: debt, insurance, medicine and technology.
Is it any wonder then that the apostle Paul would warn Timothy to avoid dilution with (to stay away from) such indistinction just like God warned Israel not to comingle with Canaan?
You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [2 Timothy 3.1-5]
Although the Word is clear on this subject, religion will argue vehemently otherwise. Lifeless religion will stubbornly defend its doctrines and tenets just as Adam and Eve defended their right to eat the forbidden fruit, having fallen victim to the original deceptive strategy of Satan who still questions today, "Has God really said...?"
There is great need in all the Church today for repentance. The Church does not look like Jesus (according to His terms in John 14.12), but each church looks like its own religious version of Jesus. Repentance does not mean to be sorry, but to change course. Repentance means to distinctly turn away from idols (and everything involved with them) and distinctly turn to God alone. Repentance is precisely what Jesus described when He said, "give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me."
Likewise, there is great need in all the Church today for faith. This is also precisely what Jesus described when He said, "give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me." The faith He calls us to is not abstract religious faith, but faith that actually moves mountains - faith that actually mirrors Him, Jesus - faith that refuses the remedy of idols (man's way) even if it ends in death - faith that embraces the second half of Hebrews 11.32-40 just as much as it embraces the first half:
How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. [Hebrews 11.32-40]
The message of repentance and faith did not start with "give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me." This was Jesus' message from the beginning of His ministry:
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.9-15]
Man's sin is and has always been, idolatry. It started with idolatry to "self," evolving to idolatry to man-made trinkets and images, and has advanced to complex man-made systems and industries today: debt, insurance, medicine and technology. The focus of idolatry has not changed however - the focus of idolatry is "any and everything but God."
God demands distinction in His people because He is distinctly God. To incorporate the gods of debt, insurance, medicine and technology into our faith in God violates the 1st Commandment (no other god but God). It flagrantly provokes God's jealousy (the 2nd Commandment) and furthermore blasphemes God's name by grouping Him with idols, thus violating the 3rd Commandment (by saying "God uses...[insert the idol here]").
I am willing to sound like a broken record on the topic of idolatry because the Bible sounds like a broken record on the topic of idolatry. Until we are willing to admit our dilution with evil practices and stubborn ways (idolatry), nothing will change in the alleged Church today - we will remain highly divided by denomination (including non-denomination - even though we are all the same in our powerless effect), we will remain indistinguishable from the world, and, we will remain that which should be avoided by anyone genuinely seeking first the Kingdom of God.
This is an indictment upon established religion today and is not going away because the Bible is not going away! I and my words will die, but God's Word will not. Mankind will not be judged by my words, but by the words of Jesus:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
There is indeed a reason if God and His distinguishing power feel distant. What we hold to that is not God alone is dilution that holds us away from God, indistinguishable from the world.
Father in heaven, Your Word casts overwhelming, undeniable light upon man's sin of idolatry. And yet, if we do not know Your Word, we cannot see idolatry. Our ignorance of Your Word is blindness by choice. May Your Word be seen in this article, not mine. And, as Your Word sheds light upon our idolatry, may we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus - because Jesus is Your Word. So be it.
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