The Way of the Heathen

I'm always astounded! Benjamin (aka “Coach”) on the hit show “Survivor” is an eclectic assimilation of Christianity, Paganism, and Hinduism. Likewise, I'm amazed at those folks on another television program: “Dog the Bounty Hunter” and family. At one moment they're praying for God's guidance and safety, then the next are using the most vulgar of words. In everyday life I see Christians who mix the practice of yoga and astrology with Christianity. Can paganism and religions which have other God's coexist in a Christians life? We'll see!
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Jeremiah (KJV) 10:2 “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”
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“Learn not the way of the heathen”! First, we need to look at what a heathen is then get a glimpse of their way. A heathen is simply a person who doesn't acknowledge and worship the One True God, the JHWH of Judaism. Pagans then are Druids, Wiccans, Voodoo, atheists, animists, astrologists, humanists, Deists, gnostics, agnostics, Vedics, the Hindu, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, the Baha'i', Universalism, Unitarians, Theosophists, Swedenborgs, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Moslems, and many many others of lesser notoriety.
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Secondly, what is the way of the heathen? They all have one thing in common: they don't worship the One True God. While the heathen may may mention and teach of Jehovah, God, Jesus, the Christ, Our Savior, etc. those entities are not the orthodox definition of what Judeo-Christians believe. They are spirits masquerading as the One True God.
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If you look at what the heathen do, they break God''s law. The Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) are a summary of the standards which God set for his creation. The heathen have no qualms about violating God's standards, but generally by doing so, fail to submit to his dominion.
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Exodus (KJV) 20:1 “And God spake all these words, saying, 2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. “
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In actual practice heathens are guilty of violating the First Commandment and since they don't hold God in high esteem, the other commandments are of little significance. If I don't worship the One True God (Commandment One) why would I bother with: blasphemy, not honoring His day, failure to honor parents, killing, adultery, stealing, lying, and jealousy? In our failure of even making a half-way attempt of keeping Commandments two through ten, we are violating Commandment one. Now you can see why if we're in violation of one tenet of the law we're guilty of breaking them all because they all go back to the question “Am I worshiping the One True God”.
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Look at some of pagan activities (and I am mentioning many of what we consider the “insignificant”):
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Sun worship – following the stars- worshiping an unknown God - disrespect of God's creation – building altars in high places – love of money - love of the things of the world – sacrificing your children (abortion) – body mutilation – tattoos – prostitution, homosexuality & fornication (all pagan religious practices) – bestiality – unclean activities - masturbation - lust – adultery – abusing your children – disrespect for the elderly (euthanasia) – incest – vulgarity – vanity – using God's name as an exclamation (OMG) – idolization of entertainers - cursing – filthy talk – immoral entertainment - usury – hate – persecution (of Jews and Christians is in vogue) – propaganda (lies) – immodesty (clothes and actions) – drunkenness (drugs included) – pagan religious activities (Yoga, meditation, martial arts and such), faith in man over God – psychology (self-help rather than dependence on God) – obesity (lust of food) – materialism – ungodly political ideologies, use of icons in worship, faith in Mary and the Saints, monetary payment for sins (penitence) – not praying - repetitive prayers – salvation through doing good – reincarnation – denial of the resurrection – denial of the virgin birth – denial of the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus – denial of the divine inspiration ot scripture – adding to scripture – taking away from scripture – not reading scripture- rejection of the trinity – anti-dualism (denial of good and evil) – claim that God can be found within – self-aggrandizement – pleasure over worship (partying) - lack of biblical wisdom – receptive of false knowledge (science over Bible) and on and on! All these things dishonor God and are sins!
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Yes, we all “sin and come short of the glory of God”! Christians repent of their sins. Those in rebellion hang onto their own personal sins until they've created a new Christianity... a Christianity where personal desire is more important than submission to our savior. Just because that sin is ours doesn't make it right! Those rebellious Christians who refuse to change are just like the pagans! They will share the same eternal home, and will hate each other there. Children will say to the old “Why didn't you warn me?” The old will say to the young “Why did you follow me to destruction?” You can't blame someone else in heaven. “Blame of others” is currently in vogue. The One True God says “Only you can prevent hellish fires!” God just won't accept anything less than total submission to His authority on the part of each individual. Your Dad can't do it for you and neither can your spouse!
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Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
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Yes, it is the denial of yourself (your lifestyle), not the denial of the things of God (His laws and grace), 'the grace' which will save you and the obedience in its assurance! Don't be a heathen. Don't do as the pagans do. You dishonor the God who created you and the same one who died on the cross for you. Yes, you need to change!