Post by Cindy on Jul 4, 2019 10:02:02 GMT -5
I want to share something I read today that took me by surprise. Here's the passage I was reading: “The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”” (Deuteronomy 12:29–30)
We really need to be careful about the things we look into for any reason. I've heard people say they research occult practices or false teaching so they can preach against them, but here the Lord says that's dangerous. We don't need to know about the false in order to teach the truth., we just need to know the Truth well. When Paul taught the Truth in Acts 17:22–23, he did look at the altars that we all over the city...but then you couldn't have avoided doing that. He did not however, inquire about them to get more information before he began to teach the Truth. Lest someone should say that this is just in the OT, I'll share a similar exhortation that Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1, but will post that at the end. Paul also said: “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Eph. 5:12).
If we think about this for a moment, what was it that led Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? Curiosity! She wanted to know more. Look where that's landed all of us! Because of that our minds and hearts (thoughts and feelings) are corrupted, and we can't, or rather are commanded, not to trust them. Of course, the Israelites wound up doing just what the Lord had warned them not to do, and they continually were disciplined because of idolatry because of it. We tend to think we're safe from idolatry, because most of us at least, wouldn't consider bowing down to a wooden or even a marble statue and worshiping it. But that's not all idolatry is!
Whenever we're putting our trust or our hopes in ourselves, the government, our job, our spouse, or anything or anyone else, that's idolatry.
Whenever we believe something about God that isn't true according to His Word, that's idolatry. (another reason we need to know all of the Bible so we won't be committing idolatry without knowing it!)
Whatever we put before God in our lives is idolatry - so the love of pleasure or belongings, or anything that is our ultimate thing, is idolatry. Think about what you spend the most time thinking about, watching on TV, reading about, etc. If you're doing that about something else more then you are about God, then you're practicing idolatry. This is yet another reason God tells us over and over to guard our minds and hearts, to take care about what we allow ourselves to think about, read, watch, etc.
The problem is that we tend to take on the traits of what we keep in our minds and or hearts. So if we're studying false teachings, even though our plan is to help others avoid it, it will affect us negatively, eventually leading us into sin. So you'll know this isn't just my idea, let me share a small portion of what one commentary says about this:
Once again Moses drove home the need to avoid all contacts with pagan cultic practices. This sin was offensive for two reasons. First, it would come in the wake of the Lord’s grace, that is, after the Lord would cut off the nations before them. In spite of such divine grace simple curiosity can lead believers to be ensnared by idolatrous practices. (“Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.” Deut 7:26) This graphically depicts the depravity of the human heart and the fragile nature of the human will’s commitment to the holy God. No wonder Moses again urged his people to be careful! The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Even the passage they quote has been misunderstood by some and made them think that objects can have some kind of evil influence or power in themselves. But it's not the object, it's what we do when we see them, think about them, etc. That's why we're not to have them, or research them or have anything at all to do with them. God's commandments are always made to protect us, help us, and bless us, not to take away our fun or make us unhappy. Now, here's Paul's similar exhortation to us:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Cor 6:14–7:1)
You may also be interested in:
Christians and Conspiracy Theories
How Should We Live When The Times are Evil
MODERN-DAY IDOLS.
What are your false gods, your idols?
I used to think that I couldn't ever be an Idolater
I used to think that I couldn't ever be an Idolater 2
We really need to be careful about the things we look into for any reason. I've heard people say they research occult practices or false teaching so they can preach against them, but here the Lord says that's dangerous. We don't need to know about the false in order to teach the truth., we just need to know the Truth well. When Paul taught the Truth in Acts 17:22–23, he did look at the altars that we all over the city...but then you couldn't have avoided doing that. He did not however, inquire about them to get more information before he began to teach the Truth. Lest someone should say that this is just in the OT, I'll share a similar exhortation that Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1, but will post that at the end. Paul also said: “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret” (Eph. 5:12).
If we think about this for a moment, what was it that led Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? Curiosity! She wanted to know more. Look where that's landed all of us! Because of that our minds and hearts (thoughts and feelings) are corrupted, and we can't, or rather are commanded, not to trust them. Of course, the Israelites wound up doing just what the Lord had warned them not to do, and they continually were disciplined because of idolatry because of it. We tend to think we're safe from idolatry, because most of us at least, wouldn't consider bowing down to a wooden or even a marble statue and worshiping it. But that's not all idolatry is!
Whenever we're putting our trust or our hopes in ourselves, the government, our job, our spouse, or anything or anyone else, that's idolatry.
Whenever we believe something about God that isn't true according to His Word, that's idolatry. (another reason we need to know all of the Bible so we won't be committing idolatry without knowing it!)
Whatever we put before God in our lives is idolatry - so the love of pleasure or belongings, or anything that is our ultimate thing, is idolatry. Think about what you spend the most time thinking about, watching on TV, reading about, etc. If you're doing that about something else more then you are about God, then you're practicing idolatry. This is yet another reason God tells us over and over to guard our minds and hearts, to take care about what we allow ourselves to think about, read, watch, etc.
The problem is that we tend to take on the traits of what we keep in our minds and or hearts. So if we're studying false teachings, even though our plan is to help others avoid it, it will affect us negatively, eventually leading us into sin. So you'll know this isn't just my idea, let me share a small portion of what one commentary says about this:
Once again Moses drove home the need to avoid all contacts with pagan cultic practices. This sin was offensive for two reasons. First, it would come in the wake of the Lord’s grace, that is, after the Lord would cut off the nations before them. In spite of such divine grace simple curiosity can lead believers to be ensnared by idolatrous practices. (“Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.” Deut 7:26) This graphically depicts the depravity of the human heart and the fragile nature of the human will’s commitment to the holy God. No wonder Moses again urged his people to be careful! The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Even the passage they quote has been misunderstood by some and made them think that objects can have some kind of evil influence or power in themselves. But it's not the object, it's what we do when we see them, think about them, etc. That's why we're not to have them, or research them or have anything at all to do with them. God's commandments are always made to protect us, help us, and bless us, not to take away our fun or make us unhappy. Now, here's Paul's similar exhortation to us:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Cor 6:14–7:1)
You may also be interested in:
Christians and Conspiracy Theories
How Should We Live When The Times are Evil
MODERN-DAY IDOLS.
What are your false gods, your idols?
I used to think that I couldn't ever be an Idolater
I used to think that I couldn't ever be an Idolater 2
!!
