One of these things is not like the other...

Today: Deuteronomy 17-20

"Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out," is a quote I remember from somewhere* that ties in to today's passage.

In these verses, Moses is trying to prepare God's people to enter the Promised Land--a land where they will meet and conquer people with different religions. Let's recap what Moses said:

When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you,

don't take on the abominable ways of life of the nations there.

Don't you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire.

Don't practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery,

casting spells, holding séances, or channeling with the dead.

People who do these things are an abomination to God.

It's because of just such abominable practices that God,

your God, is driving these nations out before you.
Be completely loyal to God, your God.

These nations that you're about to run out of the country

consort with sorcerers and witches.

But not you. God, your God, forbids it.

In this passage, Moses instructs the people to be loyal to God--to not take up the religions and wackadoo spirituality (which even included human sacrifice!) of others.

I thought this passage was interesting in light of our current culture. Many people who claim to believe in God also believe in things (psychics, New Age philosophy, nature is God, etc.) that is completely contradictory to this message and other teaching in the Bible.

Perhaps it's because they don't know what the Bible says. Maybe it's because they don't really know much about who God is and His heart for us to love Him exclusively (to be loyal, to not put other gods before Him, to love Him with all our hearts, minds and souls). I believe part of the problem, though, is that many people who claim to love God are too afraid to stand up for Him. They don't want to appear narrow-minded, ignorant or judgmental. But in the process, they water down their core beliefs. They send mixed messages about God and about faith to friends, family members and acquaintances. They become lukewarm and ineffective--it's as if they are dimmer switches carrying the light of God.

Why do we try so hard to fit in when we're born to stand out? Why would we hide the light, the love, the wisdom of knowing and serving God?

Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 21-23