Topical Bible: The Heathen: Cautions Against Imitating

◄ The Heathen: Cautions Against Imitating ►

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The term "heathen" in biblical context often refers to nations or individuals who do not worship the God of Israel and are outside the covenant community. Throughout Scripture, the people of God are repeatedly cautioned against adopting the practices, beliefs, and customs of these heathen nations. This caution is rooted in the desire to maintain purity of worship and obedience to God's commandments.

Old Testament Warnings

The Old Testament contains numerous admonitions against imitating the heathen. In Leviticus 18:3, the Israelites are instructed, "You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs." This command underscores the importance of distinguishing the people of God from surrounding nations through adherence to God's laws.

Deuteronomy 12:30-31 further warns, "Be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, 'How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.' You must not worship the LORD your God in their way." Here, the emphasis is on avoiding the syncretism that could arise from adopting pagan worship practices.

Prophetic Admonitions

The prophets also echo these warnings. Jeremiah 10:2-3 states, "This is what the LORD says: 'Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless.'" The prophet highlights the futility and danger of adopting heathen customs, which are often rooted in idolatry and superstition.

Ezekiel 20:32-33 warns against the desire to be like other nations, saying, "You say, 'We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen. As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath."

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the call to avoid heathen practices is reiterated in the context of the early church's interaction with the Gentile world. In 1 Peter 4:3-4, believers are reminded, "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you."

The apostle Paul also addresses this issue in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, urging believers not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers" and to "come out from among them and be separate." This call to separation is not a call to isolation but rather a call to holiness and distinctiveness in conduct and worship.

Theological Implications

The biblical cautions against imitating the heathen underscore the importance of maintaining a distinct identity as the people of God. This distinctiveness is not merely cultural but deeply theological, rooted in the covenant relationship with God. The warnings serve as a reminder of the dangers of idolatry, syncretism, and moral compromise, which can lead to spiritual decline and judgment.

The call to avoid heathen practices is ultimately a call to fidelity to God and His commandments, ensuring that worship remains pure and that the community of faith reflects the holiness and righteousness of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 10:2
Thus said 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 6:7
But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... 4. The first hindrance he cautions us against is judging. ... sinful judging which our
Lord here guards us against; and which ... John 7:51.) Yea, a heathen could reply ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 30 upon our lords.htm

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... here, since, if all proper rules and cautions were not ... hand, it is recommended as
a precaution against the evil ... of contact with Parsee or other heathen elements ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

Homilies on the Gospel of John.
... Concubinage, sanctioned by heathen philosophers, [646]50 ... ib.; examples of, [833]ib.;
a war against Christ, [834 ... Following of Christ, lies in imitating His actions ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the gospel of.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... Three cautions. ... way, Jeremiah says, "O Lord, though our iniquities testify against
us, do ... For we must beware of imitating foolish patients who, anxious only ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

The Greatness of the Soul,
... Heathen philosophers, at the head of whose formidable array ... of this man's sword is
turned against his own ... God, and of the seasonableness of the cautions and of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the greatness of the soul.htm