Topical Bible: The Heathen: Degradation of

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The term "heathen" in biblical context often refers to nations or peoples who do not worship the God of Israel and are outside the covenant community. The degradation of the heathen is a theme that appears throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the moral and spiritual decline that occurs when individuals or societies turn away from the knowledge and worship of the one true God.

Idolatry and Its Consequences

One of the primary indicators of the degradation of the heathen is idolatry. The Bible frequently associates the worship of idols with moral corruption and spiritual blindness. In Romans 1:21-23 , the Apostle Paul describes this process: "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

Idolatry leads to a distortion of truth and a departure from God's righteous standards. The worship of created things rather than the Creator results in a society that is given over to various forms of immorality and wickedness. This is further elaborated in Romans 1:24-25 : "Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen."

Moral and Social Decline

The degradation of the heathen is not limited to spiritual idolatry but extends to moral and social decay. The Old Testament prophets often condemned the nations surrounding Israel for their practices, which included violence, injustice, and sexual immorality. In Leviticus 18:24-25 , God warns the Israelites not to follow the detestable practices of the nations: "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

The degradation is seen as a natural consequence of rejecting God's laws and commands. Without the moral compass provided by divine revelation, societies drift into chaos and depravity. The book of Judges provides a vivid illustration of this principle, as "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25), leading to a cycle of sin and judgment.

Spiritual Blindness and Hardness of Heart

Another aspect of the degradation of the heathen is spiritual blindness and hardness of heart. The rejection of God's truth results in a darkening of understanding and an inability to perceive spiritual realities. Ephesians 4:17-18 speaks to this condition: "So I tell you this, and testify to it in the Lord: You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."

This spiritual blindness is both a cause and a consequence of the degradation. It prevents individuals from recognizing their need for repentance and salvation, further entrenching them in their sinful ways.

Divine Judgment and Hope for Redemption

While the degradation of the heathen is a sobering reality, the Bible also holds out hope for redemption. God's judgment on the nations serves as a call to repentance and a demonstration of His righteousness. Acts 17:30-31 declares, "Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead."

The gospel message offers salvation to all, regardless of their past idolatry or moral failures. Through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals from every nation can be reconciled to God and restored to a life of holiness and truth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 25:44
Both your slaves, and your bondmaids, which you shall have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall you buy slaves and bondmaids.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Moses More Ancient and Credible than the Heathen Heroes.
... Chapter XL."Moses More Ancient and Credible Than the Heathen Heroes. ... be noted as
the moral of our author's review, that there is no self-degradation of which ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter xl moses more ancient and.htm

The Christians are not the Only Contemners of the Gods Contempt of ...
... of the Gods Contempt of Them Often Displayed by Heathen Official Persons. ... influential
scruples, which very circumstance indeed tends to the degradation of your ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter x name christians are.htm

Guilt of Neglecting the Heathen.
... the heathen in every species of iniquity, harden their hearts to every deed of cruelty,
sink them to the lowest depths of pollution and degradation, and place ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iii guilt of neglecting.htm

West by Way of the East.
... completes this rapid run around the globe, so far as distinctly heathen lands are ...
in the color of its inhabitants and in its sad destitution and degradation. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/west by way of the.htm

Laymen Called to the Field of Missions.
... so easy to effect a transformation of heathen society, heathen habits, heathen minds,
and heathen character, and to raise them up from a degradation many ages ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter v laymen called to.htm

Christian Stewardship.
... Instead of raising up the heathen from their degradation, he would become
a heathen himself. The descent to heathenism is easy. ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter ii christian stewardship.htm

The Influence of St. Augustin Upon Posterity, and his Relation to ...
... Celibacy was the bridge from the heathen degradation of marriage to the evangelical
Christian exaltation and sanctification of the family life. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter v the influence of st.htm

The Saviour's Last Command.
... not only are ministers needed in propagating the Gospel in destitute places at home,
and in raising up heathen nations from their deep degradation, but there ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iv the saviours last.htm

The Old Faiths and the New
... of the east and west met and clasped hands in the work of human degradation. ... Occasion
and Purpose.+-It was natural that the pressure of heathen customs and ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study viii the old faiths.htm

The Greatest Need.
... All the varying moral conditions of the heathen world, atheism, savagery almost,
crude heathenish superstition, degradation of woman, neglect of children, and ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/the greatest need.htm