PEDOPHILIA certainly crosses borders and tests (moral) limits—the result of the “sexual revolution.” Since the 1960s, America’s morality has been in a state of RAPID DECLINE. Traditional family values are not valued anymore. America knew better than many pagan nations of the past. National sins of every kind have grown to maturity.
In 1964, the Kinsey Institute launched the Sexuality Information and Education Council for the US (SIECUS, the US stands for United States). The Playboy Foundation made the initial grant to get it off and running.
“In 1991 SIECUS issued guidelines for sexuality education that were aimed at institutionalizing Kinseyan sexuality nationwide,” writes Judith Reisman (The Kinsey Corruption, p. 65). The SIECUS guidelines suggest that teens should be encouraged to explore the FULL RANGE of sexual behaviors.
In 1992, SIECUS printed a “Talk about Sex” pamphlet, which urged children NOT to reject the sexually exploitive media that surrounds them, but to use it as a sexual aid.
Even before these sex perverts got into the schools, certain media outlets tried to expose this sick and deceitful organization. TIME Magazine attacked SIECUS (1980s) twice for the way its educators pushed “anything goes” for-and-with-children; incest was one of the sex-sins along with pedophilia.
Kinsey, a committed atheist and pedophile himself was determined to undermine (“overthrow” was in his demented mind all the time) the traditional moral climate of America (which was built upon Biblical/godly principles) and pave the way for the acceptance of ALL sexual perversities. But this would not have been so easy had it not been for the 60s sexual revolution.
You see, when the Christian Church let its guard down, it also began to view paganism/Canaanism more favorably. Today, the Church (for the most part) has crossed boundaries (put there by God’s Word) and has tested limits. She is no better than the great harlot of Rev. 17!
Covert and Deadly
BENEATH THE carefully crafted veneer of respectability, the Church and State covertly works to pervert the people. This is not to say that all within their institutions are corrupt…but there are enough to corrupt! The Roman Catholic Church has been exposed time and time again for having pedophile priests, but no true reform has been launched. The Protestant Church is no better. In spite of the risks involved, the Church/State continue their odious perversions.
Sin and its Punishment
IN PART ONE we looked at Deut. 20:16,17 where the LORD ordered the “UTTER extermination” (Amp. Bible) of the “ites” by Israel. This does not set well with most people, Christian or pagan. Our topic is the “divine genocide” argument: “We don’t hate SIN, so we don’t understand what happened to the Canaanites.” We find statements or questions like “Is Yahweh a Moral Monster?” (Found in Philosophia Christi).
If one reads Leviticus 18, they will see the SINS and the PUNISHMENT put forth by Moses from the LORD. Most of the chapter deals with unlawful sex-sins. Verse 3 says, “You (Israel) shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you.” What was so BAD about Egypt and Canaan? Starting in v. 6, going to 23, it states their sins. Verse 22 plainly tells Israel NOT TO PRACTICE HOMOSEXUALITY (The KJV does not use the right word, which is “male,” it uses “mankind,” which [by Biblical language] includes both man and woman. The correct word is “male,” which could imply having sex with young or very young boys, i.e., pedophilia).
It is asked, “Are Christians bound by what is stated in Lev. 18?” Yes! These laws are eternal, not merely for ancient Israel (The New Testament recognizes these sins, especially homosexuality, incest, and idolatry, etc.). As far as polygamy goes (which was allowed in ancient days when necessary to populate, but it was also abused), the Old Testament and New Testament promote monogamy as God’s best!
Within Leviticus’ sex-sins list is murder: “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass though the fire to Molech…” (v. 21) “a thing of shame” (bosheth in Hebrew). The Canaanites had “fire baptism”—dedication of their children to the idol Molech, and the child sacrifice—literally burning their children to death (see Ezek. 20:26 = a ritual of leaping thru fire; Jer. 7:31 and 19:5 = implying human sacrifice). References to passing children thru fire can also be found in 2 Kgs. 16:3; 17:17; 21:6. Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom was associated with Molech (2 Kgs. 23:10). Who, then, was this king? We know that Solomon set up a shrine near JerUSAlem for Ammonite deity Molech (see 1 Kgs. 11:7). The patron deity of Tyre was called Mekart or “city-King.” We can conclude that even Israel did this “Molech sin.” Some Bible scholars tell us that the treason of Israel lay less in the rank worshiping of heathen gods, than in the offering of heathen worship to the TRUE GOD. At times Israel was so backslid that they did pagan things to God, thinking they were right. Sounds like today’s Churchites.
My Point
MY POINT is that God tells His people, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the (pagan) nations are defiled which I CAST OUT before you.” (Lev. 18:24). God calls the Canaanite sins “abominations.”
The corruption of sexual morals is much more than a number of private and individual offenses against morality; it DEFILES THE LAND (vv. 25, 27, 28). These sex-sins, i.e., Canaanite-sins (American-sins) destroy any nation. In rebellion, Western culture’s embrace of Canaanite-sins inoculate it against the seriousness of that SIN and so render it incapable of responding to Canaanite sin with the APPROPRIATE MORAL OUTRAGE. Where is America’s moral outrage? Only felt by a few (in comparison).
Utterly Destroy!
THESE WORDS send chills down the spines of the liberals—Church and State alike. But if you know WHY God gave such a command, this would not seem harsh and unloving.
We read in Lev. 18:24 where God said, “…for by all these nations I am casting out before you defiled themselves” (RSV), which meant that God held the pagans accountable for their sins, even though they did not have His law—as did Israel. Why? Because God puts into the conscience of every human being the concept of right and wrong (as Romans 1 tells us), therefore it is not God who is at fault, but sinners. Here in Lev. 26:44, we run across the word “utterly”: “And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away (Israel), neither will I abhor them, to destroy them UTTERLY…”
In part one, we looked at the Canaanite hyperbole argument: does God’s Word mean literally, “utterly, absolutely” or only “partially?” We do know that the word “all” can be used in an absolute sense or limited sense, depending on the context of Scripture (I did a study on the word “all,” in times past). But here in Lev. 26:44 the author contrasts the pagans (marked for utter destruction) with Israel—who were not to be “utterly destroyed.”
Numbers 21:2
“AND ISRAEL vowed a vow unto the LORD and said, ‘If thou wilt indeed deliver this people (Canaanites) into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.’” Here cities, not the whole of the people, are referred to.
Professors John Marsh and Albert G. Butzer (exegesis and exposition) write: “The promise to destroy utterly all the cities of the enemy is a promise ‘to devote’ or ‘to put under a ban,’ and so to make taboo all that the enemy possessed. Anything so devoted had to be destroyed.”
They go on to say, “Such a ‘devotion’ to Yahweh appalls us today, but the basic insight on which the false moral conclusion was drawn in v. 12 (if we may so overstate the situations), that whatever resisted God’s will must be entirely done away with, is itself fundamentally sound and fruitful” (The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, 1953, p. 242).
Here we have two Bible professors that are not under the “Politically Correct” delusion; the date—1953, tells us why (I agree with them entirely).
Deut. 2:34; 3:6; 7:2; 20:17
THESE TEXTS mention the word “utterly”: “And we took all the cities of that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain.” Again, this refers to the laws for “Holy War.”
Professors G. Ernest Wright, Henry H. Shires and Pierson Parker (exegesis and exposition) make note of my text, Deut. 2:34: “There was among Semitic peoples a terrible but deeply religious notion of (Hebrew) ‘herem’. This was the ban placed upon all objects owned by an enemy. An object that was herem was forbidden not because it was holy, i.e., devoted to one’s own deity, but because, belonging to the enemy deity, it must be rooted out” (Ibid. P.346).
It goes without saying, WAR under this religious view becomes, if possible, more fierce and fiercely to be waged, hence the ZEAL to DESTROY receives DIVINE sanction.
This spirit of herem is still in the earth. The concept besets the mind of every nation which is at war, that God (or god) must surely be on that nation’s side. Here in America, during the Vietnam Conflict, at the age of 17, I wanted to “join up” (at 17 your parents had to sign for you, which mine did). The appeal to “fight the enemy” was promoted (and continues as I write) by patriotism: “For God and Country.” BUT NEITHER IS TRUE. What? That’s right! These modern wars/conflicts are fought for those in high places, for $$, land expansion, etc. We, the recruits, are really the One World Order DUPES!!!
Have we moderns really got very far from the fundamental herem estimate? But there is a BIG difference between then and now–then God spoke the “Holy War” concept; today greedy psychos provoke it.
Deut 3:6
“AND WE UTTERLY destroyed them…utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.” WE CAN’T CALL THIS HYPERBOLIC!
Deut. 7:2
“AND WHEN the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them…nor show mercy unto them.”
We could rightly use the modern word “intolerant” here. In truth, God is just that—INTOLERANT; but He is justified since He makes the rules for war. ALL (in the absolute/strict sense) that belonged to foreign gods, both people and possessions, were abhorrent to the LORD GOD, and therefore “devoted,” i.e. ‘subject’ to destruction. This action was not mere/sheer bloodthirstiness. It was an act justified by righteousness. This seems repugnant to the liberal mind, but GOD IS NOT GUIDED BY LIBERALITY.
High Moral Code
ISRAEL WAS bound to a high moral code (of conduct). Jesus taught such as well—He wants His people to be clean morally. He added to “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” (Ex. 20:14) with: “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28) But who pays attention to this today?
When the Israelites/Jews obeyed the Holiness Code (it was in operation during Jesus’ day…and even so now!), they prospered and their culture flowed swift and deep—just because it was constricted narrow banks. But when they played the whore, their banks overflowed, causing horrid destruction. Why do you think Jesus spoke of the “straight and narrow” way? To be mean and unloving, or the opposite?
While I have my share of critics for writing the things I write (which are found in Scripture), there is a profound sense in which “GODLY INTOLERANCE” IS NECESSARY. It is necessary NOW!!
Did you Know?
…THAT THERE was a time when many nations stood for righteousness? They may not have been what we would call “Christian,” but they were somewhat moral. They shunned paganism, worldliness, etc. The early 13 colonies were Bible-based and their constitutions were New Testament-oriented, but when the 13 were united, making the “United States,” God, Jesus, and Christianity were mostly abandoned (see my articles on “America: Not a Christian Nation”). But America still had plenty of Bible-believing Christians in her, and still does.
We, as Christ-worshippers, must stand APART from the State and its godlessness. God HAS declared HOLY WAR. We must take sides now. We must not compromise our faith as the Babylon Jesus Church has done. We are in the world but not of the world. Let this ring true in your hearts. We must “love” and also “hate” as God and the Son did and do (search the Scriptures for this gem—if you dare).
If the Church continues to play the whore, making other pagan faiths equal with Biblical Christianity, the result will be a robust amorphous syncretism. We cannot support any social/political/religious structure which enslaves men/women/boys/girls or crushes the freedom “wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1). We must protest/contend against laws/regulations which imperil the sanctity of marriage and child bearing (same-sex marriage and abortion are both BIG abominations!).
To be acceptable unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must be aggressive/militant (spiritually speaking) enough to make an impact in today’s world. We do not need more (effeminate) Joel Osteens or (greedy for $$) Kenneth Copelands, or any other religious hubris. Enough of these perverts! Biblical Christianity must maintain its godly heritage uncompromised and untarnished.
Holy People
MOSES TOLD (ancient) Israel that “thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deut 7:6). Exodus 19:6 reads: “And ye shall be unto Me a Kingdom of priests, and an Holy nation…” This is repeated in 1 Peter 1:15, “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (i.e., lifestyle). In Cpt 2, verse 4-9, we find the words “chosen of God,” “a spiritual house,” “holy priesthood,” “a chosen generation,” “a royal priesthood,” “holy nation,” “a peculiar people,” hence God’s New Israel (replacing racial Israel).
Holy
“HOLY IS used here in a derivative sense. Properly, holiness is a special attribute of God which distinguishes Him as God from everything in creation. However, God chooses to confer holiness on special objects and people who are separated, yet related to Him in a way that others are not. Holiness in this secondary sense is not defined by the word “separation,” though the latter is a characteristic of that which has received holiness. These phrases thus indicate, in the strongest possible way, Israel’s understanding of a special attachment to Yahweh which distinguished her from all others. She understood herself to have been chosen by God, a word commonly used in Deuteronomy and subsequent literature for the divine act of special election. While the word itself was probably not used in this sense before the seventh century, the basic conception was one of the earliest beliefs in Israelite life (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; Num. 23: 19-24; Amos 3:2). The election was God’s act, not Israel’s (cf. John 15:16. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”) Consequently, the reason for it was a secret of God which Israel did not know (cf. vss. 7-8; 9:1-6). Yet, conscious of a special calling, her best religious leadership understood the necessity of drastic separation from all current paganism, which also meant separation from the people who followed it. This is especially stressed in Deuteronomy because it was written at a time when both the past and current history of the nation was filled with the terrible result of tolerant syncretism.
7-8. Why had God chosen Israel? It was evidently not because of power in numbers. God has chosen the weak (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26-31), which in itself was a most remarkable thing because the normal gods of the human race seem especially solicitous of the strong, the civilized, and the cultured. Deuteronomy gives no reason for the election other than God’s special concern and promises to the patriarchal fathers.”
Herem
HEREM (HOLY WAR) is now given sanction from the fact Israel is the “chosen people.” Nowhere is this belief more explicitly stated than here. The counterpart to herem is found in 1 Tim.1:18, “…War a good warfare;” 2 Tim 2:3, “…endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;” Jude 3, “…earnestly contend (fight) for the faith;” Eph. 6:10-17 = enemies, armour, standing in battle etc.
But what do we find today? A bunch of untrained, non-uniformed, non-equipped Church la-las playing the whore on God. No vision, no grit, no guts, no (lasting) salvation—because no steadfast love for God or Jesus.
The RSV reads “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments…” (Deut. 7:9). Do you think there is a counterpart to this text in the New Testament? Yes (see our trilogy, “once saved, always saved?”)! God said His love would CONTINUE as long as His people’s love CONTINUED toward Him.
God is reliable/trustworthy; man, most of the time, is not. Many “Christians” (“scholars” included) try to make God keep His Word when He has every right not to when His people break their covenant with Him.
The Content/Context
DEUT 7:9-11, we’ve looked at v. 9, it says that God is FAITHFUL who keeps covenant and steadfast love with…those who backslide? Play the harlot? NO! With “THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.” Verse 10 reads: “And REPAYETH THEM that hate Him to their face, to DESTROY THEM: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.” Verse 11 reads, “Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.” Seems to me this leaves no room for disobedience, slackness, or blacksliding. The New Testament enforces this.
So, God is “the keeper of the covenant and lovingkindness” (as the Hebrew reads). He is faithful to His promise to be LORD/Lord of Israel, and to that promise He will utterly be loyal—EXCEPT, if Israel does not keep their covenant with Him. All covenants are conditional! (See our trilogy mentioned).
Steadfast Love
(Hebrew hesedh)
STEADFAST LOVE is a word having a legal background, referring to the obligations involved in a covenant relationship, hence God’s hesedh with Israel. But since Israel broke their covenant, this cancelled out God’s part of the covenant. Yet, it is remarkable that He did so, so many times—He kept covenant for His name’s sake (many times because of the pagan nations that hated Israel).
When this Hebrew Word was used (of God), it became one of the primary expressions in the Old Testament of undeserved divine mercy and grace (see LXX ἔλεος and ϰάρις). Yet, on the other hand, if Israel “hate Him” (i.e., be disloyal as to publicly defy Him), He repays them.
Jealous God?
I HAVE QUOTED God-hater Richard Dawkins: “One cannot help, yet again, marveling at the extraordinarily draconian view taken of the sin of flirting with rival gods…the tragic force of God’s maniacal jealousy against alternative gods recurs continually throughout the Old Testament” (The God Delusion, 2006, p.246). Is Dawkins justified in writing that?
He obviously does not know how the word “jealous” is (Biblically) used. But for your information, in Deut. 6:10-15, we find Israel facing a great danger which will NULLIFY adherence to the great commandment. The danger is that, according to Prof. E. Wright, “when the people are in possession of an established agrarian civilization to which they have contributed nothing, they will forget the God who gave all of it to them and turn to the gods of the peoples round about.” He continues, “Such gods of nature and culture are more easily worshipped because while their promises are utopian, their requirements are simple and external.” (Ibid. p. 375).
Verse 13 says, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve Him…” Holy fear (i.e., reverence) is the bedrock of obedience. The rest of v. 13 says, “…and shalt swear by His name,” not using profanity, but an oath. So, when Israel came up from the Arabian Desert and invaded the fertile lands of Syria, it was the LORD that gave them the land…ready for use! The debt for this would be repaid by revering/serving Yahweh, and swearing by His name.
Now, we come to the “jealous God” part (v.15). Note how it is worded: “For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you; lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.” Pretty blunt!
Jealousy and Wrath in God are as much functions of His Lordship, as His love and grace are, for they indicate His constant activity against that which He does not permit. This is why the Word declares that God is angry every day. Psalms 7:11 says, “God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who is indignant every day” (Amp. Bible). Psalms 11:5 tells us, “The Lord tests and proves the righteous, but His soul abhors (HATES) THE WICKED and him who loves violence.” We’ve always heard that “God loves the sinner but hates the sin.” He does. But He also hates the sinner (at times). WHY DON’T WE HEAR THIS IN TODAY’S “LOVE” CHURCHES?
Jealousy, wrath, love, and grace, are His attributes (which are anthropomorphisms). All four represent God; love/grace no doubt are the more primary attributes because wrath/jealousy are ultimately for the sake of grace.
Destroy
THIS WORD bothers many. It should. What we’ve found out so far in this study is that disobedience/sin brings destruction—to the pagans, and also to the people belonging to God. The same Hebrew Word is used, and we find the New Testament Greek using this word. In fact Jesus Himself uses it (see our “Hell” series for the meanings). This word can mean “destroy” in an absolute or limited sense. It can be used in a literal or figurative sense (see how it is used in non-Biblical and Biblical literature in our “Hell” series). It can mean “to render inactive,” “to condemn to inactivity,” or “to put out of use.” In the Biblical sense (the way Paul in the New Testament used it), it means “to make completely inoperative,” or “to put out of use.” As applied to God (Father) and Christ (The Son), it signifies “a disarming of demonic powers.” The Old Testament usage, per the texts we’ve studied, means “ANNIHILATE UTTERLY.” – Cont.