May 30, 2011

Practicing Multiculturalism

I Kings 16:30-33

In a more culturally confident age, the British in India were faced with the practice of suttee - the tradition of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Gen. Sir Charles Napier was impeccably multicultural:

"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: When men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks, and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."

There's nothing like inclusiveness to get the multi-cultural crowd into a lather. These people are the type to advocate for 2+2=5 and 2+2=3 to get as much attention and respect as 2+2=4 does.

In short, they have traded the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25).

However, this idea of inclusivity is not novel or original. King Ahab perfected it. In the Old Testament, he - along with his pagan wife Jezebel (rhymes with hell), who was the daughter of Ethbaal of Tyre, the priest of Astarte (also known as Eastre) - built an altar to the pagan god Baal in Samaria.  Because of this apostasy, judgment was poured out on Ahab and Jezebel ( II Kings 10:18-31):

"And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."

Thus, does this sad tale end like any tale should end when apostasy takes hold of a person's heart: "And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, "And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." (1Kings 21:23)

The prophet Micaiah foretold Ahab's death at Ramoth-Gilead. Ahab disguised himself, and went to a battle at Ramoth, but was killed by an errant arrow (1Kings 22:30-37). As his chariot was being washed, dogs came and licked up his blood.

What does all this have to do with multi-culturalism? When taken to the extreme and there is a demand to include the lies along with the truth then the danger is that the truth will be crowded out by the clamor of the lie. Those who don't believe in God's inerrant word are then subject to fall for the lie of the devil himself.

Romans 1:21-22 reads, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

Don't be a fool. Trust in Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6). Accept no other.