Beware of an Eastern Influence

"For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob,
      Because they are filled with eastern ways;
      They are soothsayers like the Philistines,
      And they are pleased with the children of foreigners."
                                                                    ~ Isaiah 2:6

In Isaiah's day, God's people were heavily influenced by outside, pagan practices and ideas. This "Eastern" influence eventually destroyed God's people, because they adopted many of these pagan practices and false worship. They were pleased with the children of foreigners--strangers who did not serve the God of heaven and earth. These evil associations proved to be deadly to the children of Israel. The pagan nations around them practiced divination, magic and astrology, and they worshipped Satan in the form of false gods.

Today we too have a strange but deadly fascination with Eastern ideas and practices. We are pleased with the children of foreigners--people who do not obey the Lord God of heaven and earth. We listen to their addresses, and we read their books, to our detriment. My brother, my sister--when people who practice gnosticism, shaminism, Catholic spiritual formation, and interspirituality are allowed to address our pastors and members, we know that we are in the midst of spiritual demise, and are inviting the judgment of God.

We cannot any longer tolerate this deplorable situation to continue. God holds us accountable for that which we allow. This outside, Satanic influence has affected many of our pastors, who, after years of being immersed in this environment of compromise, are at worst presenting messages that are a mingling of truth and error, and at best are refusing to speak out about the compromise, for fear of losing their positions. But it is far more important to fear God than to fear man. Our people are being spiritually weakened over time. Right and wrong are no longer seen for what they are. Sabbathkeepers are no longer careful with how they spend their time--during Sabbath hours and in general. And our people do not understand what God expects of them. There is confusion in our midst.

God expects us to cry aloud and spare not. If Jesus were here in Ohio, He would be overturning tables. If you have a voice, use it. If you have a hand than can write, do so. Use whatever means you can to communicate your commitment to follow Jesus Christ, and your displeasure for the current state of affairs. Stand up and be counted, while we still have a Seventh-day Adventist presence here in Ohio.