In many cultures today, as was the case in the early church, there are those that try blend Christianity with philosophy, mythology, and other superstitious cultural beliefs. An example of this were the Judaizers in the time of the Apostles. The Judaizers tried to hold onto Jewish cultural practices whilst blending it with Christianity.
Galatians 5 vs 6: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
WHO WERE THE JUDAIZERS?
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https://www.gotquestions.org/Judaizers.html
Another ‘mongrel-faith’ was debated at the Council of Nicaea.
To quote, ‘First Council of Nicaea, (325), the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea (now İznik, Turkey). It was called by the emperor Constantine I, an unbaptized catechumen, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions. He hoped a general council of the church would solve the problem created in the Eastern church by Arianism, a heresy first proposed by Arius of Alexandria that affirmed that Christ is not divine but a created being.’ – https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Council-of-Nicaea-325
In Ezra 4 we have an astounding lesson about not blending Christianity and creating a ‘mongrel-faith’.
Contextually, the Persian King has granted the Israelites permission to rebuild their temple. People who were left in the land at the Persian capture of Israel, became disgruntled. Interestingly, these people, Samaritans, were people who had interbred with the Jews, and we’re considered half-breeds who blended paganism with Judaism.
Their political agenda was not to rebuild the Temple but in fact to corrupt the Jews to follow their blended pagan mongrel-faith. In Africa this version is commonly known as African Spiritualism Christianity, but is a far cry from God’s Plan for His Church.
‘Enduring Word’ expands on this political manipulation. To quote, ‘They did this on the claim that we seek your God as you do. They probably said this with all sincerity; they genuinely believed that they sought the same God in the same way. Yet they also added, “and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria.” This means they sacrificed without either a temple or a priesthood, which was obviously against the commandment of God. This completely contradicted their claim, “we seek your God as you do.” To the Samaritans, Yahweh was one of many powerful gods. Their idolatry represented a grave danger because Israel was exiled for their idolatry.
As, we read this powerful lesson about ‘mongrel-faith’ it helps to see the agenda exposed later in Ezra 4 when the Samaritans convince Persia to stop the building of the temple.
To quote ‘Enduring Word’, ‘Their attack by letter was a skillful combination of truth and lies. It was true that Jerusalem had a sinful past; yet with these returned exiles, it truly was the past and not the present. However, that truth was completely irrelevant because of the great lie – the lie that the Jews and the builders of Jerusalem had a rebellious intent. In a similar pattern our adversaries – Satan and his angels, the enemies of our soul – often attack us with a combination of truth and lies. They tell us of our great sin (an accusation that is often true), but they lie about the greater work of Jesus. Since Satan also accuses us before God (Revelation 12:10), he brings his accusing report against us before the Great King.’ – https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ezra-4/
Ezra 4 stands as a reminder that when we follow God in Spirit and Truth, the enemy will send an appearance of Christianity to try dupe us. 1 John 2 warns us of these ‘mongrel-faiths’ that are actually anti-christs.
God doesn’t give us an option. It is God alone. In fact Ezra reminds us that because the Jews were blending, God allowed them to be exiled in Babylon and was giving them another chance to obey God by serving God ONLY, as God clearly states in the first three commandments.
HAVE YOU ACCIDENTALLY OR DELIBERATELY ATTACHED TO A ‘MONGREL-FAITH’?
Right now, we can turn to God, repent, and allow God to lead us out of mongrel-faith into the purity of Christ only.
#Hayibo 