A Multi-Cultural Rendition of Deuteronomy 6

I’ve recently been involved in an online conversation with a pastor who sings the praises of multi-culturalism. It comes as no surprise that he has a problem with requiring homeschooling of the families in his church. Here is my “tongue-in-cheek” version of Deut 6 with a multi-cultural slant.

Deut 6:1
These are the suggestions that the LORD your God really wishes you would do when you go into another land…not to possess it, by the way, because that would be “stealing” it from the current owners…but rather to live peaceably side by side them.

6:2
That thou mightest consider the LORD thy God your “buddy” and someone who would never violate your own will. Pretty please, would you just consider following His suggestions? And if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind letting your children know about these things as well?

6:3
If you’ll decide to do these things, I’ll give you a honey graham cracker…with milk!

6:4
{verse four must be stricken…because to say “The LORD our God is one LORD” is way too exclusive and non-“multi-cultural.”}

6:5
Try God for a while. I think you’ll like Him. You’ll at least like what He can do for you.

6:6
Think about these suggestions…they really make a lot of sense...but don’t feel compelled to do them.

6:7
Here’s the deal. I’d really like you to teach your own children. But, don’t feel like you must do this. In fact, if you’re requiring it of others in your church then SHAME ON YOU.

6:8
These little words of suggestions would make a great piece of jewelry that you wear on your head, but never live by. Oh, and by the way, make sure you remove this jewelry if you’re going to be around other people. You wouldn’t want to make them feel uncomfortable.

6:9
You can write them on your doorposts, if that really makes you feel good. Just be sure to use a dry erase board and marker so you can quickly get rid of it if you are expecting company.

6:10
When God brings you into this land, remember that *you* don’t own it. You are simply borrowing it from the people who were there first. Make sure not to do anything that would disrupt *their* culture.

6:11
When you see all the things that they left behind, you should feel extremely guilty. After all, this was all built on the backs of slaves. You should, right now, begin a plan to return these things to the poor souls who have lost it. After all, it is their culture, and you wouldn’t want to do anything to disrupt it.

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Sorry, I just can’t keep this up any longer. You see “multi-culturalism” is an evil that is plaguing our land. It is ruining the Church.

Multi-Culturalism respects other cultures and lets them remain as they are.
Christianity changes the culture for the glory of God.

Consider this verse from Isaiah. I covered it yesterday in our Lord’s Day meeting.

Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
-Isaiah 2:6

This speaks clearly against “multi-culturalism.” Consider John Gill’s analysis of this verse:

Isa 2:6 - Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob,.... These words contain a reason of the divine conduct, in calling the Gentiles, and rejecting the Jews, because of the sins of the latter hereafter mentioned; though some, as the Targum and R. Moses, refer this to the Israelites; and read, "because ye have forsaken", &c. and interpret it of their forsaking the Lord, his worship, and his law. What is hereafter said does not agree with the Jews, literally understood, neither in the times of Isaiah, nor when they returned from Babylon, nor in the times of Christ, nor since the destruction of Jerusalem, or in the latter day, a little before their conversion; for after the Babylonish captivity they were not given to idolatry, nor did they abound in riches, and much less since their dispersion among the nations; nor will this be their case in the latter day: wherefore Kimchi applies the whole to the times of Solomon, when the land abounded with gold and silver, with horses and chariots, and with idolatry also, in the latter part of his life: but it seems best to interpret this of antichrist and his followers, who call themselves the people of God, and the house of Jacob, say they are Jews, but are not, and are of the synagogue of Satan; and are therefore rejected of the Lord, and will be given up to utter ruin and destruction, for the evils found in them, hereafter charged with.

Because they be replenished from the east, or "more than the east"; than the eastern people, the Syrians and Chaldeans; that is, were more filled with witchcrafts and sorceries than they, as Kimchi explains it; of the sorceries of the Romish antichrist, see Rev_9:21 the words may be rendered, "because they be full from of old time"; or, as of old, or more than they were of old; namely, fuller of idols than formerly; so the Targum paraphrases it,

"because your land is full of idols, as of old;''

and so Rome Papal is as full of idols, or fuller, than Rome Pagan was. Some, as Aben Ezra, understand this of their being filled with the wisdom of the children of the east, 1Ki_4:30 and others of the riches of the east:

and are soothsayers like the Philistines: who were a people given to divination and soothsaying, 1Sa_6:2 and some of the popes of Rome have studied the black art, and by such wicked means have got into the Papal chair; for under this may be included all evil arts and fallacious methods, by which they have deceived themselves and others:

and they please themselves in the children of strangers; being brought into their convents, monasteries, and nunneries; the priests and nuns vowing celibacy and virginity, and contenting themselves with the children of others: or they love strange flesh, delight in sodomitical practices, and unnatural lusts with boys and men; wherefore Rome is called Sodom and Egypt, Rev_11:8 or they content and delight themselves in the laws, customs, rites, ceremonies, and doctrines of other nations; many of the Gentile notions and practices being introduced into the faith and worship of the church of Rome; wherefore the Papists go by the name of Gentiles, Rev_11:2. The Targum is,

"and they walk in the laws of the people,''

or study strange sciences, and not the statutes and laws of God; so some interpret it, as Ben Melech observes, and who also mentions another sense some give, that they please themselves in images they renew daily.

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Dear Christian. We are told not to be like the world. Rather we are called to change it. Hold fast to that doctrine against all the praises of multi-culturalism you may hear proclaimed from modern pulpits.