“PLAY-DOH CHRISTIANITY”
(Deuteronomy 12:1 – 14:29)
When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
– Deuteronomy 12:29-31
One of the greatest dangers that God warned Israel about was idolatry. They would be settling into territory that was immersed in worshiping false gods and living in ways contrary to God’s laws. The peril was that God’s people would be “ensnared to follow them.” That the godless culture would be adopted and their uniqueness as the one true God’s people would be erased.
Entering Canaan would have temptations at every turn – altars, idols, customs. Moses’ urging was to examine everything they did so that the influence of pagan practices would not seep into their lives and ensnare them like a bird caught in a trap.
This threat has not changed for us today. The apostle Paul gives first century Christians a warning that is for us today.
Romans 12:2 –
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect
One bible translation says, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould…”
As a child I had a Play-Doh toy that was one of my favorites. You put the dough into the top of a little house and use a lever to press it through different shaped molds. That’s what Moses and Paul are cautioning. This world will squeeze us into its mold and shape us so that we look no different than the culture in which we live.
God’s call to holiness is that we are different than the world around us. We are a counter-culture people.
Pray for…
- Spiritual discernment to recognize the influences around you that pull you away from God and help to test everything against His word.
- Freedom from idolatry and that God would reveal anything in my life that has taken priority over Him. Courage to help me remove any idols – whether material possessions, relationships, desires – that keep me from fully surrendering to Him.
- Boldness to be counter-cultural and to stand for righteousness even when it’s unpopular and may cost me.
About our Author
John A Pra was born and raised in Queens, NY and has lived almost all of his life in the metropolitan area. After graduating from Bible college (now University of Valley Forge) he entered into full-time pastoral ministry. John and his wife, Diana, have been living in Carlstadt since 1990, pastoring Cornerstone Church and now at Transformation Life Church since 2022.
John and Diana have been married for 39 years and have three children and one granddaughter (who owns them). Besides loving time spent with family, he enjoys sports, reading, travel, and the golf course.
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