The Sacrifice of Gentiles

There is a misconception in the world that there is some demilitarized zone when it comes to the things of God. People mistakenly believe that they can be "independent" or "neutral".  Such is not what the Scriptures say.

demilitarized zone:  any area, place, or circumstance in which conflicts or hostilities are held in abeyance.

The reality is that those who do not serve God - in Spirit and in Truth - ARE in fact already serving the devil (Romans 6:16).  There is no alternative.  You don't have to wear black & hexagrams, own a Satanic Bible, partake in murderous blood rituals, knowingly sell your soul, or chant "I love you Satan".  In fact, many of Satan's most ardent worshipers outwardly appear normal and very respectable, even going to or helping to lead the local church on the corner.

All one has to do in order to be a servant of Satan is to not be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).  Not making a choice about God is the very act of making a choice.  Not engaging in the war simply makes one a casualty of war.  One is either working with Christ or scattering against Him.

He who is not with Me [definitely on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [definitely] gather with Me and for My side scatters." Matthew 12:30 (also Luke 11:23) Amplified Bible

"I am not against God", some may say.  Well, are you with Him?  Are you on the Lord's side?  Do you quiet down and tow the party line when sensitive subjects come up or do you stand for the truth?  Do you deny the Word of God before men in your actions/inactions, words/silence?  Are you more concerned with the favor of men than God?  Are you truly willing to lay down your life (desires, will, perspectives, etc.) and even die for the testimony of Christ?  We cannot serve God and [fill in the blank] (Matthew 4:10, 6:24; Luke 16:13).

Clearly being "with Jesus" is more than just professing to be His follower (Matthew 7:21-25).  What is the difference then between someone who professes Jesus versus someone who is truly known by Him?  Obedience (Luke 6:46).  The latter not only hears God's words, but does them.

We cannot afford to adopt our own ideas and perspectives about life and about God.  We must be sure to align our mind with the mind of Christ.  We are not believers just because we say that we are, but the Holy Spirit bears witness to this fact.  We know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20; Luke 6:43-46).

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." Matthew 12:33-35

My son recently asked me about a movie saying, "Is this movie good?" This has been a recurring question from the children in the past as they seek to determine which movies/tv shows/music are okay to watch or listen to.  I responded, "Is it talking about the Lord or the truths about God?"  "No", he replied.  "Then it is not good", I said.

My point was not to tell him he couldn't watch the movie; after all - while we certainly have rules in the house - the children are going to make their own decisions about their lives as they grow.  My point was to challenge his understanding of what is "good". 

So many times, we casually throw around that word; so-and-so is a "good" person; such was a "good" book; that was a "good" movie...  Yet Jesus said that there is none good except for God (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 11;13, 18:19).  Was Jesus just exaggerating or did He really mean that only that which comes from God can be "good"? 

If only that which comes from God is good, then by default, that which does not come from God must be evil (Matthew 12:35).  Many will say, "Well, that is just too black and white.  Something/Someone can be good without being Godly."  However, the Scriptures continually reflect that goodness comes first and foremost from the Lord; He alone is the source of any goodness in us (Psalm 107:15, 119:68; Romans 3:10-12, 23)?

If the Lord alone is good and any "goodness" we possess comes from Him alone (Isaiah 64:6), then what does that say about works not inspired by Him?

"What say I then? That the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." I Cor. 10:19-21

We need to understand that, just as our "fruit" is the product of the sacrifice of our lives unto God as inspired by His Holy Spirit, the "fruit" of the Gentile (unbeliever) is a product of the sacrifice of his/her life as inspired by an unholy spirit.  While the Spirit of God empowers His children to produce works of righteousness; the devil empowers his children to produce works of unrighteousness.

Whether knowingly or not, when we do not serve the Lord, our very works - even our "good" works - are sacrifices unto devils (Romans 6:13-16). Every rebel, every denier of Christ, every child of disobedience is making continual sacrifices to devils; and it is all filthy rags.

Is there no harm in partaking of that which is made for/by devils?  Is it a small thing to the Lord?  What does God have to say about such matters?  Does God care more about your entertainment than your sanctification?  And what does it say about us if things sacrificed unto devils "entertain" us anyway?

Each person has to decide for themselves how much of their lives they will allow to be sanctified unto God, but we need to understand that we are in the midst of a spiritual war.  There is no demilitarized zone; there is nothing which is neutral when it comes to the things of God.  We either gather with Him or scatter against Him.  We are either taking ground for Christ within our own souls or giving ground to the enemy (Luke 21:19).

The sacrifices of Gentiles are indeed sacrifices unto devils, and when we partake of them, we join ourselves in fellowship with the same.  If we value communion with Christ, then we will not take lightly communing with devils...or else we too might be overthrown in the Wilderness of Sin; as those who were have been given for our examples.

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. " I Corinthians 10:1-6