Pagan Christianity

In my various trips through the Old Testament prophets in the last few years, I’ve discovered something which I call “Pagan Christianity”. The heart of this phenomenon is succinctly summarized in this phrase from Jeremiah 32:33.

And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face.

This gives an interesting mental picture of how the nation of Israel was approaching God, and the reason God was bringing judgment upon them.

For a long time I used to think that Israel simply turned their back on God. In my mind I saw Israel one day saying, “I’m tired of serving God. I’m going to try the religion of my pagan neighbor for a change.” So presumably they left the temple and built a new idol somewhere else.

Now, I’m not sure that this is an accurate picture of what actually happened. The next verse adds more information.

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by
my name, to defile it. Jer 32:34

In other words, instead of throwing out what they had, they simply added to it little by little … changing it just enough to suit their purpose … and still be able to call it godly and righteous. They turned their backs on God, but not their face. This makes more sense when I compare it to my own fleshly tendencies.

In my youth, along with Peter of old, I frequently said to myself, “If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.” Knowing what Christ had done for me and the fervor I felt in those early years, I could not picture myself ever turning away from God.

As I’ve grown older I’ve learned more about myself and the weakness of my flesh. Evil presents itself to me more commonly as “the little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2”15) rather than “a lion in the streets” (Prov 26:13). The path of apostasy is strewn with small compromises carefully justified by a deceived heart.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death. Prov 16:25

Therefore the nation of Israel had come to a place where they were worshipping idols (have turned unto me the back) but were saying, and probably even believing, that they were worshipping God (but still thinking they were facing him.) Jeremiah explains the mechanism of this sad process of pagan Christianity a few chapters earlier.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked
who can know it? Jer 17:9

Jeremiah confirmed this when he admitted:

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not
in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer 10:23

Now this is a terrifying concept if you stop to think about it. In Jeremiah we are told that prophets were prophesying lies and false visions and divination (14:4), they were near with their mouths but far away in their reins (affections, emotions, feelings,) (12:2), and they thought they were worshipping God when in fact they were walking in the imagination of their evil hearts (11:8-10). How did they get to that point? And, more pertinently, how do I know that I am truly seeking God, or if I’m merely following fleshly desires cloaked under a mantle of righteous sounding reasons?


The danger is real … I know. In my own experience I’ve been caught red-handed in this trap of hypocrisy many times … especially in my marriage. I will say that I am serving my wife, but when certain layers are stripped away I realize I am actually serving myself. Maybe some can identify with this. So how do I know if my heart is deceived?

It is interesting to note the verses that follow this mechanism that Jeremiah laid out. After he mentioned that the heart was so deceitful that no one could know it, he says:

I, the LORD, search the heart, I try the reins. Jer 17:10

And after Jeremiah reminds himself that the way of man is not in himself, that he doesn’t even know how to make the right decisions, he states:

O LORD, correct me … Jer 10:24

The answer to my fear of hypocrisy, and the antidote to apostasy, is … the Word of God! The answer is not subjectively analyzed. The Lord reveals it objectively in His word.

The attitude of Israel toward God’s word is traced through Jeremiah:

They have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but
rejected it. Jer 6:19

The word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no
delight in it. Jer 6:10

Finally a day came when they were confronted with God’s words through Jeremiah, and their scoffing remark was “Where is the word of the LORD?” (Jer 17:15) Without knowing it a person can be practicing pagan Christianity if he does not delight himself in the Word of the Lord.

My school teaching job is starting next week, and in my typical pattern I am having nightmares of unruly classes. I’m also thinking through daily schedules and life priorities. This type of introspection seems to accompany the beginning of every school year for me.




I suppose this is why the book of Jeremiah hit me so hard this year. It made me ask the big questions. What am I doing in the DR? Am I really serving the Lord, or have I made it sound like I am, both to myself and to others? Am I deceived or am I living a life of faith? Am I a pagan Christian or a growing Christian?

To be honest, I’m not sure I can answer those questions. And when I try, my thinking gets all gummed up inside, if you know what I mean. But if there’s nothing else I’ve learned in Jeremiah, it’s this …. if I honestly delight in the written Scriptures, God is faithful to convict me of sin and reveal the truth. He will search my heart, and try me, and correct me… if I am in the Word.

So, rather than second guess my motives, I’ve decided to approach this year in the same way that Jeremiah approached his “job” expressed within the pages of his book.

1. Decide to trust and hope in the Lord with everything I do instead of
in the flesh.

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm,
and whose heart departeth from the LORD. Jer 17:5

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the
LORD is. Jer 17:7

2. Understand that I cannot trust my own heart since it is deceitful, so
look to God to direct my steps and correct me.

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest
thou bring me to nothing. Jer 10:24

3. Daily set aside time that allows me to be in the Word on a consistent
and personal basis.

Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name,
O LORD God of hosts. Jer 15:16

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul warns that as we move closer to the end times the church will not endure sound doctrine and will eventually have a form of godliness but deny its power. I honestly believe that we are seeing today what Jeremiah was addressing in his day … apostasy in the church and in the lives of individual professing Christians as they refuse to separate from the world and tremble at the word of God.

For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived
and heard his word? Who hath marked his word, and heard it? Jer 23:18



I Am Resolved

I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world’s delight;
Things that are higher, things that are nobler … These have allured my sight.
I am resolved to go to the Savior, Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true one, he is the just one … He hath the words of life.
I am resolved to follow the Savior, Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth … He is the living way.
I am resolved to enter the kingdom, Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me, Still will I enter in.
I am resolved, and who will go with me? Come, friends, without delay;
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, We’ll walk the heav’nly way.
I will hasten to Him, Hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

by Palmer Hartsough