Hearts Ablaze Corner

THE BOOK OF JUDGES STARTS OUT WELL, BUT BY ITS END WE SEE DEATH, DISINTEGRATION AND PERVERSION...AND THE DARK LIST GOES ON! THE THEME OF JUDGES IS THE REJECTION OF DIVINE AUTHORITY AND THE PAGANIZATION OR UNGODLINESS, WHICH FOLLOWS. ISRAEL ADOPTS THE PAGAN PRINCIPLES OF ITS NEIGHBORS. WHEN A CULTURE IS PAGANIZED, IT ASSIMILATES UNGODLY PRINCIPLES, POLICIES, PHILOSOPHIES, POLITICS, AND PROCEDURES. BY THE END OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES, ISRAEL DID NOT LOOK ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE SURROUNDING CULTURE. ISRAEL MADE THE CHOICE TO DISOBEY GOD, COMMINGLING WITH THE CANAANITES AND BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE THEM. WHAT A READY TRAP THE ENEMY USES EVEN AMONG US, TODAY: EMBRACE AND ASSIMILATE WHAT OPPOSES GOD'S WILL. THIS TRAP IS REAL INSIDIOUS. WE FAIL TO REALIZE WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS UNGODLINESS, OR WE ARE SO IMMERSED IN IT, WE ARE ALREADY BEARING ITS FRUIT. WE HAVE A CHOICE, TO HAVE OUR MINDS RENEWED, DAY BY DAY, FLOODING IT WITH GOD'S WORD, WITH TRUTH. THE ALTERNATIVE IS FLOODING OUR MINDS WITH HUMANISTIC ARGUMENTS, DEBAT