Let’s “Talkstory”!
Two stories to illustrate and correct the false teachings of “A Call To All Nations” speakers with regard to there being worship of the true God in hundreds of cultures from the beginning
by Sandy Simpson, Apologetics Coordination Team,

May 2005

 

 

Story #1
Yoel & Hirgab
Setting: Old Testament

 

 

There was a young man by the name of Yoel.1 He had made a friend one day while tending his father’s herd of sheep in a secluded valley near the river Jordan. The young man had stood watching him from a hillside, so Yoel motioned him to come near. The young man cautiously approached the valley. Yoel greeted him and asked his name. The young man timidly answered, “It is Hirgab”.

It wasn’t long before they struck up a friendship. They met again from time to time in that same valley when Yoel took the sheep there. One day Yoel asked Hirgab what his name meant.

“It is the name of one of our Canaanite gods.  It means ‘father of eagles’.”

“Do you mean you worship more than one god?” asked Yoel.

“Yes” answered Hirgab.

“We worship the one and only God who is YHWH” said Yoel enthusiastically. “We only pronounce his name when necessary for He is holy. He is the only true God, creator of heaven and earth, and He has made an everlasting exclusive covenant with His people Israel. He led us out of Egypt with great signs and wonders. I am an Israelite.”

“Well, we also have a supreme creator god among the gods. His name is “El”… or also “Latipan”… or “Dagon” in other cities” answered Hirgab. “My people are the Arameans and our people believe that the Supreme Being “Hadad” ranks higher than “El”.2  But it sounds like we basically believe in the same supreme god.”

“But you told me that your “creator god” is one among other gods” Yoel replied.

“Oh, yes” replied Hirgab enthusiastically. “Hadad is the supreme god, creator of this world and of the gods, but there are many other gods our people worship. There is El who is also called Latipan, and Dagon. There is Athirat or Asherah ‘the Lady of the Sea’ or Elat - ‘the goddess’. There is Kothar-and-Khasis meaning ‘skillful and clever’, also called Chousor and Heyan (Ea). There is the god Shachar or ‘Dawn’ and Shalim ‘Sunset/Dusk’. We have Shamu (Baalshamem) and the many Baals (also called Baal-Zephon (Saphon), Hadad, Pidar and Rapiu or Rapha meaning ‘the shade’. We have Gapn or ‘vine’ who is Baal’s page and messenger to both Anat and Mot. There is Radmanu or Pradmanu, a minor servitor of Baal. There is also Ugar meaning ‘cultivated field’ who is Baal’s other page and messenger to both Anat and Mot. He is the patron city-god of Ugarit. We have Pidray or the ‘daughter of the mist’ or ‘daughter of light(ning)’ who is Baal’s daughter. She is sometimes a love interest of Athtar. There is also Tallay or ‘she of dew’ or ‘daughter of drizzle’ who is also Baal’s daughter. Baal has many daughters. Another is Arsay or ‘she of the earth’ or ‘daughter of ample flows’. Another daughter is Ybrdmy. There is Athtart or Athtart-name-of-Baal, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Ashtart. There is also Anat  or Anath, Rahmay meaning ‘the merciful’. We also worship Baalat, Tanit, Shapshu or Shapash, and Yarikh. Furthermore we have Kotharat or Kathirat meaning ‘skillful’. There is Athtar or Ashtar or Atra of the sky meaning ‘the terrible’. There is Sheger meaning ‘offspring of cattle’ who is the god of cattle. We also have Ithm who is the god of sheep, a good god for you to pray to. We also have Hirgab, my namesake, who is the father of the eagles and there is also Sumul, the mother of the eagles. She is said to have eaten the body of Aqhat. There is Elsh who is called ‘the steward’ or ‘carpenter’ of El and of Baal’s house. His wife is the stewardess or carpenter of the goddesses. There is Sha’taqat meaning ‘drives away’. She is the flying demoness who drives away Keret’s disease on behalf of El with a touch of her wand to his head. We also worship the ‘god(s) of the fathers’. They are ancestral or clan deities, commonly associated with one family or another, outside of the main pantheon. We have Nikkal-and-Ib the ‘great lady and clear/bright/fruit’ or ‘Great goddess of fruit’ also called Ningal. There is Khirkhib or Hiribi, ‘king of summer’ or ‘king of the raiding season’ (autumn). Among the many Baals is Baal-Shamen or Baal-Shamain the ‘lord of the skies’. There is also Milqart or Melqart, Baal Tsur, or Milkashtart meaning ‘king of the city’, the hunter, ‘fire of heaven’. These are just some of the more well-known gods. There are many more. Our religion is rich in mythology all the way back to the Tower of Babel. So as you can see, we do believe in a supreme being as you do.”

“I’m sorry to tell you, Hirgab” replied Yoel, “that your ‘supreme being’ is not the same as YHWH. Because of this the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob commanded us to take this land of Canaan and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan because they worship ‘detestable gods’.”3

“But we both worship the supreme being, no matter what name we have given him, don’t we?” asked Hirgab.

“No, Hirgab” answered Yoel. “Men may know there is a Creator of the universe3a, but they do not know the God who exclusively revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and to Moses, revealing to them that there is no other God but YHWH.4 He has said that all other gods are false gods.5 False idols and false gods are really demons.6 Just because people worship a supreme being among a pantheon of other gods does not make those supreme beings YHWH. God was clear, for instance, that the supreme being of the Egyptians (where my people were enslaved for over 400 years) who is called Amen or Amon, is a false god.7 YHWH has said that all other Gentile cultures and religions in the world are without God, outside of the covenant relationship YHWH has with Israel alone.8 There is no way to be reconciled to YHWH outside of the covenant relationship with Israel. You are from Aramea and YHWH has said that you worship a “supreme being” god of the hills but do not believe that he is also god of the valleys.9 How can your supreme being be a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys and still be “supreme”? Because you are my friend I want to warn you that your people are to be destroyed along with the other Canaanites. God is angry because you have not sought the Lord Almighty, YHWH.”10

Higrab answered “I am afraid, Yoel. I have heard stories of what your God did to the Egyptians to free your people from slavery. What must I do to be saved?”

Yoel answered, “You must turn away from your false gods and stop blaspheming the name of YHWH by worshipping “supreme beings” and other gods who are clearly not YHWH.11 You must renounce those gods, you must be circumcised, and you must believe in YHWH and follow His commands laid down in His covenant with Israel.12  You must become a Jew and become part of the culture of Israel instituted by the Word of God. Outside of that there is no hope for you or your people. You are a stranger and a foreigner13 to the promises of Israel and there is no hope of salvation outside of that covenant.14 We are not allowed to make covenants with Gentiles or with their false gods.”15

“Do you think your family would like to adopt another son?” cried Hirgab. “I do not want to leave my family, my culture, my home, but I know your God is the only true God and that He has sent you here to punish the peoples of Canaan for their worship of false gods. I would rather serve YHWH and live, than go back to my traditions and customs and die.”

Yoel said, “Let’s go to my tent right now and talk to my father. I am sure that he will be glad to welcome you to our family.”

This was the first time Yoel had seen Hirgab smile.

 

Story #2
Joel & Honua
Setting: New Testament

 

 

There was a young man by the name of Joel.16  He had made a friend one day while surfing off Waikiki Beach in Oahu, Hawaii. The young man had been watching Joel’s mastery of the waves, so one day Joel motioned him to come over. The young man, though somewhat suspicious, paddled over. Joel greeted him and asked his name. The young man answered, “It is Honua”.

It wasn’t long before they struck up a friendship. They met again from time to time at the same surf spot when the surf was up. One day Joel asked Honua what his name meant.

“It means ‘the being that is the earth’ or ‘the spirit that is the planet.’” Honua replied. “There are many Hawaiian names taken from plants, birds, animals, gods and other things that Hawaiians use to name their children.”

“Are you saying that Hawaiians worship more than one god?” asked Joel.

“Well, yes” answered Honua.

“We worship the one and only God who is YHWH” said Joel enthusiastically. “He is the Holy One, maker of heaven and earth, eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, all powerful. He is the only true God, creator of heaven and earth. He revealed Himself more fully in latter times to His Apostles in Israel as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God. In the Old Testament days He made an everlasting exclusive covenant with His people Israel. The Gentile nations had no way of reconciliation with YHWH at that time unless they became Jews. But then He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be born on this earth as the God-man. He did this in order for His Son to bring a new covenant. Jesus had to die on a cross for our sins and rise again to purchase us eternal life. He died in our place because we were dead in our sins, sentenced to an eternity in hell, and without hope and God in the world. If a person believes that Jesus Christ died for his sins, that He rose from the dead, and then he confesses his sins, the Lord has promised that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. He has told us we must be born again to have a restored relationship with the Father. I am a Christian, a follower of Christ.”

“Well, we also have a supreme creator god among the gods in Hawaii.  His name ‘Io … or Keawe … or Kane… or IAO … or Kela … or Tera … or all six at once.  Depends on who you talk to” answered Honua. “My people are Hawaiians and our people believe in the “supreme being” ‘Io who created Kane who in turn created everything.17  But it sounds like we basically believe in the same supreme god.”

“But you told me that your creator god is one among other gods.” Joel replied.

“Oh, yes” replied Honua sincerely. “Let me fill you in on some of the great stories we have that go all the way back to the beginning of time. First we start with Io, Keawe, IAO, Kela, or Tera. ‘Io is the unmanifest infinite source of creation. Before time began, ‘Io was. Then, ‘Io breathed forth Mana which pervades space equally and is in every living thing. Mana gives all living creatures the power to live and be alive. ‘Io sent the Mana across the Po (the darkness), and created Kane, the creator, and creation began. According to Leinani Melville, ‘Io spoke the word “Ola” into the emptiness of the Po, and commanded the creation into motion. This brought the flaming cross of light, the Kaukahi. ‘Io was also the first and original Hawaiian god. The four major gods, Ku, Lono, Kane and Kanaloa came later. The Hawaiians would later drift away from ‘Io into the Aumakua system, and then to the four main gods with the establishment of the systems of Pa’ao. But this last part is based on speculation and myth.”

“Let me stop you there for a moment, Honua. Didn’t you say that ‘Io created Kane, the creator? But then you said that the creator Kane came later. Which is it?” asked Joel.

“I don’t have an answer for that. That is just the way our stories are told” said Honua. “But let me continue. There are many other gods worshipped by the Hawaiian people, and they have been for a long time. No one knows how long for sure. There was Ha’iaka, sister of the goddess Pele and Haumea, the daughter to Papa (a fertility goddess) and mother to Pele (female-volcanoes) and Hi’aika (dance-specifically the hula). Besides teaching human women how to give birth properly she was considered a very wise woman, and very brave. She rescued her husband from kidnappers and to escape them leapt (with her husband) into a ulu tree (breadfruit). When the kidnappers tried to capture them by cutting into the tree with their machetes, the splinters of wood and poisonous sap from the tree killed the axemen. To appease Haumea they carved the tree into the shape of a goddess whom Haumea called Kamehaikana. Another set of stories involve her magic stick (wand) made from an ulu tree. The wand could create fruit on the tree, or fish. One day she was startled by one of her daughters and as she turned around to rebuke her daughter Haumea she twisted her wrist so that the fish she was invoking were scattered into the surrounding waters. That is why Hawaii has so many fish in its waters. There is also Kanaloa.  Kanaloa is coupled with the God Kane. Kanaloa is the old Polynesian sea god of death, darkness, water, and squid. Under the influence of sorcery, Kane had the character to heal.  Kanaloa is god of the squid.  Fishermen will use him for protection but he is looked upon with distrust as an aumakua.  There is a legend that the Ancient Hawaiians told about Kanaloa:  Kanaloa is associated with the Christian devil.  His name is associated with various legends of strife against Kane in which Kanaloa and his spirits rebel and are sent down to the underworld.  In the legend of Hawaii-loa belonging to the Kumu-honua epic account of the Kane tradition, Kanaloa is the leader of the first company of spirits placed on earth after earth was separated from heaven.  These spirits are “spit out by the gods.” They rebel, lead by Kanaloa, because they are not allowed to drink awa (an intoxicant), but are defeated and cast down to the underworld, where Kanaloa, otherwise known as Milu, becomes ruler of the dead.  The legend places Kane and Kanaloa in opposition as the good and evil wishers of mankind. Then there is Kane, the Hawaiian god of the forests and trees. Kane was the leading god of the great gods named by the Hawaiians. He represented the god of procreation and was worshipped as ancestor of chiefs and commoners.  Kane is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky. According to the possible late edition of the Kumuhonua legend, he formed the three worlds: the upper heaven of the gods, the lower heaven above the earth, and the earth itself as a garden for mankind; the latter he furnished with sea creatures, plants, and animals, and fashioned man and woman to inhabit it.  No human sacrifice or laborious ritual was needed in the worship of Kane. There is also Kapua, a divine trickster or mischief-maker of Hawaii.  We have Ki’i, the Hawaiian creator god or first created man. There is also Kupua, a generic term for the demigods of Hawaii, as opposed to the Akua, the gods proper. There is Ku (male or husband), and Hina (female or wife) who were the rulers of the ancient people and are the earliest gods.”

“Wait a moment, Honua. I thought you said that ‘Io was the earliest god, but then you say Kane is the creator, and that Ku is the earliest god. This is getting confusing.” stated Joel.

“Well, it is a bit confusing to me also.” replied Honua. “But these are the myths and I am just relating them to you as I have heard them. Anyway, Ku and Hina are great ancestral gods of earth and heaven who have general control over the bounty of earth and generations of mankind. Ku freed them from their faults and errors. He is associated with sacrifice and prisoners. Ku represents the East, or the sun rising, which indicates morning. Ku equals “rising upright.” Hina represents the West, or the sun setting, which indicates evening.  Hina means “leaning down.” Ku represents the universal character as a god to worship.”

“I thought you said that Hawaiians worshipped ‘Io but now you are saying that Ku represents the universal character as a god to worship.” said Joel.

“Just repeating the stories, Joel.” replied Honua a little sharply. “Anyway, the Ancient Hawaiians worshiped Ku for things such as good fishing, long life, good crops, and family and national prosperity for a whole. For example, early in the morning, prayers are said by fishermen to Ku to help them with their fishing. There was also Laka, the Hawaiian goddess of song and dance. Then there is Lono.  In Hawaii the clouds and the phenomena of storms are associated with Lono. When the statement, “with head hidden in the dark clouds above” is recited, it is usually referring to Lono. During prayer to Lono, signs of the god are named thunder, lightening, earthquake, the dark cloud, the rainbow, rain, wind, whirlwinds that sweep the earth, waterspouts, the clustering clouds of heaven, and gushing springs on the mountains.  Lono brings on the rains and dispenses fertility.  Lono is the god of harvest. Lono-makua (Father Lono) is the name given to portray the god during the Pre-Contact time. Lono’s role was generally confined to the celebration of games. Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of volcanic fire, personification of the female power of destruction. Associated with Pele are the 4 snow covered peaks: Lilinoe,Waiau, Kahoupokane and Poliahu. Poliahu has an extensive story associated with Pele. Poliahu liked to play with mortals along the eastern peaks of the mountain Mauna Kea.  This is just some of the history of the Hawaiian religion. Our religion is rich in mythology all the way back to the Tower of Babel.  So as you can see, we do believe in a supreme being as you do.” Honua wrapped up his narrative by catching a pretty decent break. He then paddled back out to Joel.

“I’m sorry to tell you, Honua” replied Joel, “that your ‘supreme being’ is not the same as YHWH. Any other god, including the supreme beings of many polytheistic nations, are called ‘detestable gods’ by God.18

“But we both worship the supreme being, no matter what name we have given him, don’t we?” asked Honua.

“No, Honua” answered Joel.  “Men may know there is a Creator of the universe,18a but they do not know YHWH who exclusively revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and to Moses, revealing to them that there is no other God but YHWH.19 He has said that all other gods are false gods.20  False idols and false gods are really demons.21 Just because people worship a “supreme being” among a pantheon of other gods, like almost every other culture in the world, does not make those supreme beings YHWH. God was clear, for instance, that the supreme being of the Egyptians who was called Amen or Amon, was a false god.22 YHWH has said that all other Gentile cultures and religions in the world are without God and without hope in the world23 because they were outside of the covenant relationship YHWH had with Israel in the Old Testament times, and outside the new covenant of Jesus Christ in the New Testament times we are in today.”24

“There is no way to be reconciled to YHWH, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, outside of a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ the Son, which means you must be born again.25 To be born again you must believe that the historical God-man Jesus Christ, born a Jew, is Lord26 and that he died and rose again to pay the death penalty for your sins.27 You must believe that He is the only Son of God28 and that the only revelation of Jesus Christ is to be found in the Scriptures by way of the foundational Apostles and prophets.”29

Honua answered “I am afraid, Joel. I have heard people preaching about sinners going to hell. I don’t want to be one of them and I have come to realize that Christ was not revealed outside of what came by way of the prophets of Israel and the Apostles of Jesus Christ in the Bible. Our myths are confusing and contradictory to me and reveal nothing about the God you speak of. What must I do to be saved?”

Joel answered, “You must turn away from your false gods and stop blaspheming the name of YHWH by worshipping supreme beings and other gods who are not the YHWH.30 You must renounce those gods and turn to the God of the Bible. You must repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Outside of the plan of salvation set forth in the Bible there is no hope for you or your people.31 You are a stranger and a foreigner32 to the promises of Israel and there is no hope of salvation outside of the new covenant through Jesus’ blood.”33

“Do you think your church family would like to adopt another son?” cried Honua. “As a Hawaiian it is hard for me to think of my culture and religion as garbage34 because we take great pride in our traditions. But I know your God is the only true God and that He has sent you here to witness to me about our people’s worship of false gods. I would rather serve Jesus Christ and live, than go back to the traditions and customs35 that taught of false gods and die.”

Joel said, “Why don’t you come with me to my home Bible study tomorrow. I am sure that everyone there will be glad to welcome you into the family and culture of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Bible.”36

This was the first time Joel had seen Honua smile.

 

 

 

 

Endnotes

 

Story #1

 

1—Yoel means "YHWH is God."

2—Canaan/Ugaritic gods - While El or Il, whose name means 'god', is commonly described as the creator of the earth, the Arameans ranked Hadad before him. As mentioned above, different cities had different concepts of not only which gods were ranked where in the pantheon, but also of which gods were included and what some of their basic attributes were. While El or Il, whose name means 'god', is commonly described as the creator of the earth, the Arameans ranked Hadad before him. Also, many city gods were named Baal, meaning 'lord'. Baal-Sidon, the city god of Sidon was thus an entirely different deity than Baal-Hadad, the storm god. Given the dearth of material from outside of Ugarit, if other cities or regions are not mentioned in the entry, the details can be assumed to be particular to Ugarit.

El - (also called Latipan, and possibly Dagon); Athirat (Asherah, Ashtartian - 'the Lady of the Sea', Elat - 'the goddess')
Kothar-and-Khasis ('skillful and clever', also called Chousor and Heyan (Ea) and identified with Ptah); Shachar 'Dawn'; Shalim 'Sunset/Dusk'; Shamu (Baalshamem?); Baal (also called Baal-Zephon(Saphon), Hadad, Pidar and Rapiu (Rapha?) - 'the shade')
Gapn (vine); Baal's page and messenger to both Anat and Mot; Radmanu (Pradmanu) a minor servitor of Baal; Ugar (cultivated field?)
Baal's other page and messenger to both Anat and Mot. He is possibly the patron city-god of Ugarit; Pidray 'daughter of the mist','daughter of light(ning)'; Baal's daughter. She is sometimes a love interest of Athtar; Tallay ='she of dew', 'daughter of drizzle' Baal's daughter; Arsay = 'she of the earth', 'daughter of [ample flows]' Baal's daughter; Ybrdmy , Baal's daughter; Athtart (Athtart-name-of-Baal, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Ashtart); Anat (Anath, Rahmay - 'the merciful'); Baalat; Tanit; Shapshu (Shapash); Yarikh; Kotharat (was thought to be Kathirat) 'skillful'; Athtar (Ashtar, 'Athtar, Atra of the sky) 'the terrible'; Sheger ('offspring of cattle') - He is the god of cattle; Ithm - He is the god of sheep; Hirgab - He is the father of the eagles.; S,umul - She is the mother of the eagles. She ate the body of Aqhat; Elsh - He is the steward (carpenter?) of El and of Baal's house. His wife is the stewardess (carpenter?) of the goddesses; Sha'taqat 'drives away' - She is the flying demoness who drives away Keret's disease on behalf of El with a touch of her wand to his head. 'god(s) of the fathers'  They are ancestral or clan deities, commonly associated with one family or another, outside of the main pantheon; Nikkal-and-Ib 'great lady and clear/bright/fruit' or 'Great goddess of fruit' (Ningal); Khirkhib (was thought to be Hiribi), king of summer, king of the raiding season (autumn); Baal-Shamen (Baal-Shamain) 'lord of the skies'; Dagon of Tuttul; Milqart (Melqart, Baal Tsur, Milkashtart?) - 'king of the city', the hunter, 'fire of heaven'. http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/canaanite-faq.html)

3—Here are some verses about the "detestible gods" that YHWH commanded the people of Israel not to follow, and many of whose followers, people groups, and cultures were destroyed because they were not worshipping YHWH: Leviticus 18:30; Deuteronomy 7:25, 7:26, 12:31, 18:9, 20:18, 27:15, 29:17, 32:16; 1 Kings 11:5, 11:7, 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3, 21:2, 21:11, 23:13, 23:24; 2 Chronicles 15:8, 28:3, 33:2, 34:33, 36:14; Ezra 9:1, 9:11; Proverbs 21:27, 28:9; Isaiah 1:13; Jeremiah 4:1, 7:30, 16:18, 32:35; Ezekiel 5:9, 5:11, 11:18, 11:21, 12:16, 14:6; Malachi 2:11

3a—Rom. 1:16-32  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator— who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

4—Isaiah 45:14  This is what the LORD says: "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans— they will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you, coming over to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you, saying, ’Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.’"
Exodus 20:3  "You shall have no other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

5—Jeremiah 16:19  O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.
Amos 2:4  This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,

6—Deuteronomy 32:17  They sacrificed to demons, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.
1 Corinthians 10:20  No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.

7—Jeremiah 46:25  The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.

"When the Upper Egyptian city Thebes rose to prominence during the New Kingdom, so did its local gods. The chief of the Theban gods was called Amon. Amon was associated with the air as an invisible, dynamic force. He became indoctrinated as the supreme, all-powerful and unseen creator. It was said that he was self-created and born in secret. All other gods were just forms of Amon. The priests of Thebes incorporated the aspects of all of the great creator-gods in Amon. They said that the Ogdoad of Hermopolis were forms of Amon and that Amon left the earth to shine as the sun-god Re. The priests even claimed that Amon was the Tatenen, the primeval mound of Memphis." (http://www.egyptianmyths.net/thebes.htm)

8—De 12:2  Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.

9—1 Kings 20:28  The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: ’Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.’"

10—Is. 9:11-15  But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on. Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised. But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; the elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

11—Leviticus 24:16  anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

12—Ex. 12:48-49  "An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you."

13—1Ki 8:41  “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name—

14—Exodus 34:27  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."
Jeremiah 31:33  "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

15—Exodus 23:32  Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods.

 

Story #2

 

16—Joel means "God is willing."

17—Hawaiian Gods (From a "Christian" site), http://www.mythome.org/hawaiig.html

Supreme Being(s)

Io, Keawe, IAO, Kela, Tera: I'o is the unmanifest infinite source of creation. Before time began, I'o was. Then, Io breathed forth Mana which pervades space equally and is in every living thing. Mana gives all living creatures the power to live and be alive. Io sent the Mana across the Po (the darkness), and created Kane, the creator, and creation began. According to Leinani Melville, Io spoke the word Ola into the emptiness of the Po, and commanded the creation into motion. This brought the flaming cross of light, the Kaukahi.  Io was also the first and original Hawaiian God. The 4 major gods, Ku, Lono, Kane and Kanaloa came later. The Hawaiians would later drift away from Io into the Aumakua system, and then to the 4 main gods with the establishment of the systems of Pa'ao

Other gods

Ha'iaka- Sister of the goddess Pele; Haumea - She was daughter to Papa (a fertility goddess) and mother to Pele (female-volcanoes) and
Hi'aika (dance-specifically the hula). Besides teaching human women how to give birth properly she was considered a very wise woman, and very brave. She rescued her husband from kidnappers and to escapes them leaps (with her husband) into a ulu tree (breadfruit). When the kidnappers try to capture them by cutting into the tree with their machetes the splinters of wood and poisonous sap from the tree kill the axemen. To appease Haumea they carve the tree into a shape of goddess whom Haumea calls Kamehaikana. Another set of stories involve her magic stick (wand) made from an ulu tree. The wand could create fruit on the tree, or fish. One day she was startled by one of her daughters and as she turns around to rebuke her daughter Haumea twisted her wrist so that the fish she was invoking were scattered into the surrounding waters so that is why Hawaii has so many fish in its waters; Kanaloa - Kanaloa is coupled with the God Kane. Kanaloa is the old Polynesian sea god of death,darkness, water, and squid.Under the influence of sorcery, Kane has the character to heal:  Kanaloa, god of the squid,  Here is your sick man........this ends with an excellent objective description of squid catching. Fishermen will use him for protection but he is looked upon with distrust as an aumakua.  There is a legend that the Ancient Hawaiians told about Kanaloa:  Kanaloa is associated with the Christian devil.  His name is associated with various legends of strife against Kane in which Kanaloa and his spirits rebel and are sent down to the underworld.  In the legend of Hawaii-loa belonging to the Kumu-honua epic account of the Kane tradition, Kanaloa is the leader of the first company of spirits placed on earth after earth was separated from heaven.  These spirits are "spit out by the gods."  They rebel, lead by Kanaloa, because they are not allowed to drink awa, but are defeated and cast down to the underworld, where Kanaloa, otherwise known as Milu, becomes ruler of the dead.  The legend places Kane and Kanaloa in opposition as the good and evil wishers of mankind. Kanaloa has a very extensive set of sites on the web. Most of them are collected in one place (about half way down the page) at: Kanaloa; Kane - Hawaiian god of the forests and trees. Kane was the leading god of the great gods named by the Hawaiians.  He represented the god of procreation and was worshipped as ancestor of chiefs and commoners.  Kane is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky. According to the possible late edition of the Kumuhonua legend, he formed the three worlds: the upper heaven of the gods, the lower heaven above the earth, and the earth itself as a garden for mankind; the latter he furnished with sea creatures, plants, and animals, and fashioned man and woman to inhabit it.  No human sacrifice or laborious ritual was needed in the worship of Kane; Kapua- The divine tricksters or mischief-makers of Hawaii; Ki'i - Hawaiian creator god or first created man; Kupua- Generic term for the demigods of Hawaii, as opposed to the Akua, the gods proper; Ku - Ku (male or husband), and Hina (female or wife) were the rulers of the ancient people and are the earliest gods.  They are great ancestral gods of earth and heaven who have general control over the bounty of earth and generations of mankind.  Ku freed one from their faults and errors.  He is associated with sacrifice and prisoners. Ku represents the East, or the sun rising, which indicates morning.  Ku equals "rising upright."  Hina represents the West, or the sun setting, which indicates evening.  Hina means "leaning down." Ku represents the universal character as a god to worship.  The Ancient Hawaiians worshiped Ku for things such as good fishing, long life, good crops, and family and national prosperity for a whole. For example, early in the morning, prayers are said by fishermen to Ku to help them with their fishing; Laka - Hawaiian goddess of song and dance; Lono - In Hawaii , the clouds and the phenomena of storms are associated with Lono. When the statement, "with head hidden in the dark clouds above" is recited, it is usually referring to Lono. During prayer to Lono,  signs of the god are named thunder, lightening, earthquake, the dark cloud, the rainbow, rain, wind, whirlwinds that sweep the earth,  waterspouts, the clustering clouds of heaven, and gushing springs on the mountains.  Lono brings on the rains and dispenses fertility.  Lono is the god of harvest; Lono-makua (Father Lono), is the name given to portray the god during the Pre-Contact time.  Lono's role has generally confined to the celebration of games; Pele - Hawaiian goddess of volcanic fire, personification of the female power of destruction. Associated with Pele are the 4 snow covered peaks: Lilinoe,Waiau, Kahoupokane and Poliahu. Poliahu has an extensive story associated with Pele. Poliahu liked to play with mortals along the eastern peaks of the mountain Mauna Kea.

Hawaiian Gods (From a non-Christian site, http://www.huna.com/gods_diagram.html)

Kane, Elieli, Eli, Kane Ulu Lani, Kane Nui Akea: Io sent Mana across the Po, and created Kane, Io's son -- one of the creators of life on this earth. Kane was created, then Na' wahine was created. Keawe, Kane, and Na' wahine dwell together in the house of the sun (Hale a ka La). Kane is the primordial lord of the sun, and also appears in many different aspects which are personifications of natural phenomena such as Kane-hekili, the god of the thunder, and in the Taro root which, like Kane is purple. Kane is represented by an uncarved upright stone, since mankind cannot put form to the formless one. Kane is lord of the west. Na' wahine, Uliuli, Uli: Io manifested as Keawe and became his heavenly daughter Na' wahine, the Goddess Uliuli, the wife of Kane. Uli is the highest manifestation of universal feminine energy, the Goddess of Serenity. Uli, Keawe's first daughter, is also worshiped as Malama, the goddess of the moon. Uli as Uli- nana-pono was the one who saw all things the individual did that were right. As Uli-nana-hewa, she also saw all the things that an individual did that were wrong. Together Eli (Kane) and Uli (Na' wahine) created Kanaloa, Ku, and Lono, their first three sons. They also had three daughters: Tapo, Hina, and Laka, who married the Kanaloa, Ku and Lono. In most of the original systems of the peoples of the earth, through out the world, Mana is in the domain of the feminine. Man without the goddess energy is unmotivated -- not moved to action. The male energy is the domain of form, the femine of energy. Woman is the creator of life -- the creator of Mana -- because it is she who creates life, and so brings out the life force energy -- Mana.

Kanaloa: Son of Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Tapo. Kanaloa is the ruler of the oceans, and consequently the ruler of the Mana. Kanaloa channels or funnels the Mana that comes from Io to Kane to Kanaloa. Since Kanaloa is the ruler of Mana, he is also invoked in some cases to alleviate or disperse disease (see the chant Pule Hee). Kanaloa is Lord of the South. When the Christian Missionaries arrived, they decided that Kanaloa was the devil, cast out of heaven. We do not believe that this was originally the case, since the Christian church has had a history of branding local deities as the devil, as for example, the god Pan in western Europe. Kapo, Tapo: A daughter of Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Kanaloa. As such, she becomes the feminine aspect of Kanaloa. Kapo is also one of Pele's seven sisters, and one of the goddesses of the Hula. Ku: Created by Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Hina. Ku and his manifestations, such as Ku-ka-ilimoku (Ku, the eater of islands -- the personal god of King Kamehameha,I) were brought to Hawaii by Pa'ao and when that happened, the original order was overthrown. When Ku became as the primary god of Hawaii (somewhere between 750, and 1250 A.D.), the balanced system where men and women were honored equally was overthrown. Today, Ku is the prevailing deity in the Heiau of Hawaii, and so women are not allowed on the platforms of the Heiau and are not allowed to make offerings. While we do not agree with the Kapu against women in today's current system, we respect the beliefs of the current Kapu system. The days of dishonor to women are over, however, and it is time to end that prohibition. Ku is Lord of the North.   Hina: Hina is a daughter of Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Ku. She is the feminine aspect of Ku. In many situations today, in Hawaii, Hina is invoked in facilitation of the process of physiological healing, since Ku is the presiding deity of many Heiau. Lono: Lono is the son of Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Laka. Lono is the god of learning, and intellect, and as Lono-i- ka-makahiki, is the god of the freedom of the end of the year. Lono has a number of aspects, such as Lono-makua who starts fire with a staff called pahoa. (In ancient times, the women did not start fires, men did, so the men cooked.) Lono is lord of the east. Laka: Laka is a daughter of Na' wahine and Kane, and married to Lono. Married to Lono, she embodies the feminine aspect of Lono. As one of Pele's most prominent sisters, Laka is one of the major deities of the Hula. She is also one of the seven sisters of Pele. Wakea: Wakea is the father of the earth, and the prevailing deity of the gods and goddesses of nature. Papa: Papa is the earth mother, and is also known as Haumea. She was also called Ka-luahine. Papa and Wakea are the mother and father of Honua, the being that is the earth. Honua: Honua is the being that is the earth -- the spirit that is the planet. Honua's daughter is the goddess of the volcano -- Pele. Pele: Is the goddess of the volcano. Pele has a staff -- a staff used to find out if ground is dry. Many books on the subject say that Pele is a myth, but many families of Hawaii today believe that Pele was an actual person from Kahiki (somewhere other than here), or Kahinina (the East). It was believed that she lived in the land Kuwaihealani.

18— Here are some verses about the “detestible gods” that YHWH commanded the people of Israel not to follow, and many of whose followers, people groups, and cultures were destroyed because they were not worshipping YHWH: Leviticus 18:30; Deuteronomy 7:25, 7:26, 12:31, 18:9, 20:18, 27:15, 29:17, 32:16; 1 Kings 11:5, 11:7, 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3, 21:2, 21:11, 23:13, 23:24; 2 Chronicles 15:8, 28:3, 33:2, 34:33, 36:14; Ezra 9:1, 9:11; Proverbs 21:27, 28:9; Isaiah 1:13; Jeremiah 4:1, 7:30, 16:18, 32:35; Ezekiel 5:9, 5:11, 11:18, 11:21, 12:16, 14:6; Malachi 2:11

18a—Rom. 1:16-32  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator— who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

19—Isaiah 45:14  This is what the LORD says: "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans— they will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you, coming over to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you, saying, ’Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.’"
Exodus 20:3  "You shall have no other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

20—Jeremiah 16:19  O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.
Amos 2:4  This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,

21—Deuteronomy 32:17  They sacrificed to demons, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear.
1 Corinthians 10:20  No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.

22—Jeremiah 46:25  The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.

“When the Upper Egyptian city Thebes rose to prominence during the New Kingdom, so did its local gods. The chief of the Theban gods was called Amon. Amon was associated with the air as an invisible, dynamic force. He became indoctrinated as the supreme, all-powerful and unseen creator. It was said that he was self-created and born in secret. All other gods were just forms of Amon. The priests of Thebes incorporated the aspects of all of the great creator-gods in Amon. They said that the Ogdoad of Hermopolis were forms of Amon and that Amon left the earth to shine as the sun-god Re. The priests even claimed that Amon was the Tatenen, the primeval mound of Memphis.” (http://www.egyptianmyths.net/thebes.htm)

23—Eph. 2:11-12 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

24—1 Corinthians 11:25  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Hebrews 9:15  For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance— now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

25—Rom. 2:12  All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
John 3:3  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

26—Acts 16:31  They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved— you and your household."

27—1 Thessalonians 4:14  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

28—John 20:31  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

29—Romans 16:25  Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,
Gal. 1:11-12  I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:20  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
John 7:42  Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?"

30—Leviticus 24:16  anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

31—Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

32—Eph. 2:17-20  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

33—Hebrews 9:15  For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance— now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

34—Phil. 3:4b-9  If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ— the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

35—Mark 7:8-9  You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
Mark 7:13  Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Colossians 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

36—Read "A New Culture" by Juanita Simpson, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/anewculture.html