Spirit and Truth Ministries
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MULE-LIKE RELIGION
Don Hawley
May 19, 2000
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If someone calls you a “donkey,” an “ass,” or a “jackass,” don’t take it as a compliment. According to the dictionary the synonym “stupid” applies to all three.
Now suppose you own a jackass, and he is somewhat stupid. In order to improve the situation, you decide to mate him with a beautiful, swift racehorse. Of course when you breed a horse and a jackass, you end up with a mule. This latter hybrid definitely is not going to be as graceful and swift as a horse, and furthermore it almost certainly will be sterile. Dead end.
From ancient times God has made it clear that he’s less than enthused about hybrids.
Obey my laws: Do not mate your cattle with a different kind; don't sow your field with two kinds of seed; don't wear clothes made of half wool and half linen. Lev. 19:19.
Of course these physical restrictions were to teach a spiritual truth, one that Israel didn’t comprehend. In spite of its wealth and power, God considered the idolatrous nation of Egypt “stupid.” The children of God did come out of Egypt physically, but they left part of their heart behind. They couldn’t bring themselves to make a full break.
That was bad enough, but Israel also refused to obey God’s command to go on into Canaan land. They longed for the “milk and honey” of that place, but fear of what else they might find kept them from claiming their right. And so they became a hybrid, part
Egypt and part Canaan—a mule. The result was a sterility that kept them from being a blessing either to themselves or others. They died in the desert of compromise.
Today, many spiritual Israelites are making a similar mistake. They hear God calling them out of cultism, denominationalism, and other manmade organizations, but can’t seem to make a clean break. Though they actually leave physically, they still retain strong emotional ties to their past.
Such congregations want some experience in what God is doing through the Holy Spirit today, but fear keeps them from full acceptance. They get into the river up to their knees, and then refuse to go wherever God wants to take them.
Some of these compromised groups actually call themselves “half-way houses.” The idea is that if they only come out part way, then they can encourage others to make a break. They refuse to move fully in the Spirit lest it frighten those coming out of dead religious forms. Though sincere, such groups are sterile when it comes to ministering in fullness. They have only a half loaf of the Bread of Life.
Time is running out for compromise, it’s decision time. The One who is coming soon says:
"I know you well--you are neither hot nor cold; I wish you were one or the other! But since you are merely lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth!
"You say, 'I am rich, with everything I want; I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that spiritually you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. My advice to you is to buy pure gold from me, gold purified by fire--only then will you truly be rich. And to purchase from me white garments, clean and pure, so you won't be naked and ashamed; and to get medicine from me to heal your eyes and give you back your sight. Rev. 3:15-18.
If you’ve been wandering in the desert of compromise, it’s time to cut all ties with a failed past, and move fully into what God is doing right now through his Holy Spirit. You can be part of the final move of God, but only if you’re fully committed to him.
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