"MONGRELISM" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 8/26/25

“They feared the LORD and served their own gods…” “So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images…” (II Kings 17:33, 41)

The 265-year history of the Northern Kingdom had now come to an end. God gave Israel over into the hands of Shalmaneser, King of Assyria. Shalmaneser’s reason for laying siege to Samaria was King Hoshea’s refusal to pay tribute to him, but the underlying reason was that Israel had “provoked the Lord to anger” with their long history of idolatry. God had suffered long with this people, whose idol worships began immediately after they severed themselves from Judah. Jeroboam immediately set up calf-worship, saying, “…behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” This was only the beginning. This chapter records how they worshipped the host of heaven and served Baal, practiced every form of idol worship, including causing their sons and daughters to pass through the fire.

So, from the beginning Israel professed to fear the Lord, while serving other gods. Jeroboam’s calves were meant to represent Jehovah, not replace Him. Image worshippers will often make this ridiculous claim - just as many do today. We find in this chapter that as the Assyrians came and colonized the vacated cities of Samaria, they brought their own gods. We are also told that “they feared not the LORD.” (Vs. 25) They soon wanted to add “the God of the land” to their gods. As lions came into these cities they were filled with fear and were sure that “The God of the land” was doing it, so they desired to know how to worship Him. A priest was appointed (probably one of the mold of Jeroboam’s original hireling) to teach them “the manner of the God of the Land.” So, we read in our text that these settlers soon became like the people they had displaced: “They feared the LORD, and served their own gods.”

When men try and mix the true with the false in the matter of religion what comes forth is what Matthew Henry describes as religious mongrelism. This is exactly what we have in our text. The truth is, such a crossbreed as this is an impossibility. The True and Living God is a jealous God, and He will not share His glory with another. Many false claims are made on behalf of false deities, but God says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isa. 45:7) “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:22)

A mongrel in the animal world results from mixing diverse strain - the opposite of a purebred, or thoroughbred. With animals mixed breeds can be a good thing. Some of our most wonderful pets are mongrels. This is because they can possess a combination of the best qualities of the various stocks from which they come. As a rule, they tend to live longer as well. But, regarding religion, it must be “pure and undefiled.” (James 1:27), because “…what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” (II Cor. 6:16) Mongrelism is an abomination, and it is death to true religion.

Religious mongrelism is nevertheless, very popular worldwide. It isn’t necessarily called by that name, but we see it all around us. Some call it “Christian liberty,” insisting that, contrary to biblical truth, grace liberates us from the cords of the law. Holiness, according to them, is optional. True faith in Christ, however, insists that the old idols must go. Perhaps having never so much as heard of the mythical goddess, Venus, still sensuality and sinful pleasure rules in the heart of many professing Christians. Likewise, Bacchus, the god of drink is unwittingly bowed down to by countless others. Jesus said quite clearly, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon,” yet material and wealth have first place in the lives of far too many. Is this not also mongrelism? Let us all take the prayer of William Cowper and make it our own:

“Dearest idol I have known,

What ere that idol be,

Help me tear it from its throne,

And worship only Thee.”

Idols come in many forms. We have named only a few. Essentially anything or anyone that comes before God in our life is an idol. Also, whatever we may seek after in preference to what we know to be His will becomes an idol.