“You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; shall not walk in their statutes.” (Leviticus 18:3)

This is SO applicable to Christians today. People are always saying things like: “we need to be like the world; we need to entertain like the world, be businesslike like the world;” and so on. But God says NO!! “You shall NOT do what is done in the land …”. He says His goal for His people is NOT to be like the world! They are to follow HIS word instead. He says in :4, “You are to perform MY judgments and keep MY statutes, to live in accord with them; I am YHWH your God.” 

Sadly, too many in the church are doing the opposite, using the world’s standards as their model and guide, for worship, for business, finances, relationships, ministry, morals, etc. But this is a tragic mistake. God says we are NOT to be like them. “You shall NOT do what is done” by them!

Lest we think this is an “Old Testament” concept only, Jesus echoed this same warning in the New Testament. In Matthew 20, He told His disciples: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant …”. Just like His Father in Leviticus, Jesus points His disciples to “the way of the world” and then says: “it is NOT this way among you.”

Again, Jesus is declaring that His followers are to be different. They are not to do things the way the rest of the world does. The question for those of us who consider ourselves to be His followers is: ARE we indeed different? Or are we just “doing what is done” in the land around us?