Ezra 4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

Opposition began as soon as the foundations were laid. It came from the Samaritans, a mixed race of heathens and Jews. During the great Assyrian invasion, the Assyrian king deported the bulk of the Jews to foreign lands and left the poor behind. He also replaced the population with people from other lands. These people amalgamated with the Jews still remaining in the land (2 Kings 17:6, 24-41). They combined their old idolatrous religion with that of the newly adopted religion of the Jews: "They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence" (2 Kings 17:33). They were never accepted into the Jewish community.

But the Samaritans claimed brotherhood with the Jews. They claimed to worship the same God as the Jews: “Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do;” (Ezra 4:2). But the truth is, theirs was a perverted version of the true worship. The inspired writer rightly calls the Samaritans “the adversaries,” (Ezra 4:1). It means they were enemies of the true God.

Today, the greatest threat to the truth comes from those who are within. The fight is not with denominations but with the liberals. The term “liberal” comes from the Latin word “liber” which means free. A liberal is free of restraints; he is not bound by authoritarianism. Therefore, in liberal Christian teaching, which is not Christian at all, man’s reason is stressed and is treated as the final authority; he is not bound by the word of God. As a result of this “reasoning” by liberal theologians, many false doctrines were formed.

The insincere request was based on an untruth for the Samaritans did not worship Jehovah as the Jews but along with their own gods (2Kings 17:25-41). There were similarities, but they were still different. The same is with the liberals today; they mix the truth with their own “reasoning”. God will not accept anything that is less than the truth: “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

We must beware of the proposal to join hands with the ungodly. Zerubbabel was right in rejecting the Samaritans’ offer of help to build the temple. Even today, why would lovers of truth want to invite liberal teachers to teach and preach at their pulpits? Their arguments may sound very convincing to those ignorant of the scriptures. They may have a flair of speech and the appearance of being kind and sincere, but the golden cup contains poison, and beneath the kiss is the traitor’s hand: “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips ” (Romans 3:13).

The proposal to unite in building the Temple was a calculated move by the devil. The calculation, no doubt, was that if the returning exiles could be united with the much more numerous Samaritans, they would soon be absorbed into them. I have not known of any congregation that has joined hands with the liberals and still remain in the truth. Never! Instead, they become one of them!

The liberals say: “Let us exchange pulpits and have fellowship together. Let our young men and women come together; it is better they marry one of us than with one from a denomination.”

Unless our young men and women are steadfast in their doctrines, to marry a liberal is to become one like them. To exchange pulpit is to become like them. It is easier for a white cloth to become black than for a black cloth to turn white. Paul is right: “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ASV).

The only chance for the smaller body to keep itself pure is to stay away from the liberals’ preaching and doctrines. No doubt, we can become a larger group by joining them but let us remember what the Lord said: “For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby” (Matthew 7:13).

Should Zerubbabel compromise and work with the Samaritans for the sake of continuing the work? We see they did not. They would rather keep their God than keep the Temple. Let us do likewise. Let us walk the narrow way: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.