15 Bible Verses about Not Imitating Evil

You are not to bow down to their gods or serve them. You are not to follow their practices, but you are to overthrow them completely and smash their sacred stones to pieces.

You are not to do what you used to do in the land of Egypt where you lived. You are not to do what Canaan does, where I'm about to bring you, so that you live according to their statutes.

You are not to live by the customs of the nations, whom I've cast away right in front of you. Because they did all of these things, I detested them.

after they have been destroyed in your sight, be careful not to be ensnared as they were. Otherwise, you will seek their gods and ask yourselves, "How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.'

"When you enter the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't learn the detestable practices of those nations there.

"You must not act like this with respect to the LORD your God.

Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.

He practiced what the LORD considered to be evil, though not like the kings of Israel who had preceded him.

"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "your sister Sodom and her daughters didn't do what you and your daughters have done.

I told their children in the wilderness, "You are not to follow the statutes of your ancestors, observe their ordinances, or be defiled by their idols.

For this is what the LORD spoke to me, as his forceful hand was resting on me, and as he was warning me not to live the way this people were living:

so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don't do what they say.

"Now suppose that he produced a son who practiced all of his father's sins, but then that son began to fear me and stopped doing all of these things.

Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts.