Have Yourself a Babylonian Christmas?

Is 21:9 And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her god she has shattered to the ground.”

The Bible uses many famous cities both literally and figuratively. There were real cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Jerusalem, and Babylon…. but the Bible also uses these cities figuratively. It does the same with famous mountains and places.

The fall of Babylon is a key motif in Scripture and it has profound implications…. especially to Western Christians as we live and work in some of the most prosperous times in world history!

So we must pay attention to the LITERAL demise of ancient Babylon and understand the applications of the FIGURATIVE Babylon.

The prophetic details regarding the fall of ancient Babylon, as minutely recorded in the Old Testament narratives, truly are astounding. This is but another example of the amazing evidence that demonstrates the character of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. The accuracy of the dozens of prophecies regarding the fall of Babylon has baffled skeptics for generations. So remarkable has been the precision of the fulfillment that critics often have resorted to redating the predictions in both Isaiah and Jeremiah so as to make them appear to be records of history instead of prophecy!

                                            WAYNE JACKSON-Babylon, A Test Case in Prophecy

Our modern cities with their wealth, false religions, and sexual exploitation are modern forms of Babylon. The media and their advertisements can bring into our homes and thoughts the seducing message of worshiping money, sex, power, and pleasure. Advertisements tell us that satisfaction and meaningful living can be found if only we buy the latest product.

                                                                                Vern Poythress

What’s so bad about Babylon?

A Faulty System: “The system whereby man and women, beginning absolutely by themselves, try rationally to build out from themselves, having only Man as their integration point, to find all knowledge, meaning and value”  Francis Schaeffer

• A System that Love things and Uses People-
• A System Run by Selfish People
• A System Run by Wicked People- Ch 17- Mother of the Earth’s Abominations

Where we have to be careful, is that though the destruction is predicted, it comes upon the people without warning. And because it happens in God’s timing, a lot of people stop believing that it will happen.

Sadly, when it happens…. it comes ‘crashing’ down … it was predicted…. it was ignored.. but it does happen and catches MANY people unaware and unprepared.

Have you ever seen the sudden destruction of those who stand against God? I have. You pray for them and it looks like nothing is even close to happening… and the fall is shocking!

Babylon is going to be taken down…. so the key is for us to destroy  Babylon now. In other words, what allegiances do we have to this city that is defiant to God and God’s people?

And this is a wise choice….. It is going away anyway!

Think of it as a twist on the famous  Jim Elliott quote:

“He is no fool to put away what will be destroyed, to pursue what will last.”

One leading pastor in helping us understand this journey is Tim Keller. Tim Keller has ministered and served in New York for over 25 years. He meets people who are trapped in the Manhattan lifestyle.

Consider how he begins this important process……

“I ordinarily begin speaking about sin to a young, urban, non-Christian like this:

Sin isn’t only doing bad things, it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things. Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. Sin is primarily idolatry.”   Tim Keller   

By the way... you can live in Babylon without having a Babylonian Christmas......

Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.   

“ Worldliness is what any culture does to make sin seem normal and righteousness seem strange.” G.K. Beall

The glamour of this world system is a lot of promise but little fulfillment. Contrast this to Christ. As others flee in distress, Christ endured the cross. The world woos and Satan strikes. We spit on Christ and He forgives. We give hours to the world and minutes to Christ. We give thousands to the spirit of the age and pennies to God’s kingdom. Yet, over and over, the cross is proof of God’s love. Time is proof of God’s patience. But the Scripture is clear, the day of grace will close and destruction will come suddenly. Those who have served Babylon, loved Babylon, treated God and His people with contempt…. will meet the wrath of a Father whose son has been mistreated, ignored, and murdered. In the end it will come down to two kingdoms. Some who said to God, “Thy will be done” and others to whom God says to them, “thy will be done.”

Are you weary of this culture? Are you tired of Babylon?

Our post-modern carnage has left us:

• fractured: from no consensus-
• shallow: from endless sound bites and sloganeering (please- no more snappy mission statements)-
• disillusioned: from no appeal to truth, and
• fatigued: from microwave, fast paced activities, but no form to support the pressure.

DESTROYING ‘BABYLON’ IN OUR LIVES

As we list modern day idols, simple state what are the ‘good things’ that we have made into ‘god things”?

• Active Allegiance to the King of Kings

It is important to publicly stand with Christ. Let your allegiance be known! I was convicted years ago by a famous question: If you were put on trial for the crime of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict?

• Gospel Message and Spirit Power- Preach the gospel to yourself everyday

Our only hope in escaping Babylon is to be set free by the true gospel. “The gospel is too good and life is too short for us to spend our lives as posers” David Filson

• Practicing The Disciplines of Grace (Prayer/Scripture/Fasting/Worship/ Sacraments)

I call on all of us to reclaim the lost art of discipleship. We need to meet in small groups and encourage one another to practice our faith. We are not saved by our rituals and routines, but we live lives of obedience BECAUSE of God’s free gift and grace!

• Silence and Solitude- Evaluation

Because this is so important..take time to truly ask God to show you where you are. Ask hard questions… read the beautiful verses that lay out the doctrine of grace!

• Fellowship and Accountability

This is similar to point #3… but Christianity is NOT a lone ranger lifestyle.

• Patience and Perseverance

Don’t give up. God has a pace. He is never late, but He is seldom early! Patience helps us grow. This race is a marathon…not a sprint!

Try These Things:

Do an Idol Inventory- Ask God to reveal and then help with the fight

Do a Relationship Inventory- Strengthen the Bonds!

Giving to God’s kingdom in Proportion to Supporting World’s System

Discipline and Restraint in Regards to Appetites

TV/ Movies/ Music/ Entertainment- Ask for Discernment

Christian Liberty- Ask for Discernment “All things lawful- but not all profitable”

Loving Confrontation – “Hard on Yourself and Tender Toward Others”

II CORINTHIANS 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

The following is an idol inventory that I adapted (stole) from Tim Keller… I find it VERY useful!

IDOL INVENTORY- Adapted From Tim Keller

Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have power and influence over others.

Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am loved and respected by _________.

Comfort idolatry:“Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.”

Image idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have a particular kind of look or body image.

Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of _____________.

Helping idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ people are dependent on me and need me.”

Dependence idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ someone is there to protect me and keep me safe.”

Independence idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone.”

Work idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am highly productive getting a lot done.”

Achievement idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am being recognized for my accomplishments, if I am excelling in my career.”

Materialism idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions.

Religion idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am adhering to my religion’s moral codes and accomplished in it activities.”

Individual person idolatry: “Life only has meaning/ 1 only have worth if ‑‑ this one person is in my life and happy there and/or happy with me.”

Irreligious idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and with a self‑made morality.

Racial/cultural idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ my race and culture is ascendant and recognized as superior.”

Inner ring idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ a particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in”

Family idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ my children and/OR my parents are happy with me.”

Suffering idolatry: “Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am hurting, in a problem ‑­only then do I feel noble or worthy of love or am able to deal with guilt.”

Understanding idolatry:  “Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I understand why I am the way I am and understand my idols!”

Safety idolatry: “Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I am pursuing the safest course of action and not taking risks emotionally or physically”

Authenticity idolatry: “Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I am not pretending and being honest [shameless] about who I really am”

This Christmas... let the Lord do some heart surgery. Find your worth in Him and enjoy your time with family and friends. Don't live like you need to rise is status in a system that is corrupt. This doesn't mean you have to flee the world... you can live in it and discover the riches that really matter! 

If Christmas lets you down...could it be that you have idolized even what the holidays are supposed to do for you?

"God rest you Merry Gentlemen".............

Hurts So Good- The Pain of Progress

A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or
achievement and critical acclaim, or saving “face” and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even
success in the Christian ministry. When your meaning in life is to fix someone else’s life, we may call it “co-­ dependency” but it is really idolatry. An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.” there are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship.
from Tim Keller's New Book: Counterfeit Gods

I have had a huge hurt recently, one of those that cut you to the core. This one was a deep, deep pain- the kind that keeps you up at night. The kind that is evoked in Edgar Allen Poe lore: "Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting...."

What was the source of pain? It was the beautiful letdown of a long held idol. One that had entangled my heart so deeply. This idol and I had been together a long, long time. It was with me as far back as 2nd grade where it first promised me purpose and contentment- direction and a future. And like all good false gods- it kept its promise for a long, long time.

After all.. this idol was a good thing, but my sinful heart made it a god thing.

AND...it would wound me now and then- but come right back and bind the wound. The balm made me forget the source of the affliction, so the comfort only chained my heart deeper.

But God is so good to me. He allows hurt to cut deep and into the root of my sin and idolatry. I cry out to Him in pain and misery, and He lovingly stays silent. I get angry and He grows firmer in solid confrontation and coldness.

And then I wake up and realize- it is my idol that has abandoned me.

I look into the eyes of my Savior and He, lovingly, is ready to forgive. I repent and ask to begin again. He never even says, "I told you so."

I walk a lot lighter these days- a great burden has been cut away.
And the hurt was.... so good!

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Time to Check My Idols

I have had a lot of help in all the notes and quotes below

John Calvin : “our hearts are a perpetual factory of idols”.

Psalm 115
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.

‘Sensory Organ Malfunction Imagery’ is the Biblical language for idolatry. We become callous and hardened toward God because we are worshiping other things. As a result, we grow less sensitive to our God and His ways. He is foreign to us and He begins to fade. We do not hear Him, we do not see Him, and we do not speak of Him. When we do think of Him, it is often as an expedient. We feel the need to tag Him as a superstitious ritual in solving a mess. But there is no sense of His Lordship and no heart desire to seek Him.
Sadly, culture has taught us how to live without God. In our media-model culture, God is seldom referred to as a part of everyday life.
In stark contrast to men and women of the Scriptures, we sense only weakly the presence of the Creator. The saints of old had a daily awareness, but we are so immersed into the media view of world that we compartmentalize Him and allow Him to speak only on Sundays or in a Bible Study. We live with little or no sensitivity to God working in our life.
I like watching the TV show “24”, but there has never been one reference of a spiritual nature in the many seasons of that show. Entire ‘days’ of death and drama take place with no perception of the afterlife, no foundation for morals, no prayer, no Bible, no real hope. Where is spirituality? It is becoming more unnatural to see an active God in the moment-by-moment details of life. We definitely don’t talk that way. It has been said that worldliness is what any culture does to make sin seem normal and righteousness seem strange. We go into life as blind as the idol makers of Isaiah’s day. The gods we serve are empty of power and we curse the heavens because God won’t show Himself. Who moved?

WHAT WE REVERE WE RESEMBLE EITHER TO RUIN OR RESTORATION
G.K. Beale

“At the core, idolatry is trying to control life and manage life by trying to make God controllable: if you can get God to do what you want by getting his attention or through some sacrificial service, then perhaps life will turn out the way you want it to. This is one of the root beliefs of pagan religion. It is telling to ask how much pagan religion is still in the confines of the church.” Bill Delvaux


GOD MADE US TO ENJOY HIM, ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND WORSHIP HIM.
HE GETS GLORY AND WE GET JOY.

"We are more spiritual than we even know.”

“I ordinarily begin speaking about sin to a young, urban, non-Christian like this:
Sin isn’t only doing bad things, it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things. Sin is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. Sin is primarily idolatry.” Tim Keller

As we list modern day idols, simple state what are the ‘good things’
that we have made into ‘god things”?


Questions to Help Us Identify Idols:
Most afraid of? What are you afraid of losing?
Long for most passionately?
Where do you go for comfort?
What media-advertisements pull your heart strings?
What do you complain about the most?
What angers you the most?
What makes you happiest?
How do you explain yourself to other people?
What has made you be angry at God?
What do you brag about?
What do you want to have? What one thing?
What do you sacrifice the most for?
Whose approval matters?
What comfort do you treasure?


My idol is ….. too many to mention. Lord, I need you to bust up some idols in my life. I feel very distant from You. Thank you for forgiving me. Let's get to work!