ChurchApplied

Babylon Is Fallen

This cryptic statement is as mysterious as it is prophetic. Who is Babylon, and how did it fall? The word "Babylon" comes from the name of the ancient city, Bab-ilu (Babel). Babel and its famous tower, were built by some of Noah's descendants who doubted God's promise to never again destroy the earth by flood. To be safe they set out to build the world's first skyscraper.

"Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4)

When God saw their lack of faith, and saw that their imaginations were bent only toward evil, He confused their language so they no longer spoke one tongue. Frustrated and thwarted, they scattered across the face of the earth.

Babylon, which means "gate of the gods," was a city that many believe was established by Nimrod, the son of Cush. In time, Babylon became a symbol of everything that was opposed to God.

In 1997, the rock group, the Rolling Stones, embarked on a world tour they dubbed, "Bridges to Babylon." One writer said this title suggested "the transportation of the audience to a mythical place synonymous with both luxury and vice; the precise conditions that produce an atmosphere of decadence."

Revelation depicts spiritual Babylon as a fallen city; a symbol of modern spiritual entities who profess a connection with God, but who actually live by their own rules.

"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." (Revelation 14:8)

Now a billion dollar industry, pop-religion uses savvy marketing to sell its wares (books, videos, seminars, music and more). Mega-churches have learned how to grow their numbers and strengthen their loyal followers. Many churches produce high-powered programs that feature astounding theatrics, state-of-the-art music, and smooth preaching. These are not all bad. Some of the methods and techniques are effective in getting people's attention. But unfortunately with many churches, their teachings are so generic they fail to connect people with God. It appeals to the masses because it offers a watered-down version of Christianity that requires very little sacrifice or commitment. God's response to this is:

"Come out of her [fallen Christianity], my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." (Revelation 18:4, 5)

What are the earmarks of fallen religious entities? Here are a few:

1. Loss of vision and passion
2. Superficial faith
3. Using religion as a means for financial gain
4. Endorsing non biblical practices and beliefs
5. Hypocrisy
6. Using spiritual authority as a means to gain political clout

In another sense, the Babylon motif is also descriptive of the failed ideologies of capitalism and consumerism that promote the pursuit of ever-expanding consumption as the key to happiness and prosperity. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to know that eventually the bubble bursts, things wear out, debts pile up, and environmental issues reach a breaking point. Many of the critical issues that we face today are related to the insatiable appetite we have developed for a lifestyle that requires huge amounts of resources, particularly energy and water, that are rapidly being depleated. 

Ultimately, all of our problems stem from our alienation from God and His plan for our lives. The only way out is to hear and follow what He says.

Photo by Andrea Danti 

What Does It Mean to Be Holy?

My online dictionary defines a holy person as "one who is specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground. Additional definitions include:

- recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground. 
- dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man. 
- saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life. 
- having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love. 
- entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic. 
- religious: holy rites. 
- inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress: The director, when angry, is a holy terror. 
- a place of worship; sacred place; sanctuary.

Some of these sound to out of reach, like I would never be able to attain them. I have a hard time seeing myself as a "godly, pious saint." How can I be holy in my every-day life? How can I be the kind of person that God deems safe to save?

Eugene Peterson describes holiness in a way I can better relate to:

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

---Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

I can only be holy if God makes me so. And I can only choose to let him do it if he blesses me with the gift of his grace and a desire to be made whole. It all comes from him. My choosing and following, and his doing.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Photo by Alex Hinds

Scientology and Christianity

On the June 24, 2005 broadcast of NBC Today, movie star Tom Cruise told Matt Lauer, "Scientology is something that you don't understand. It's like you could be a Christian and be a Scientologist." Really? Is that a true statement?

According to Beliefnet.com, Scientologists espouse the following beliefs (I've summarized some to keep them short):¹

1. Belief in a Deity - Scientology considers the belief in a God or gods as something personal and therefore offers no specific dogma.

2. Incarnations - There are no particular human incarnations of God, as the universal life force (Theta) is inherent in all. All humans are immortal spiritual beings (thetans) capable of realizing a nearly godlike state through Scientology practices.

3. Origins of Universe and Life - All is manifestation of the universal spirit, which is all that actually exists.

4. After Death - Rebirths continue until one consciously confronts all pre-birth, current-life, and previous-life traumas and realizes one's true nature.

5. Why Evil? - Painful experiences and harmful acts in one's pre-birth, current, and past lives become imprinted in the reactive mind and lead to irrational behavior.

6. Salvation - Salvation is achieved through the practices and techniques of Scientology, the ultimate goal of which is to realize one's true nature as an immortal spirit, a thetan.

7. Undeserved Suffering - Suffering occurs as part of the spirit's entrapment here in the physical universe.

8. Contemporary Issues - Based on the belief that you cannot free yourself spiritually without working to free others, Scientology has founded and supports many organizations for social betterment, particularly in the areas of drug abuse, crime, psychiatric abuse, government abuse of law, human rights, religious freedom, education, and morality.

How Christianity Differs

Christianity draws its beliefs from the writings of Scripture, which it believes is the inspired Word of God. Regarding salvation, two New testament writers had the following to say:

Speaking of Jesus Peter said, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) NASB

Paul said, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11) NASB.

Clearly, Christianity presents Christ as humanity's only hope.

According to Scripture, evil exists because Lucifer, a once an elevated angel of light in God's order, chose to rebel against God's authority and continues to wreck havoc in people's lives and throughout the world. Scripture refers to this being as Satan and the Devil--who "deceives the whole world." (Revelation 12:9) NASB

Our only hope of salvation is for us to accept Jesus' death and victory over sin. As we embrace the principles of His Kingdom (love, forgiveness, truthfulness and self-sacrifice), we become like Him. In time, Jesus will return to this earth to rescue His follower from sin and death. A Bible writer by the name of John was given a vision of this future deliverance:

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Revelation 14:14-15) NASB

Reality Check - It doesn't take much effort to see there is a world of difference between Scientology and Christianity. It would be virtually impossible to merge these two systems of belief without compromising either one.

For more on what Christianity teaches visit Biblebay.

¹Beliefenet.com. Link: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8057_1.html

Becoming a New Person

An amazing story caught my attention the other day on CNN's website about a 34 year-old man who became a new person. For the last 15 years, Matt McKenna, who lives and works in Orange County, California, has struggled with being overweight. On October 2, 2005, he weighed 500 pounds. Matt says, "I ate as if it were my hobby. I was unable to do the simplest physical activity. I made excuses to avoid having to go out in public, for fear of being ridiculed. I tried to hide myself, as if someone so large could actually hide."¹

Have you ever felt trapped! When I was in the seventh-grade, I remember playing hide-and-seek with some classmates and hiding in a janitorial closet. It was a great place to hide because no one found me. But to my horror, when I went to leave I couldn't get out. The door wouldn't open! I was trapped. After a few minutes of yelling and banging on the door, someone heard me and ran for help. Eventually, I got out, but only after enduring a pretty good dose of claustrophobia. Can you imagine feeling trapped inside your own body with nowhere to run for help? Matt felt miserable.

"I couldn't walk to my car from my apartment or office without being out of breath, and my knees ached from even that small journey. Lying in bed, I could feel my heart pounding. I awoke several times each night struggling to breathe. Still, I was in denial. I knew I was obese, but I never considered what I was doing to myself. Loved ones offered concern and suggestions, but I saw them as just "getting on my case." ² 

Matt's parents realized he needed help and offered to do what they could to help him lose weight. But in order for it to work, he had to be dead serious about. There could be no excuses. Matt realized he could never do it himself and that this was his only chance. So, he moved in with his parents and together they devised a plan of action.

Matt decided, "There would be no excuses for failure, and the entire family would know everything -- no more hiding from anyone! It was important to involve them [my family] because I needed their encouragement." ³ Matt also made sure he had the support of his doctor and set up a schedule to see him every four to six weeks so he could monitor his progress.

On October 3, 2005, Matt begin his journey back to health by walking 5 minutes a day on a treadmill (eventually switching to walks around his neighborhood). For the first couple of weeks these short walks left him totally exhausted. For the first couple of weeks he "followed the South Beach Diet Phase 1. No breads or grains, no fruit, no alcohol, no sugar of any kind -- just eggs, cheese, lean meats and vegetables." ⁴ Even though they were small, these efforts resulted in a 25 pound weight loss by the end of the first week.

Anyone who has ever dieted knows how difficult it is to stay on track. Typically, the average dieter is trying to lose 10-25 lbs. Matt's goal was to lose 260, which is more than most people weigh. When we are faced in insurmountable challenges or problems it becomes clear that we need more than human strength.

Trying to lose 260 lbs is about as difficult as trying to re-enter the birth canal to be reborn. It is a total makeover of ones physical and emotional being. You don't accomplish this kind of goal on a whim. You must give it your total, undivided attention.

Spiritual Makeover Needed

In Romans 7, Paul wrote about a total spiritual makeover that was needed for his life. He felt trapped by his own inability to follow through with his best intentions:

"I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time." ⁵

"I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does." ⁶

Jesus performed the spiritual makeover that Paul desperately needed, and he will do the same for you. He is also ready and willing to help you with any physical challenges you may be facing.

Photo by Studiomill. Scripture taken from the THE MESSAGE ®
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1 CNN Online News: www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/01/25/matts.story/
2 ibid
3 ibid
4 ibid
5 Romans 7:18-20 (The Message)
6 Romans 7:24-25 (The Message)

Stronger Than Death

This morning I re-read the story about Lazarus being resurrected from the dead. It is one of the most powerful stories in all of Scripture. Aside from the fact that Lazarus was actually raised from the dead, what astounds me is that the religious teachers of his day felt threatened by the whole thing and actually wanted to kill Jesus and Lazarus to get rid of the evidence. They were worried about losing their role as stewards of God's law and felt that thousands would be led astray without their influence. Unfortunately, they were willing to use any means to preserve their positions.

As I read the account I was struck by several things. First of all, I was amazed that Jesus was glad He wasn't there when Lazarus died. He said, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe..." (John 11:14, 15). The disciples were perplexed. What was Jesus talking about? What did they need to believe?

In short, they needed to believe that Jesus was stronger than death--that death was subject to His authority!

The fact the Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days left no question in their minds about his status. He was very dead! Even Jesus' bitterest enemies knew this was true. Jesus wanted to use that moment to illustrate the death was not a permanent thing! If only the disciples had remembered this when He died.

If you don't believe death is powerful, go to a funeral and watch the faces of those who've been left behind. Listen to their sobs and expressions of loss. Listen to your own heart. Death rips parents, children, husbands and wives right out of our arms and there's nothing we can do to stop it! We are helpless! But not hopeless.

Jesus used Lazarus' passing to demonstrate what He intended to do about death. Contrary to what many believed then, and what many think now now, death is not the end! One day soon the grave will be forced to give way to the vibrancy of the unborrowed life of Jesus Christ, who said:

"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative, I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again..." (John 10:17, 18) New Living Translation

And when He lives and reigns in our hearts, guess what? He gets to have the last word! Just like He did in Bethany!

Questions for Discussion

1. How do you think people would respond today to someone being raised from the dead?

2. Can you think of any people today who may feel threatened by Jesus' power over death?

3. What do you fear most about death?

4. Make a list of five things you would like to accomplish before you die.

Related topics: Prayer Heals Dead Woman | Talking With a Dying Friend

Photo by Marc Dietrich

Temporary Residents and Foreigners

Lately many have expressed alarm over the number of temporary, or illegal residents that are in the United States. Some use the more charitable term, guest workers, to describe those who typically come here looking for economic relief. The illegals consider themselves refugees in search of economic asylum. When you consider how difficult their lives have been, you realize they are only doing what many of us would probably do if we were in their place. It has created a perfect storm that politicians and U.S. citizens struggle to weather.

What would it be like to be a temporary resident or a guest worker in a foreign land? Actually, if you are a Christian you should already know. Peter says,

"Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigner's to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your souls" (1 Peter 2:11) New Living Translation

Here Peter is talking about the danger of being a Christian, yet living in a land that has given its allegiance to the Prince of Evil. We are surrounded by people, cultural traditions, political ideologies and practices that run counter to God's ways. This isn't to say that all culture and earthly affiliations are evil and wrong. After all, God is the creator and author of life as we know it. But along the way many have embraced a new order that tries to eliminate the need for God. Some of the the most popular elements of this new order include:

Selfishness - The concept that self should be pampered and cared for regardless of the impact it may have on others. 

Greed - Closely, associated with selfishness, greed wants it all! It is piggish, grasping and sometimes deceptive.

Lust - Indulgence is what feeds lust. Typically this word is used to describe unbridled cravings that one may have for sexual pleasure. Other meanings include lasciviousness, wantonness, and prurience.

Pride - It's one thing to take pride in our accomplishments and in our families, but when pride turns to haughtiness it becomes selfish and evil. People who display this quality are often aloof, arrogant, and contemptuous.

One doesn't have to look very far to see the consequences of embracing these sins. Their aftermath includes adultery, assault and battery, child-abuse, dishonesty, divorce, murder, rape, theft, war and more. In such a world, there is no rest for the weary, unless you have begun to pay attention to the One who says, "Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) New Living Translation.

The only way we can avoid experiencing permanent loss is to become a citizen of a different country--one who's author and maker is the eternal God. Abraham heard about this country and set out to find it. He searched for a city with "eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God" (Hebrews 11:10) New Living Translation. Even though Abraham died before reaching his destiny, he had the assurance that his faith in God will eventually take him there.

While living on this earth, he saw himself as a temporary resident, but that didn't mean he sat idly by waiting for God's deliverance. As a foreigner Abraham did what he could to make the world a better place. He loved, laughed and worked to tell others about the God he loved. He left us an example worth imitating.

Questions for Discussion

1. Should Christians try to help Migrant Workers who are here illegally? If so, what kind of help should be given?

2. If we know someone is in the country illegally, do we have an obligation to report them to the authorities?

3. How do you think Jesus would relate to this issue?

4. Must we renounce our earthly ties to be a  citizen in God's kingdom?

Interesting reading: Voices From the Fields, by S. Beth Atkin

Photo by Dreamstime

SLO Pastor Shares His Vision

Stephen Eastwood, Senior Pastor of the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Adventist Church gives us a glimpse into his world.

"I am currently the pastor of a church on the central coast of California. The town I live in has about 45,000 people, and about 20,000 students. So my church is very student oriented."

"I used to be a youth pastor, but came to the realization that the most influential, important person in setting direction for youth in a church is the senior pastor. So I jumped. I started to imagine what a church could be like if it stopped trying to make youth like it just the way it was, and set about becoming relevant and real. It is not easy. I am 5 years in now, and feel like I am only just beginning to get a grip on this. But I am a pastor of a youth church - but more than that - my dream, a truly generational church. Where faith and purpose hopefully gets passed on. The gospel is lived, seen and passed on."

The above quotes were taken from www.slopastor.com

Listen to his sermons | His Blog | SLO Church Site

Questions to Consider

1. What do you like about your city?

2. What do you like about your church?

3. List 3 of your church's strengths and weaknesses.

4. What is a truly generational church?

5. Is it possible for your church to reach out to all generations? If so, how?

We would love to see, and possibly publish, some of your responses to the above questions. Click here to submit your feedback.

Rich DuBose, Editor, ChurchApplied

A World Without Christmas?

What if Christmas never happened? Sometimes we're tempted to think that our lives are hopeless now, but if Christmas had never happened they truly would be!

It is Christmas that makes giving so special. That's where we get the idea. Without it, getting would be all that mattered.

Christmas brings the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation. The infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger is the key to reversing poor decisions and making stupid mistakes.

Without Christmas there would be no miracles in Cana, Bethesda, or Jerusalem. Lazarus would have remained in his tomb, and there would have been no Last Supper or Crucifixion. God would have stayed in His place and we in ours, and heaven would be a mirage.

But through the birth canal of a virgin woman, Jesus shattered our relationship with despair and inspired us to think beyond the present. No matter how soiled and spoiled life may be, the Christmas message is that it doesn't have to remain that way--that tomorrow can be different--that healing can be ours!

Praise God for Christmas!

Photo by Justyna Furmanczyk

Once Upon a Time

People love stories! We love to hear about when our parents were young, about when we were born, about when this country was discovered, and about life in ancient times. There is something about yesterday that captivates our imagination. Because history freezes events in time, it is easy to romanticize them and forgot the hardships that our ancestors experienced.

If we are alive, we are engaged in story "writing." We may not be doing it intentionally, but each new day adds another chapter to our story that is unique from all others. Every experience shapes how we view the world, and in turn, how we relate to it.

To a large extent, we get to decide how our stories will end. The choices we make set us on courses that affect us and the lives of those around us. No matter what happens, ultimately, we each decide whether the theme of our life story is positive or negative. It is not so much what happens to us, but how we relate to it that spells the difference.

To effect positive change in our world we must become dynamic story-tellers who commit to telling the truth about ourselves, the world around us, and ultimately about God!

It's not always easy being truthful. When I was a young boy, on more than one occasion I compromised truth to try and avoid unpleasant consequences. It never turned out good!

God has touched your life, therefore, you have something to tell. Your description of it may be less than positive. In fact, you may feel that God has hounded you, or left you to twist in the wind. Shakespear's McBeth described life as "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Hopefully, you have found it to be more meaningful than this.

We each have unique journeys with stories that need to be told and heard. Why not start sharing yours today!

Story Telling Resources

Story Harvest, stories about people and God

Telling of God's Love, by Lynn Dyer

Wikipedia Storytelling, a brief history of storytelling

Finding and Following God

It’s a curious convergence: We live in a world that reveres reason, science, logic, power, sex, food and beauty—a world of things, of stuff we can touch and see and manage. At the same time, nearly all of us experience spiritual hunger—an aching desire for something that can’t be explained completely using equations, the periodic table, genetics or subatomic particles.

We are not satisfied just to be alive. We’re hungry for meaning. We want—no, we need—our lives to connect with something or someone outside the “regular” world. God is the answer to that hunger. God gives us meaning and purpose. God gives us a sense of connection and acceptance. Sometimes God encounters us in dramatic ways. Usually, He is subtle and quiet. But however it happens, connecting with God is the key to finding meaning and purpose and experiencing deep, lasting satisfaction.   

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