Episode Details

We are looking down onto our current moment from a Biblical perspective

If you are already offended, this conversation is not for you

 

Two-week series called:

THRIVING IN BABYLON
What is Babylon?

Historical city of beauty, power, and evil

• God used the city as judgment on the People of Israel
• Destroyed Jerusalem and carried off much of its people
• Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Babylon became a SYMBOL

Babylon is used as a symbol to represent the center of human society that is hostile to God

• Babylon symbolizes Rome in 1 Peter 5:13 and Revelation, referring to the church in Rome as “she who is at Babylon.” Like ancient Babylon, Rome was immoral and idolatrous, oppressing Judean exiles and persecuting Christians.

Like Daniel and many others, we are called to live in the tension between God’s Kingdom and worldly kingdoms.

More on Daniel next week

 

How do we do that?

By Living in the tension…
Living in Tension

Rubber Band
Tension Point #1:

Regardless of who is elected, Jesus is still in charge

Matthew 28:18

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This means:

We care about nations and their people, but never forget where our future lies…
Philippians 3:20

20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We keep our eyes on the CORRECT THINGS in mind

The is only ONE messiah
We can take a lesson from Joshua

Joshua 1

7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it.

• Not our opinions of emotions that direct us, but God’s instruction

 

Let’s talk about an important question…
Should Christians care/be involved in our government?

• The answer is YES, but why…

Tension Point #2

Christians should care about government and politics because they affect Human Flourishing

 

Leadership Matters…

• Poor leadership leads to poor outcomes

 

This is part of the TENSION

Many of us may have differing views on WHO or WHAT makes a good leader…

 

Let’s talk about HOW WE GOT HERE…
Culture is downstream of cult

Cult – The overall belief and actions of the whole
To say it another way…

Politics are downstream of philosophy (how we think) and morality (what we do)
The Culture determines the politics

• If the culture moves in one direction and politics in another direction, Culture will OVERWHELM the politics

 

Our current political environment is a product of the last 30-50 years of moral and philosophical changes in our culture
So here are some critical questions?

1: How do Christian believers need to influence our current culture to honor God more in the 20 years that it does now?

2: Who’s policies will slow or increase our society’s decay?

 

Christians have been the best source of THRIVING (human flourishing) over the last 2000 years

• Not perfect, but the best thing for society

 

>What are some examples of HISTORIC Christian Values