Babylon The Great

  Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

    babylon the great
    the mother of prostitutes
    and of the abominations of the earth.

  I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

                                                           Rev 17:3-5

Who is Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth? I have heard many theories. Some say that it is Iraq; others have said Rome; and others I've heard say that it is either New York or Washington D.C.. There are many theories. The angel; though, does make it clear that kings and indeed people from all over the world will follow Babylon, the great harlot. They will not worship the Lord. The followers of this harlot will join her in persecuting those who worship the one true God.

All the surmising over who or what Babylon the Great is will not bring anyone closer to God. It will only detract us from what we are called to do. We are called; not to debate the days or the times. We are not called to debate where or when the Lord will return; but, to proclaim the Kingdom of God through the shedding of his blood for all who would believe in him. We are called to give testimony to Jesus and to his Kingdom.

Worship the Lord your God and do not bow your knee to any false god, no matter what kind of riches or pleasures they might promise you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Helping Or Enabling?

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal 6:7-9 NIV

I remember hearing a pastor preach on doing good, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. I could not believe my ears! I thought that maybe he was making it up. How, as a Christian, could one show this kind of partiality, I wondered. So, I looked it up and there it was.

As the years have passed, I have come to understand this a whole lot better. Scripture does not say that we shouldn't help those outside of the family of believers. We should. But, I have also learned over the years that sometimes we can spend so much time and energy helping those whose only goal is to please their flesh; that, we have no time to build up the members of the Body of Christ who may be truly in need. There is sometimes a rather fine line between helping someone and enabling them to continue in their sinful pursuit of the flesh to their destruction. We ought to be careful not to be enabling those who have no love for God or others in their lives; rather, we ought to help those who are concerned about their eternal life and are truly in need.

I know... Much of the world thinks that Christians should be some kind of door mats and are here only to be taken advantage of. Jesus did not appear to think so. In the sermon on the mount he warns us: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matt 7:5-7

This does not mean that we should not help everyone in need. We just ought to be careful that we are actually helping and not aiding anyone on the path to their destruction.

May God grant us the discernment to know whom He would have us help and who it is that is truly in need; to discern when our help is truly help and when it might lead to another's destruction.

God's Peace - Pr. J.