Babylon is a culture hostile to those who serve God and all that Christianity stands for. The Babylonians wanted to ascend to God's throne and rule with God's authority. They wanted power for themselves instead of submitting to God and His authority. So they began building the Tower of Babel. It didn't end well.
Today, people want to become creators of their own lives and redesign the natural order of the world and what God has already defined: that gender and life begin at conception. As a result, children end up seeing psychiatrists worried about the fate of the planet. Depression, anxiety, and suicide are at their peak, even though Western life is no better on a material level.
temptation of babylon
Babylon doesn't necessarily beat us into submission or actually throw us into a fiery furnace by a megalomaniac king. The methods used have been to seduce through a culture of prosperity, wealth, and a good life available to the common people, something that most people have not experienced historically.
“When people are prosperous, fat, happy and comfortable, with wide social circles and peaceful lives, careers and respectability; They forget about God.' Martin said.. “Babylon says we can continue to enjoy all of that as long as it doesn't fall outside the bounds of our culture.”
So, as long as we bow to the Babylonian culture that has pushed God out of the shadows, our lives will go smoothly. We have been seduced into a comfortable world where we can do whatever we want as long as we follow the new Babylonian rules.
In Revelation, Babylon is depicted as a great harlot, or tempter. Revelation also tells us that, like the city of Babel, the culture of Babylon will be judged, overthrown for its pride and rebellion, and destroyed by God's own hands.
“When you get to a point where pride is, when you get to a point where there's damage, God says justice is better than mercy. It's time to end it.” Martin said.
pride brand
We currently live in a culture that celebrates the “Pride” movement. “Pride” is more than just a movement. It is a brand that represents a fun time, celebrated with colorful parades and festivals where there is gender fluidity and freedom of expression. Pride is rebellion against God and a terrible sin. Pride is a statue based on the modern golden identity that we are all expected to bow to, representing LGBTQI+, cancel culture, and woke ideology.
Western cultures such as Australia once had blasphemy laws that made it illegal to insult God. These laws have now been abolished as Australia has become a secular country. We currently have defamation laws that make it a crime to insult or desecrate someone's identity.
Who am I?
Martin wrote a book called “Who Am I?” Solving the puzzle of identity. The identity theory of life begins with the question, “Who am I?” Public schools ask this question from an early age in elementary school. Its purpose is for people to make themselves the center of their lives.
“We pursue a life made in our own image. My career choice begins with “who I am.” My marriage partner is to complete “me.'' My leisure time is “me” time. Me first, others, and God last. We do what is right for us, rather than actually bending it into submission or acknowledging what is right for us. ” Martin said. “I do not surrender to “the truth” but create “my” truth. Church is also a space for me. I go there to meet my spiritual needs. And you start hearing things like, “You need to feel seen.” In other words, the world needs to revolve around me. Life is about becoming the best version of yourself. In other words, it's all about me.
However, the book of Proverbs is full of verses that say wisdom comes from God, not from ourselves.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 NASB20
Martin said one of the worst statements that is being spread is, “Jesus died on the cross because he thought you were worth it.” The truth is that Jesus died for you to pay for your sins.
“It's not about you. It's about Him. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It's not about our character or who we are, it's about his character.” Martin said. That is the work of God's love.
narcissistic self-destruction
“Jordan Peterson was right when he said, “Excessive attachment to oneself is indistinguishable from misery.'' That’s the curse of social media.” Martin said. “Everything you post can have you preoccupied with yourself for 24 hours. Checking likes in the middle of church. Then you read the bad things and think, “How awful.'' Compliments reach the head, insults reach the heart. ”
We live in a culture of narcissism that puts ourselves at the center of everything. Sometimes we lie or deceive to make ourselves look good. It is very evil and causes great damage. The truth is that most self-centered people are miserable.
We think there are witch doctors and voodoo in Africa, but people in the West don't realize that Western culture is steeped in narcissism, which is another form of demonic influence. yeah. Satan's tactics are subtle and precisely targeted. People rebel against being oppressed by God and get angry when you tell them that their self-centered thinking is wrong. People have become unteachable.
The price of such narcissism is spiritual poverty. The Bible says:
“For this is what the Exalted and Exalted One, the One whose name is holy and lives forever, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, but I also live with those who are repentant and humble in spirit. We live together to save the lowly and restore the hearts of the repentant. Isaiah 57:15 NIV
“But there is a danger that this culture of pride can rub off on all of us. And the problem we have is that we are not stupid enough to bow to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar, but we are not stupid enough to bow to a statue of ourselves. It means that you are stupid enough to lower your standards.” Martin said.
For more information about Martyn Iles, visit Martyn Iles |Genesis answers
This article was inspired by Martyn's Living in Babylon presentation in Adelaide. You can read other articles related to this same presentation by clicking on the links below.
Living Under a Pagan Empire: Martin Iles, Living in Babylon Tour – Vision Christian Media
Watch the Martyn's Living in Babylon Australian tour presentation below.
Related article:Pride and Rebellion Come Before the Fall: Martin Iles Lives in Babylon Tour – Vision Christian Media
Related article:
Pride and Rebellion Come Before the Fall: Martin Iles Lives in Babylon Tour – Vision Christian Media
