Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a Godless Culture
by Larry Osborne
Published April 1st 2015 by David C. Cook
* I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley to review
An amazing book that I sailed right through chomping on every bit of morsel. I applaud the author and the subject of the book. There are so many wonderful points that resounded deeply within me and reading this book I was constantly thinking about it every chance I got. The author explores living in a modern world in which not all are Christians and yet we Christians have an attitude and self-righteousness that often doesn't reach or respect these people.
Daniel of the Bible is used and expounded upon as a jump off point to illustrate and explore how did he, Daniel, live in such a perverse and ungodly world. He then proceeds to explore faith, bad things that happen to the believer to how we interact and often miss the mark in truly respecting the people around us. Modern day Christianity often seeks to prod, guilt or shout their beliefs and attitudes to the general populace who might not believe and do what we think they should be believing or doing. My least favorite subject, politics was mentioned and explored with such an unique insight and approach in which he discusses how Christian often get into thinking that we are to change the world and the political climate. He mentions that the Apostle Paul encouraged the church to respect and honor the emperor Nero who happened to be in power at the time. Nero was one of the most perverse and insane emperors ever in the history of the Roman Empire.
I constantly highlighted and bookmarked throughout the book that I might as well highlighted it all because the book is one of the best on the subject. This quote is one of my favorites in the book:
" Frankly, it's here that many of us can miss the boat. The more Babylon-like our culture becomes, the more our resentment builds, resulting in bitterness, slander, rumormongering, and harsh critiques that no one would characterize as a kind and gentle rebuke. Many excuse their words by pointing to Jesus's harsh rebukes of the Pharisees and other religious leaders of His day. But they miss the point. Jesus didn't rail on the sinners of His day. He pursued them. It was the religious hypocrites who were attempting to keep the sinners at bay that he blasted.
I have thought of purchasing a several copies of this book to hand out to my family. I am blessed by having quite a few Believers in my family but the belief that we as Christians have to take a political and often harsh attitude towards non-believers often alarms me. I also believe that every Christian and church would benefit from reading this wonderful and highly eye-opening book.
