And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Gen 11:4.
We are all familiar with the story of the Tower of Babel, but what we don't take into consideration is the fact that the same spirit that moved the people to build the tower is still manifesting today in the establishment of religious Babels. Oh, yes! The name of Jesus may still be mentioned there, and "praises and worship offered to God," with many humanitarian activities carried out, with several thousands of people involved and yet, it may still be a religious Babel.
What are some characteristics of religious Babels? To extract these components from our foundation text (Gen 11:4), we will be looking at key phrases in the text.
1) "Let us build us a city and a tower." Characteristics #1
I'm sure you heard the spirit behind those words. It wasn't about building for God or as inspired and directed by God, but for themselves. That's the spirit that drives all religious Babels, the quest to build for self. You know self is one of those things the scripture admonishes us to crucify, but we seem to be feeding it just like King Saul was feeding and taking care of King Agag. (1Sam 15)
Often, in the process of building these self-styled religious Babels, valuable divine standards are lowered, and all forms of gimmicks are created to raise money, which at times are appalling to God. "WHAT MEN HIGHLY ESTEEM, GOD ABHORS." Luke 16:15.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying all elegantly impressive religious churches, projects or buildings are Babels. That's not what I am talking about, but the spirit and motive that usually drives such ambitious ventures.
2) Whose top may reach unto heaven. Characteristics #2
If you see beyond those letters, then you've just seen the second characteristics of religious Babels. Religious Babels are excessive in their ambition. That's why, most of the time, to achieve their quest to reach the sky and beyond, people die in the process. People are trampled upon or used beyond measure for them to get their desires. And, since God doesn't identify with such, some go to Satan through secret societies and cults for help even though faking as Pentecostal/ Charismatic ministries. The drive to establish religious empires, which truly are but religious Babels is the reason for the high level of corruption, criminality, gross compromise and filthy in most quarters of Christendom today.
"Juju and even black magic don enter church." Wahala dey ooooh! Pidgin English
3) And let us make us a name. Characteristics #3
Did you hear that? Religious Babels are all about making a name, forget the scriptures they quote and all the talk about God. In most cases, they use the name of Christ just for a label while their real quest is to make a name for themselves. Names of churches and religious leaders in most "Babelish" religious empires take center stage than the name of Jesus. It is now the God of the name of our churches and leaders, not the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. We have built more cult personalities in our religious world today than any other time in history. "Let us make us a name." God told Abraham, "I'll make your name great." Gen 12:2. And, He Highly exalted the name of Jesus. Phil 2:9, but with religious Babels, it isn't about God announcing them, but them announcing themselves through very well crafted means.
Everything in most religious empires is for self-publicity, whether testimonies or charity, the motive is self-promotion for name making. When Christ will finally return to judge the quick and the dead, the drama will be shocking!
4) "Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Characteristics #4
You see, religious Babels are obsessed with gathering people for their empires not to empower and release them into their purpose. Everything is done to increase membership and to keep them in their religious-like detention camps just to pride themselves of the size of their work and their extensive worldwide branches. The kingdom of God doesn't function the way most of our religious Babels function even though we use the label of the kingdom. While God's desire is to spread the "move" of God by "scattering" those who contacted the fire everywhere, the vision of religious Babels is opposite. It's all about keeping people fastened to their regular religious seats throughout their lifetime without any vision to empower and release them.
The spirit and character driving their quest for domination are humanistic and selfish. Religious Babels are everywhere today especially in most highly religious nations of the world. Their reach is vast, but like the tower of Babel, they too will be brought down. As we move on, I'll tell you why. Stay connected! DrBenard Etta
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