Key Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-11

Recap of Last Week

Last week we saw that God seeks to advance his mission by sending us, his people, into the cities of the world. Some of the key insights that we got were:

• The concept of mission and the idea of “sentness” are inseparable.
• The church of God is missionary by its very DNA in that it is a reflection of a God who is “missionary”
• God loves people therefore he loves cities and sends his church to be a missional-redemptive presence in the City.
• We learnt that we must live out God’s mission in the City through the dynamic of our daily living.

Key Thought: Our commitment to raising children and/or raising the next generation is essential with regard to our participation in the mission of God. 

Introduction

It is very evident from Jeremiah’s letter and from other passages in his book that God wanted the people in exile to know that they were in Babylon because He sent them there. It was not an accident of history or a coincidence, he was working through the events of the day to accomplish his purposes. They were in exile yes, but God would not abandon them in Babylon. Verse 11 records his assurance to them For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. But their return would take loooong-70 years. God therefore tells them to marry, to have kids, to marry off their kids, and to have grandchildren.

Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 

The reason for this is simple if they did not marry and multiply there would be no one left to return to Jerusalem the original exiles would have essentially died out. There would have been no exiles to return and lead the building of the wall of Jerusalem, or the rebuilding of the temple. In order for the people to see the realization of the good plans that God had for them they had to raise up two generations-their children and grandchildren, in Babylon.

Babylon in the Bible

• Babylon means “gate of god”
• Babylon is the place of babel
• In the OT Babylon is the City of humiliation for the people of God.
• It is the City of their exile
• It is a city of wickedness
• It is a city of political and military domination over others
• It is a city of sorcery and magic
• It is a city of false gods

In the New Testament Babylon is less about a physical place as the City has more or less been destroyed by this time. Rather the symbolism of the City of Babylon is about a spirit and a culture in opposition to God and to his Holy heavenly city.

Raising Kids [in Babylon] Is Not Easy

There is every indication that the exiles in Babylon sought to obey the word of the Lord through Jeremiah. Daniel is an example of someone who sought the welfare and wellbeing of the City of Babylon in obedience to the word of the Lord. It is evident that they also obeyed the word of the lord to have children and multiply. Jeremiah estimates 4600 people were exiled to Babylon in three waves yet Ezra alone reports over 50,000 returned with him, and it is believed many more stayed behind. 

Yet it was not just about the number of children they had. They also had to raise children that were committed to Yahweh. Again, it looks like they succeeded to some extent. Godly leaders like Nehemiah, Ezra and others were believed to have been born in exile. This was no small accomplishment, Babylon was not an easy place to worship Yahweh. It was the city full of false gods where cultures were shaped to worship these false gods. It was a city that demanded conformity. Yet, if the were going to succeed in mission they had to succeed in their God given task of raising kids in Babylon. 

In a similar fashion our commitment to raising kids and/or raising the next generation in the city is essential if we are to play our role successfully in God’s mission. Ultimately, our kingdom impact is measured not just by what we do but by what our children do as well.  

False gods of Today’s Cities

Cities seem to be points of crystallization or aggregation in terms of the worship of false god’s. At one point in the 20th century sociologists, based on some assumptions about the western model, advocated for secularization theory-the idea that as societies become more developed and more urbanized they would also become more secular. Over the past 30 years this theory has been proven by be false by among other things enduring religion of the Global South but even if that were not true we must understand that in fact secularism is its own form of religion. As Bishop Leslie Newbigin states:

The ‘secular’ society is not a neutral area into which we can project the Christian message. It is an area already occupied by other gods. We have a battle on our hands. We are dealing with principalities and powers.

As we raise kids in the City, we must understand the dynamics of the environment that we are in and some of the false gods that call out and demand worship and the cultures that try and name our kids. Lets talk about a few so that we can better understand some of the things that our kids are confronted with.

1. False gods of Hedonistic Sex and Sexuality 
   These are claims that sexuality and sex as it is conceived of by should be worshiped and obeyed. This manifests itself in a number of ways such as: 
   • In a culture of sexual promiscuity in contradiction to what God established in the garden of Eden (sex in the confines of marriage).
   • The false god of hedonistic sexuality. Every type of sexual attraction and orientation is good and should be acted upon or at least affirmed. Whereas in the garden God established sexual attraction as between male and female to be acted out within the context of loving marriage.
   • The false God of fluid gender identity. The idea that gender is entirely a product of decisions people make and therefore can be changed at will. Whereas in the garden God made them male and female..
     
     Satan’s lie is that the attainment of our desires results in actualization and fulfillment whereas fulfillment lies in directing our sexuality in accordance with the will of God.
2. False gods of Comparison and Conformity
   It seems ironic that in an age of diversity, variety and color that conformity would be an issue. But the internet has elevated the whole concept of peer pressure to a whole new level. Such that the psychological and spiritual pressure on young people to compare themselves with others and conform to what they see is on a level that many of us that are older find difficult to imagine.
   
   Numerous studies continue to be published that highlight the link between excessive social media usage among teens especially girls and depression.
   
   A Word about Depression 
   • Depression is not the only form of mental illness.
   • Social media is not the only cause of depression.
   • Perception of issues of mental health and depression in the African context can differ by generations. Therefore, we must respond with empathy not anger.
3. False gods of Materialism
   This god puts forward the claim that fulfillment lies in the attainment of more, that personhood is defined by what we can accumulate. Yet before Adam and even ever possessed or did anything good or evil. They had already “attained” the highest level of fulfillment-they were made in the image of God.
   
   The false gods of materialism must be rejected.

Conclusion

There are many more false gods that we could have mentioned but the point is that the city, in particular, in a place where false gods abound where these cultural and spiritual influences seek to dominate and control people and it is this environment that we must raise the next generation. Be encouraged! It is possible!