Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Does God "hear" eveyone's prayers?

Does God only respond to the prayers of Christians or does He also respond to the prayers of those of other religions?

Obviously God "hears" the prayers of everyone since He is omniscient. But Jesus seems to imply that Christians have a special hearing in the presence of the Judge. Jesus says, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son." (John 14:13)

Moreover, since the wrath of God abides upon those who have not believed in the Son (John 3:36); it follows that they should not expect answers to prayer from the Father.

Obviously God does answer the prayers of the unbelieving. But He does so out of His mercy and divine plan for humanity rather than out of a sort of obligation to the followers of the Son (John 15:7).

Monday, October 08, 2007

globalization: a sign of the end of times?

globalize verb: develop or be developed so as to make possible international influence or operation

Sometime after the flood a number of people decided to rebuild a city and erect a tower where its top reached the heavens. Their stated purpose was to make a name for themselves. God was displeased with their motives and put an end to the project by confusing their tongues; thus, scattering the builders far and wide. The narrative (Genesis 11) ends by revealing the name of the city: Babel.

Last weekend Steve Eriksson and I spoke to a Slovak doctor in Mexico who is working at a hospital in America. While we spoke I came to realize how small the world has become. I guess globalization is true even for us ministers.

Unlike previous generations we have an unprecedented opportunity to interact with other countries and cultures. New political associations are forming like the EU, which are bonding languages as well as economies. As one author as said, "The World is Flat."

I heard a commentary once on NPR comparing globalization with Babel. Humanity is coming together again under one tongue in order to make a name, or dollar/euro, for ourselves. I'm sure you can see where the commentator was going.

Look out! Babel is back!

My question is simple: is globalization a sign of God's impending judgment? As God judged Babel will He soon judge our world? Or, is globalization a sign of the end?

I understand that no one knows the day or hour of the return of Christ (Matthew 24:36). And yet, just before this statement Christ Himself says that we should be able to read the signs of the end (v. 32), one of the most important being the proclamation of the gospel to the entire world (v. 14). Perhaps God hinged the global proclamation of the Gospel onto the great harlot called globalization. a la "What you meant for evil God meant for good."

Speaking of harlots, when Revelation talks about the end it speaks about God's judgment upon the great harlot Babylon. (Revelation 17:1)

Question. Who or what is Babylon? Is Babylon symbolic for some future city? Is Babylon symoblic for Rome?

Now let me add some more fuel to the fire. Babylon is derived from the word Babel.

But wouldn't that make the Babylon mentioned in Revelation the world?

Jesus says that the judgment comes upon the world in Matthew 13:38-39.

Globalization.

Babel.

The end.

There seems to be a connection.

I'm just synthesizing thoughts. What do you think?