The concept of spiritual formation is illustrated in the biblical account of Daniel, a young man whose identity was significantly impacted by 2 very different environments: First, the godly environment in Jerusalem, and second, the unholy environment of Babylon.
let’s look more closely at Babylon’s tactics used against God’s people.
- Physical removal from their homeland.
- Separation from family and community.
- Dietary changes.
- Education and language.
- Prolonged isolation through training.
- Integration into the Babylonian court.
- Renaming to erase Jewish identity.
Today’s Christians often find themselves in a world that in many ways mirrors the ungodly empire of Babylon. Although we are not in a physical exile, today’s culture with its values is often in direct opposition to Christian teaching. This presents a constant pressure to conform and to be spiritually reformed.
