Unchained Melodye

I can’t help but notice we’re living in a world of chaos. I’ve also observed we are trying to manage it in our own wealth, in our own wisdom and in our own way. For several years, I’ve returned to look deeper into Genesis 11. I’ve tried my very best to read it through a God lens. What was the problem and what was the point of including it in scripture? What did God say about it and how should that influence my own thinking?
In 2022, Jonathan Haidt (yes, he’s a secular atheist professor) wrote in the Atlantic: :

“The story of Babel is the best metaphor I have found for what happened to America in the 2010s, and for the fractured country we now inhabit. Something went terribly wrong, very suddenly. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. We are cut off from one another and from the past.
It’s been clear for quite a while now that red America and blue America are becoming like two different countries claiming the same territory, with two different versions of the Constitution, economics, and American history. But Babel is not a story about tribalism; it’s a story about the fragmentation of everything. It’s about the shattering of all that had seemed solid, the scattering of people who had been a community. It’s a metaphor for what is happening not only between red and blue, but within the left and within the right, as well as within universities, companies, professional associations, museums, and even families.”

Jonathan Aidt

Confession: I consume very little current news. In fact, I avoid it. I don’t read it, I don’t listen to it (except for the occasional tuning in to NPR or the Sift), and I don’t watch it. A few years ago I became frustrated when I realized there’s no place to turn to be assured there’s no bias. This has occurred because of what I believe to be true in Haidt’s thoughts. “We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth.” Though I may differ with his view of how we got here, I agree with him that we are here. The world has become so disoriented, we are unable to appropriately process the overload of information we now have. And I believe we are adversely looking only to and within ourselves to fix this dilemma.

As a follower of Jesus, and also one who trusts in the authority of scripture, I read the story of Babel as (factual) narrative. After the Flood, humans decided to disobey God’s command to increase in number and fill the earth. The passage seems to indicate their desire to build a great city and all huddle there in their greatness. It was the beginning of “the fragmentation of everything.” It’s the exact opposite of what God desired for humanity. He isn’t looking for the huddled. He’s looking for the humbled. God loved the WORLD so much that He gave His only Son to demonstrate the attitude we should all have. His final demonstration was the means for our reconciliation: He humbled Himself to death.
As followers of Christ, it’s essential we strive to love the world like God does. This means seeing everyone as image bearers. We don’t have to share their views, but we need to take them seriously by respectfully listening and caring. Though this won’t solve all the differences between us, it’s a start in the right direction to avoid in our personal lives what happened at Shinar (Babel).

Looking to God to tell us who we are and where we are headed is the only way to live in complete confidence and clarity. Anyone who distracts us or drives us from what the Lord says about our future is a form of anti-Christ. Staking our claim on ‘our territory’ is a form of idolatry. It’s like the tiny mouse sitting on the head of a gigantic elephant looking back at the swinging bridge they just crossed. As the mouse turns his head to view the oscillating bridge, with great pride he declares: “look what WE did.” It’s foolish to trust in ourselves, to believe our own press or to think we made our own success. It’s more foolish to huddle with others just like us who whisper in our ear how great we are. To think there is salvation in any one person or any group other than Jesus is not only detrimental, it’s deadly. The only One we are to follow at all costs is the One who created us and saved us.
It’s one thing for the secular world to try to outdo one another with bigger bank accounts, greater success, more education, and untouchable empires. But this has never been the Jesus way. He taught His followers the only way to peace with God is to outdo one another in love. He showed us how to avoid the fragmentation of everything. It’s not by huddling, it’s by scattering … and gathering.

There is only one sanctified and holy huddle acceptable to God. And it occurs once we’ve scattered and gathered all the people.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened his mouth and taught them.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5)

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans)
Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians)
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling: in humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have the same attitude as Christ. (Philippians)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 7

HOPE:
EVERYTHING SAD IS COMING UNTRUE > THE FRAGMENTATION OF EVERYTHING