Copyright © 2007 Ron Schwartz
All rights reserved.

By The Rivers Of Babylon

Part 1.  What It Means to “Come Out”

February 12, 2007

Ron and Karen Schwartz  

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Many people who have left institutional churches have been asking, “What now?”  Let’s consider some of the issues they must address if they are to go on.

Ps 137:1

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

The story of Israel’s captivity to Babylon is both promising and tragic.   It is a story of two groups of people.  One group (let’s call them the “castaways”) was carried into bondage in Babylon and longed to return.  The other group (let’s call them the “squatters”) lived in the ruins of the great city, Jerusalem, but made no effort to rebuild it.  Let’s examine both the castaways and the squatters and understand how their example is applicable for us today. 

The Castaways: Finding Paradise

Nehemiah 1:3-4 KJV

3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven

Prior to the captivity in Babylon, the Israelites spoke and wrote in their native Hebrew tongue.  But during their captivity in Babylon, Persia conquered Babylon and brought with it their national language.  The Jewish population was forced to adopt it.  Only a small fragment of the Jewish population retained knowledge of the Hebrew language.  Therefore, coming out of Babylon, Israel had a new national language: Aramaic.

It wasn’t just their language that was affected.  Following their captivity in Babylon, Israel organized into family clans rather than into the original twelve tribes.  The organization of their nation was not structured as it was before.  Their captivity affected them in many ways (culturally as well as linguistically).  Merely leaving Babylon did not remove the influence of Babylon.   The influence of Babylon was felt in Israel for centuries that followed.

Like the Jews in Babylon who “sat down, [and] wept, when [they] remembered Zion,” many Christians today look back to the first generation church with great fondness.  Many have left “their” Babylon but don’t know how to get their Zion back.  Many eventually end up imitating first generation practices without understanding them.  Some try to keep Jewish customs, some imitate early church methods, and some even imitate spiritual gifts and ministry (this is NOT to say that gifts and ministry don’t exist).  But like Jerusalem after the captivity, the church of the book of Acts is gone.  All that remains of this once great city (i.e., the church of the book of Acts) are collapsed walls and a burned down city.

“Come Out Of Her”

Revelation 18:2-4 KJV

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

There is a call today for God’s people to come out of institutional churches.  It will eventually become known as the Post-Modern Church Exodus: a time when Christians gave up on the empty promises and hypocrisy of the institutional church.  But there is a problem with merely leaving these churches.  Leaving does not really change anything unless there is a subsequent change of the heart.  It is a geographical change but not necessarily a spiritual one.  It is one thing to come out of Babylon and quite another to get Babylon out of you.  The calling to “come out” is not simply about leaving institutional churches.  It’s about leaving behind the ideas, the culture, and the influences found there.  You cannot simply leave an institutional church and be free of its influence.  Its influence will try to follow you the rest of your life.

Jerusalem didn’t lie at the city limits of Babylon.  In other words, stepping out of Babylon didn’t place the Jews in Jerusalem.  The road from Babylon to Jerusalem was long and difficult.  Then once they arrived at Jerusalem, they had a whole new set of issues to address.  It is the same with Christians who “come out” of their own Babylon.  They must face and overcome many obstacles if they are ever to enjoy the true freedom of coming out.

Let’s consider some of the obstacles.

Spiritually Defective

Romans 7:15, 19 KJV

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Matthews 12:35 KJV

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Genesis 1:25KJV

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

There is a spiritual principle set forth in these scriptures: things reproduce after their own kind.  What you are, what you become, and what you reproduce will be a reflection of your heart.  We know many groups that began as either a Bible study or home church.  Bible studies are especially effective because people don’t realize that they are actually participating in something that is closer to a real church than the place they go to on Sunday and call “church.”  Quite often, Bible studies grow to the point where people recognize that a church has formed.  It is at that point that people tend toward “the evil which I would not, that I do.”  In other words, we reproduce after our kind.  Believing that we are actually involved in the establishing of something new, we actually reproduce the same church culture from which we came: a building, barn, or lease space is dedicated for the purpose of church, pews or chairs are aligned for an audience, officials are appointed, and with great expectation for growth, a “new and improved” church is opened for business.   This is a weekly occurrence in cities, states, providences, and countries all around the world.  But the problem is that it is not new and improved.  It is the same old thing with a different label.

There is no magic in leaving an institutional church.  It does not change you.  In fact,  the greatest danger facing people who leave institutional churches is the very real probability that they will inevitably reproduce the same type of institution as that from which they came.  We cannot stress this enough.  Many people have left an institutional church and either joined or started a new one and then watched as the new church evolved into an institutional church.  Why?  It is because in their hearts they never really left Babylon.  Babylon is still in their hearts.

Spiritually Broken

Psalms 31:11-14 KJV

11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

Many people leave institutional churches under less than favorable conditions.  If you are going to leave, it is best just to leave.   Many people feel the need to talk with the pastor and present their case.  The problem here is that most pastors see this effort to communicate as a personal attack, and so they respond in kind.  As a result, many people leave with deep hurts and bitterness, and many tend to develop rebellious and antagonistic characteristics.  They may leave their church geographically, but they retain deep spiritual issues because of the trauma they experienced when leaving.

We are not saying not to leave; we are saying take care in how you leave.  

As a result, we now have masses of “un-churched” wounded cluttering our nations.  Many of these walking wounded believe themselves to be overcomers (i.e., those who have come out of Babylon).  Most, however, are merely victims of the contemporary church system, not an unstructured band of overcomers.  If their emotional and spiritual issues are not addressed, one thing is certain: they will never be able to appreciate the freedom for which they hope, and many may end up in a worse spiritual condition than before they left.

The lack of conformity is usually the first indication that a person is hearing the calling in the Spirit to leave an institutional church.  Sometimes Christians are not even aware that they are not conforming.  Things take place or are taught that they don’t agree with but usually they say nothing because they don’t wish to rock the boat (at least at first).  But at some point, others begin to sense their disagreements and the problems begin, especially if one of these “others” includes the pastor.  Disagreements always get back to the pastor.  One’s lack of conformity is often viewed as rebellion and sometimes even insurrection.  When this happens, many pastors first attempt to force him back into conformity through manipulation, but when that doesn’t work, they victimize (or at least marginalize) the non-conformist by making wild accusations against him, and few in the church seems to recognize how wild the accusations really are.

Most of the time, the emotional and spiritual damage done to one who leaves (or considers leaving) a church is deliberate.  Often, pastors and/or other church leaders seek to inflict spiritual misery upon him, victimize him.  Stories circulate about his “rebellion.”  He may even be falsely accused of “slandering” the church, its members, and especially the pastor.  When someone is victimized like this, he may try to defend himself by striking back in anger and then his credibility is damaged or destroyed.  Friends and acquaintances begin to see him as the rebel the pastor accuses him of being, and they are forced to choose sides.  Much to his surprise, his friends almost always choose the pastor’s side (at least in public).  The pastor wins by poisoning the minds of his friends and sometimes even his family.

Even though he was originally contemplating leaving, now he no longer wishes to go.  He wants to stay to clear his name and to prove he is right.  Except now the pastor wants him gone.  So the person is forced to leave, usually in shame and/or anger that eventually gives way to bitterness.

This cycle is repeated over and over again, in greater and greater frequency, in churches all across our world.  We have heard story after story, and they all follow a similar story line.  It is not that Christians today are more “rebellious” than those of previous generations; it’s just that more and more Christians, in greater and greater numbers, are hearing the call of the Spirit to “come out” and are victimized when they obey.

Most Christians do not intend to cause the problems with their churches even though this seems to be the inevitable outcome.  They simply feel obligated to go to their pastor in good faith to explain why they are leaving.  Many Christians will use some excuse like school or family so that it does not appear that they are attacking the church or its pastor.  This form of “little white lie (tongue-in-cheek)” will oftentimes afford them the opportunity to leave in peace.  Other Christians are too naïve and tell the truth.  They are just as naïve when they are eventually defaced before their friends.  There are many reasons why wounded Christians now clutter the realms of the “un-churched,” but no one disputes the fact that there is a steady trickle and sometimes a heavy stream of people flowing out from institutional churches.

So, if you are hurt in such a way, what should you do?

First of all, it is important to acknowledge that you are hurt or spiritually broken.  Just because you may see the problems with an institutional church does not mean that you now have all the answers.  You more than likely have wounds.  If a church has hurt you, it is important that the first thing you find is healing.  Quit responding to the hurt.  This means no phone calls, no e-mail, and no sidebar conversations with your friends about what happened to you.  It will only keep the wound open.  So don’t respond to the things you hear.  Let them go.  Don’t keep the cycle continuing.   Find a place alone with God where you can find healing that can only come from His Spirit.  It will not happen overnight.  This type of healing usually takes months.  In the meantime, don’t continue discussing your hurt.

You must never conclude that just because you left your institutional church, you now have all the answers.  An open wound may poison your answers.  Therefore, if you are still wounded or spiritually broken, you have not fully “come out.”  You may be out geographically, but until you find true and complete healing, the institutional church has not yet come out of you.

Spiritually Defiant (Liberty)

Many people who leave the institutional church go through an awakening.   It is like scales falling from their eyes.  Suddenly they can see.   These people must carefully guard themselves against false revelation.  It can come in many different forms.  One of the most powerful is that of spiritual liberty.

The revelation of religious bondage sometimes has a strong impact upon people.  The conformity and compromise that they have long engaged in is suddenly revealed for what it really is: religious hypocrisy.  Even thought it is completely unfair to assume that others who appear like them have the same hypocritical motives, Christians who have had this kind of awakening tend to assume that all other who appear to be like they were are just as fake.  This is not always the case.  There are many Christians who appear wrapped in superficial religious form but are actually very sincere.

It is also not uncommon for Christians who experience this sort of awakening to mistake all forms of restraint and discipline as superficial religious form, compromise, and conformity.  Sometimes this is a result of their being so rigidly oppressed and controlled by religion that they fly, like a spring suddenly being released, to the opposite extreme, rejecting almost everything that has even the appearance of restraint or control.  But this extreme is just as wrong as religious conformity and compromise.  It is just at the other extreme.  Peter described this behavior when he wrote, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God (1 Peter 2:16).”

People who go to the other extreme (complete lack of restraint and control) are guilty of throwing the baby out with the bath water.  They confuse the ability to sin with spiritual liberty.  But spiritual liberty does not provide license to sin.  Those who really understand spiritual liberty understand that it is NOT about the freedom to indulge oneself but freedom from obeying the indulgences of life.   It frees us to live in the Spirit as opposed to living in self-indulgence, and it also frees us from condemning those who do not believe as we do.  True spiritual liberty is liberty from sin, NOT the freedom to commit it.

People who confuse spiritual liberty see two extremes.  It’s like a number line.  At one end of the line is superficial religious form and hypocrisy.  At the other end is the rejection of control and restraint (indulgence).  They are two extremes of the same line, the line of religious hypocrisy.  Spiritual liberty, when practiced as either extreme, is nothing more than another form of bondage.  Both of these extremes are wrong.  You can be in bondage to superficial religious conformity just as you can be in bondage to self-indulgence.  We must understand that self-indulgence is rebellion against the Holy Spirit.

The deception of spiritual liberty is just another way of sidetracking people from coming out of Babylon.  It keeps people trapped – either to religious conformity or to the lack of self-restraint.  The Holy Spirit does not lead people in either direction.  The Spirit is first of all holy and will never cause you to condemn others or to attempt forced conformity.  Jesus modeled true spiritual liberty when He said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).”

The Squatters: Replacing Paradise

Nehemiah 1:3-4, 2:10 KJV

3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.

2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Like the Jews who left Babylon to go back to what a previous generation had known, most of those coming out of institutional churches want to go back to what the original apostles had.  They want to experience a true New Testament church.  But just as Jerusalem lay in ruins then, the church described in the New Testament appears to no longer be around.  Sadly though, many coming out of today’s institutional churches have been falsely mislead into believing that having a New Testament church is as easy as leaving the church they are in.  Christians leaving these churches will face the same problem faced by the Jews who came out of Babylon: Jerusalem no longer exists.  It has long since been torn down.  You cannot open up the phone book and find a New Testament church simply because these words are in its name.  It is just not that easy.  There are many cheap imitations with very little substance.

Another problem the Jews faced in their return is that there were already people there who had lived in Jerusalem throughout the captivity and claimed squatter’s rights.  We see the same thing today.  There are groups around that have coined phases like “Five-Fold Ministry,” “New Testament Church,” “End Time Movement,” “Covenant,” etc.  They use New Testament nomenclatures but are usually New Testament in name only.  They claim to be building the New Testament Church, but all they really do is sit in the ruins.  They have been around for decades and churn out the same endless dialogue year after year while delivering nothing.  They claim to have apostles but they are typically all talk with very little power.  They claim to have prophets, but these also speak in platitudes and generalities, simply reiterating what everyone already believes.  It is entertaining and always draws a crowd.  They are at best a distraction, causing many to join in their hype and believe that they are part of something great.

But in truth they are little more than a TV reality show.  At worst, some are outright liars and counterfeits, pompously strutting about claiming their apostolic authority and demanding preeminence.  They imitate spiritual gifts while what they really seek is fame, fortune, and power.  And they will fight for “their” territory.   They do little or nothing to rebuild the city themselves while hindering anyone who does try to rebuild it.  These are squatters, who sit in the ruins of the New Testament church and claim it as their own.  Sadly, there are “un-churched” people who are “called out” of these groups as well, only to bring the same counterfeit behavior into the home church movement.  This is why it is important to not just leave the institutional churches but to get it out of you.

How will you know the squatters?

They prefer to sit in the ruins rather than rebuild.  If a church claims to be a New Testament church yet has pastor(s)/ leader(s)/ apostle(s)/ prophet(s)/ whoever/ whatever/ etc. who exercise rule and/or control over everyone else, it is a fake.  It is merely a squatter.  True ministers of God seek to rebuild the city (the people) of God.  This means that all people will have opportunity to grow off the milk and become mature adults in the Lord (elders) who become peers with all those who exercise oversight over new converts.  True New Testament leaders do not exercise oversight cart blanche over all of the believers in their churches.

“Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah” were squatters in Jerusalem, and they were only interested in what was beneficial to them.  It is the same with New Testament squatters.  They will participate in something as long as it grows, develops, and spreads their ministry.  It must grow the church under them, not over them or over there.  In determining whether to involve themselves in something, they will look for how it advances their influence.  True godly leaders will be hard to distinguish from among the other spiritually mature believers (true elders).  They make no effort to identify or magnify themselves.   And because of their efforts to restore the city (God’s people), there will be a large and/or growing number of spiritually mature believers.   Remember, just as “Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah” were enemies to the work of God, so are today’s New Testament squatters.

Conclusion

There is no question that there is a call in the Spirit to come out of the contemporary institutional church that is incontrovertibly a Babylonian system.  But physically leaving is the easy part.  Unless we identify and remove all the ways that the Babylonian culture has influenced us spiritually, culturally, and emotionally, we will never be completely out of her.  Until we expel her completely, Babylon will always be a part of us.

We have heard many stories from people who have come out of institutional churches and been a part of starting something new just to see that new church end up becoming just like the institutional church they left.   Why, they always ask?    The answer is simple.  They never really left.  They took the church with them and then recreated what was in their heart. 

Perhaps it is too late for us.  Perhaps the influence of Babylon is so much a part of us that we can never really be completely free of it.  Remember, following the Civil War, the slaves were set free.  However, slavery was so much a part of them that leaving slavery was not that easy.  It had come to define them mentally, socially, culturally, and emotionally.  Therefore, even though they were “out” of slavery, they continued to live like slaves.  Think about how this pertains to those who have “come out” of contemporary institutional churches.  Has the institutional church come out of them or do they continue to function with the mindset of an institutional church?  You will find that the latter is normally the case.

Some say it takes between one and three generations to change a culture.   Perhaps it is not our generation that can change our culture and see the “true” rebuilding of Jerusalem.  Perhaps it will be our children.  Or our grandchildren.  Perhaps the best thing we can do is to protect our children from being brought up in the same “Churchianity” pollution that we were brought up in.  Perhaps the best thing we can do is to shield them from the inhibition, conformity, and religious hypocrisy that we fled.

We must be brave.  We must drive out the squatters who are merely New Testament counterfeits.  We must honestly assess ourselves and recognize the influence of Babylon in us.  You want an objective view.  Ask your children.  Ask those who have not been spoiled by the influence of Babylon.  And let’s pray that we do not spoil our children with the Babylon that is still in us.