Meet a man forced to live in a fast changing and godless society. He faced fears about the future, concern for his safety, and the discouragement of world that seemed to be falling apart at warp speed.
Sound familiar? His name was Daniel, and with the power of hope, humility, and wisdom, he not only thrived, he changed an empire while he was at it. Though he lived thousands of years ago, he has much to teach us today.
Even in Babylon, God is in control.
In Thriving in Babylon, Larry Osborne explores the "adult" story of Daniel to help us not only survive - but actually thrive in an increasingly godless culture. Here Pastor Osborne looks at:
-Why panic and despair are never from God
-What true optimism looks like
-How humility disarms even our greatest of enemies
-Why respect causes even those who will have nothing to do with God to listen
-How wisdom can snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat
For those who know Jesus and understand the full implications of the cross, the resurrection, and the promises of Jesus, everything changes---not only in us, but also in our world.
Thriving in Babylon is full of advice for Christians living in America today. I especially appreciated sections on examining our faith, as well as the descriptions of how to live lives full of hope, humility, and wisdom.
While I didn't agree with everything Osborne said (I thought he was a little too quick to dismiss the lies certain Biblical figures told, saying God understands that sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils), he certainly gave me a lot to think about.
I really enjoyed Osborne's writing style—it's engaging, funny, and very easy to read and understand.
One of the things I've been thinking about recently is this question: Why would we expect people who don't know Jesus to live like they do? Legislating morality doesn't work, and neither do "in your face" debates. Jesus calls us to love others and share the gospel with them. At the end of the book's section on humility, Osborne addresses this, saying, "We are to proclaim the gospel to lost people in the hope they will repent and bow the knee. Our goal is to win them over, not wipe them out. But we'll never be able to persuade anybody if our knee-jerk response to those held captive to do the enemy's will remains one of anger, resentment, disrespect, and scorn" (p. 166). A lot of people on social media need to think that one over!
Osborne also addresses sin in the church, saying that's what we need to be concerned about. If unbelievers are living lives of sin, that's to be expected. If those who call themselves Christ followers are, that's a problem that needs to be addressed.
Overall, I'm very glad I read Thriving in Babylon. It's given me a lot to think about, that's for sure! 4 stars.
The publisher sent me an extra copy of the book to give away! Just enter through the Rafflecopter below. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email notification, or another winner will be chosen.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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