Babylon represents a mixture of many forms of apostate Christianity. One distortion of the gospel that has permeated a large segment of Christianity is legalism: the belief that we can depend on our own good efforts for salvation. At the other extreme are those who believe in what has been called “cheap grace.” They separate the gospel from its natural result: a life of obedience to Christ.

God calls people to “come out” of Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and into wholehearted devotion to Christ. He wants a people who serve as examples of the power of obedient faith. The Lord summons His people from spiritual Babylon to become genuine disciples, who depend on Christ and follow His teachings in the Scriptures. He asks us to keep the commandments of God through faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

Without scriptural authority Babylon offers a seductive alternative: for example, religious groups who select which Bible teachings must be followed and which discarded. Many today are choosing a form of “lite” Christianity, saying in effect: “Just give me a few greeting card sayings and send me on my way. Don’t cramp my style with any of those non-negotiable commandments from Mt. Sinai.”

Babylon is so dangerous because of the false ideas of God she perpetrates. She distorts the picture of God into caricatures: a vengeful, endlessly demanding Cop in the Sky, or a sentimental Grandaddy who’s too sweet to bother anyone about sin. A healthy church will present a balanced picture of all God’s attributes and show how His justice and mercy, sovereignty and servanthood, omnipotence and restraint, all combine in the truth that God is love. Those who “come out” of Babylon, reject unbiblical teachings and worship God as He is revealed in His Word.