Babylonian Brainwashing Techniques
Daniel 1
1 ¶ In the third
year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord
gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the
house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god;
and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king
spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of
the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom
was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in
knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand
in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of
the Chaldeans.
5 And the king
appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he
drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand
before the king.
6 Now among these
were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the
prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abednego.
8 ¶ But Daniel
purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the
prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
For over 2,600 years the world’s methods to indoctrinate
and change people have not changed! The methods/tactics that Babylon used to
change and transform young people taken from Jerusalem are still in use after
all these years and they work!
If we as God’s people are not proactive we will be
changed or transformed by this world we live in. If we are passive...we will
change...we must be actively resisting the “course of this world” (Eph 2:2).
Rom 12
1 ¶ I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The command is in the negative, ”...be not conformed...” if
we do nothing...if we do not act...we will be caught up in the course of this
world and be changed! We must act in order to keep from changing!
There are three areas of attack that were used in the
indoctrination of God’s people in Daniel 1
1)
Regale/Riches
In our passage in Daniel 1,
Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st attack was upon the diet of the Jewish young
men. He put before them that which was contrary to the Old Testament Law.
In the Bible, the Lord likens His Word to food...(1Peter 2:2;Heb 5:12-14)
The Lord also warned His people
of a time where there would be a famine of hearing the Word of God....
Amos 8
11 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD,
that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and
from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of
the LORD, and shall not find it.
When people are starving during
a time of famine...it is amazing what people are willing to consume while in that
condition! There are many examples in the Bible of the depths of depravity during
times of famine! Our world, especially in North America, is starving
spiritually! It amazes me to see what people are willing to accept under the
banner of ‘Christianity’. Many have lost their spiritual taste buds...the
standard has now become...how one feels versus what the Bible says. People have
been filled with a portrayal of Christianity through the media, most of which is
unscriptural. As a child who has spoiled their supper by eating junk food...many
a believer has been spoiled by the pleasures and materialism of this society. God’s
people have lost their appetite and are not hungering and thirsting after
righteousness! (Mt 5:6)
Changing a society through
amusement, entertainment, and materialism has been used down through the
centuries. The attack is the same even though the medium has changed. Today
this attack has come with a ferocity like we have never seen before! When I was
growing up it was...TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, etc. Now, with the
advances of technology, it is now entering our homes through the medium of computers
and 24/7 though the use of cell phones.
We live in a pleasure crazed
world. The Bible tells us in ... 2Tim 3:4 that people would be “...lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God;”
If it’s not fun...people don’t
want to do it...happiness and pleasures are the highest of goals! Regale and Riches
have become the driving force in our society!
Not only was the attack through
Regale and Riches...it also came by...
2)
Rename/Redefine
When they arrived in
Babylon...their names were changed to remove any link back to their roots as
God’s chosen people! They wanted to remove any reminder of who they were and
where they came from! Today, we are experiencing the greatest identity crisis we
have ever seen in our history! The crisis has grown exponentially these last
few years. People are unsure of who they are and how to live. People are
unsure of their gender! Governments and societies are redefining marriage under
the banner of ‘tolerance’ and ‘co-existence’! We are living in times where many,
including believers are doing “...that which is right in their own eyes.”
Judges 17:6 From young to old, many are swallowing the ‘pill’ of redefinition. From
every level of government to every level of education...the Bible is no longer
the standard from which all laws are based upon.
Another point of attack comes
through...
3)
Reason/Reform
Upon their arrival to Babylon,
Nebuchanezzar began the process of educating them and teaching them the
language. (1:4)
From our day cares right through
our universities young people are being indoctrinated with evolution and
freedom of sexual expression. We have experienced more violence in the
educational system than we have ever seen in history! This constant attack upon
the Word of God along with pressure from peers has caused many a young person
to question the accuracy and validity of the Bible! Many have been spoiled by
“philosophy and vain deceit” Col 2:8
Along with this, many of God’s
people have taken on the “...speech of Ashdod...” Nehemiah 13:24 It is a shame
how this world has affected believers with vulgarity and profanity. Many have
lost their shame and blush when the Lord’s name is used in vain. People have
more respect for Mohammad’s name or their own family name than God’s name!
These 3 areas of attack do not have to defeat us as
Christians. Through Christ, we have all that we need that “pertains to life and
godliness” (2Pet 1:3) so that we can “shine as lights” in this “crooked and
perverse” (Phil 2:15) world. Over 2,600 years ago, Daniel and his 3 friends
experienced this victory without all the benefits that we have today as
Christians. After going through this indoctrination process for 3 years (1:5)...they
refused to be changed! Without the presence and influence of their parents,
they chose to stand up for the Lord and His Word! It all happened, because,
Daniel “purposed in his heart” (1:8) that he would “obey God rather than man” (Acts
5:29). Daniel’s “fear of God” far surpassed his “fear of man”! (Prov 29:25) The
key to all of this was Daniel keeping his heart tender towards God and being
resolute in obeying and following God regardless of the cost!
Can we take a serious look at what happened over 2,600
years ago and say with Daniel of old...Today, I will not be defiled with the
“meat” of this world!
God bless those who are resisting the indoctrination of
this world!
