By Jack Dody
It’s hard to get out of Babylon! Getting out of Babylon is another way of saying that we are trying to leave this crazy, chaotic, godless world behind as we make Jesus first in our lives. Our ministry here at Abundaculture teaches people how to live a full life “off-grid”, away from many modern conveniences and government provided services. We are learning that living in Christian community is even more important than taking care of ourselves physically, so we live in community on our little homestead.
The greatest challenge to getting out of Babylon is leaving behind what seems to be an easier life. Being able to set the thermostat seems so much easier than cutting firewood. A quick trip to the grocery store is more convenient than harvesting the garden. And toilets that flush away all of our problems are so nice. But we learned during Covid that sometimes the shelves are empty at Wally World. Air-conditioning is wonderful only if you’ve got enough money to pay for it. The bottom line is this: If you depend on someone else, particularly the government, to provide your basic needs, then you can easily be held hostage to the entities that provide what you need. In short, you give up Freedom for Convenience.
What we try to convey to people is that God is our provider and that He has shown us in his Word how we should live. The Bible is not just a spiritual guide, it is a manual for all of life, including the physical. No matter how you choose to live, if you follow Jesus, a Christian community can help you find the joy that we all desire. We need community. Realize that the best way to be a part of a great community is to start a step-by-step process that is required to build that community. If you want it, you will have to be a part of building it. The good news: God is all about community and He is there to guide you. Christian community is a gift from God. He wants you to enjoy a deep relationship with Him and with other people.
We will be praying for you. Please pray for all of us. These young people are courageously figuring out how to live in a world that is determined to leave old ideas like Christianity behind. This is not an easy time for young families. Less so for those who are committed to following Jesus. We need your prayers.
Your servant in Christ,
Jack Dody
Jack Dody and his wife Marilou (Who was taken home to meet Jesus) have been developing appropriate technologies related to off-grid living for more than 40 years and have trained missionaries serving in more than 100 countries around the world. Jack lives "off the grid" on the high plains of Colorado, creating shelter, generating energy, growing food, recycling water. upcycling waste and promoting Christian Community.