Lessons from the book of Daniel
Chapter 3
In Daniel chapter 3, an accusation is made toward Daniel’s friends which puts their lives in danger: “There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up?
Nebuchadnezzar did not wait for an answer. He didn’t want to know the answer. He just wanted to change their behavior.
Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made.
In other words, “I’m ready to let bygones be bygones. This is a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. From this point forward, if you’re ready to fall down and worship the statue I made, very good. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
Nebuchadnezzar knows that at the heart of Daniel and his friends’ behavior is their belief in God. Nebuchadnezzar’s point is a point that is very important in our day and our culture. “I don’t care what you believe. That’s a personal matter. But you better do what I say. You can believe anything you want as long as you don’t let it influence your behavior in a way that is countercultural. As long as you don’t put your personal beliefs at such a high level of importance that it would cause you to go against governmental policy, you can believe anything you want.”
I think John Kennedy was the first of our presidents to say, “Personally, I believe… and…; but I will not allow my religious views to influence the way I govern.” In other words, personal moral convictions have no place in politics. This has become a mantra for many, if not most, of our politicians ever since. We hear over and over the matter-of-fact statements of personal belief followed by the explanation that separation of church and state trumps personal faith. It is accepted in our culture that personal beliefs must not influence the exercise of political power.
The body of Christ has allowed certain moral issues to be labeled political issues and therefore these issues are considered off-limits to public scrutiny. These important moral issues have been relegated to personal, private, “religious” conviction. We aren’t supposed to talk about them because we all hold different beliefs.
King Nebuchadnezzar is still around today. The same spirit is still at work telling people, “You are welcome to your own beliefs. You can believe anything you want, but don’t let your personal beliefs influence your behavior. When you’re told what to do, you better get with the program. Don’t rock the boat. Privately, you can believe whatever you want to believe, but in government and society you have to get with the program.”
The difference between those who would be like Daniel and his friends and those who we often have in political leadership in every political party is whether or not we are going to do what we believe is right or simply stick to the plan of political expediency. This is not meant to be a discussion about politics, but rather about having the courage of your convictions, despite what others are doing. This is not about political issues; it is about moral convictions. If we allow morality to become politicized, so that we can no longer make moral declarations from Scripture without people thinking we’re being political, we are not well served.
We must be clear about right versus wrong. It’s not about right versus left; it’s about right versus wrong. It’s not about politics, it’s not about party, it’s not about philosophy; it’s about Jesus. He is where we need to focus and not be distracted by the rest.
