Readings for today: Daniel 1-3
Daniel is one of my favorites. He is a great example, perhaps the pre-eminent example, of how to live a life of faith in a hostile land. Though the book doesn’t say it, Daniel must have suffered terribly. Dragged from his homeland as a teenager. Force marched to Babylon. Drafted into the service of a pagan king. He was confronted with all kinds of challenges, everything from the food he ate to the prayers he prayed. He could easily have compromised his convictions along the way. Gone along to get along. But Daniel remained faithful. He could easily have lashed out at his captors. Sought to undermine their authority. Rebelled in small but subtle ways. But Daniel never wavered in his commitment to serve God in a foreign land. The result? Daniel set an example that would impact generations. In fact, many scholars believe the wise men who went searching for Jesus were heavily influenced by ancient Jewish prophecies handed down, perhaps even by Daniel and his colleagues themselves.
I find myself going back to Daniel over and over again. Especially as Western culture seemingly grows more hostile to Christianity. Many who share my faith believe we should take a more forceful posture. They always seem spoiling for a fight. They seem to enjoy calling down judgment on those who do not share our faith in the public square. They believe the reason Christianity is failing in the West is because many Christian leaders are cowards. I wonder what they would say to Daniel if he were alive today? Would they accuse him of being a collaborator? Would they call him a coward? Would they suggest he should have called for armed rebellion against his pagan overlord? I honestly don’t know. I imagine they would argue that they simply look to other examples from Scripture to meet the demands of this cultural moment. For my part, I prefer Daniel’s example. It’s why I always try to serve as a good faith partner with our local, state, and national government officials. I have had the privilege over the last five years especially to engage leaders at all levels of government as we navigated COVID, balanced anti-discrimination laws with First Amendment religious freedoms, advocated for a more Christian approach to public policy when it comes to issues like abortion, gender and sexuality, immigration, and criminal justice. It’s not been easy. But “easy” is not what I signed up for. And every time I find myself getting discouraged, I try to remember to turn to Daniel.
Fundamentally, Daniel understood a deep and profound truth. This world is not our home. It didn’t matter whether he was serving in Jerusalem or Babylon. It didn’t matter whether he lived in the Promised Land or in exile. It didn’t matter whether he served in his home culture or a hostile, pagan culture. His faith in God remained the same. He knew God was sovereign. He knew God was faithful. He knew God would protect him and provide for him and sustain him. Most of all, he knew God could use him. Use him to bring light to darkness. Hope to the hopeless. Wisdom to those who were lost. Just like God can use you and me today.
Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 4-6