How to Stand Up For God (Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35)
Listen.February 28th, 2010
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
Have you ever faced accusations by people who have been hurt by the church? The reputation of God often suffers because of the way some Christians act.
Picture the following scenario in your mind: You’re walking through the break room in the office and overhear a conversation. A woman is venting about why she will never attend church because of some past grievance.
She remarks, “As a child we went to this little church near our house. There was some issue, then there were angry meetings that tore the church apart. I bet some of those people still aren’t even speaking to each other! Then I had a boss who was on a church board, and the guy was a cheat and a liar. Then there’s that television evangelist living a double life. A fraud! I want no part of that!”
Of course there are people with evil intentions even in the church who enjoy creating division and getting people angry, and there are people in the church who do not live Christ-oriented lives. If these people represent the church of Jesus Christ then we really don’t need pagans running around attacking the church.
However, this morning we want to realize that people are looking and watching those of us who claim Jesus as Christ and they are looking to see the positive or negative things we do in our lives and how they relate to our faith in Christ. We need to ask ourselves the question: “Is there anything we can do to help give God a good name?”
Today we are going to look at the life of someone who lived in a desperate time – when God’s reputation was at an all time low because of the behavior of his people. The city of Jerusalem had been attacked by the Babylonians and the temple looted. The reputation of Israel was diminished and so was the reputation of God for having allowed this to happen. The furnishings in the temple were taken into Babylon and used in the temple of the Babylonian gods who were praised for the victory over the Israelite God.
Into this situation we find Daniel and his friends who faithfully allow God to reestablish his reputation through them. We will learn three important things that Daniel did and that we must do if we are to stand up for God in an increasingly hostile world.
Stand alone if necessary
When the Babylonian army conquered Jerusalem, they deported those who were the brightest and best of the young men. They took them to Babylon and there they underwent considerable training. There was a three year educational process that included study in language, literature and etiquette. Those who did well could find themselves in top governmental positions.
In the book of Daniel we read about four Hebrew youth who were part of this indoctrination process: Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These four were among those deported from Jerusalem. In order to make the indoctrination process complete, they were given different names, Babylonian names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego.
The first issue that these four young men would struggle with concerned their diets. They asked if they could refrain from eating the Babylonian diet and simply ate vegetables and grain. They offered to do this for a 10 day trial period at which time they would be examined to see if they were still healthy and had a good complexion! This experiment was extended throughout their three year period of indoctrination at the end of which they were still found to be in superior condition than the others. We’re not sure if they were doing this simply for Jewish dietary restriction or because the meat and wine they were consuming had first been offered to the Babylonian guards. However, in doing so, they stood up for the God of Israel and they did not eat the king’s menu. They were elevating the name of the true God.
Standing up for God’s reputation is not always easy. A few examples may be helpful: An eighth grade girl observes that her friends are becoming increasingly gossipy and catty. This does not enhance God’s reputation in the world. Like Daniel, she resolves not to eat from that menu! Her older brother is bussing tables at a restaurant. Every night when work is over, all the employees drive down the road to a bar for a beer. It’s not just a beer, but it’s hours of drinking. This lifestyle will not enhance the reputation of God and so he resolved not to eat from that menu. The father exits a sales meeting where it is abundantly clear that in order to make sales he will have to lie about the product, delivery dates, or the competitors. It’s time for steel resolution: He resolves not to eat from that menu.
As Christians we can positively affect God’s reputation by not buying into a way of life that the world around you is engaged in. People notice when we act on our convictions. Stand alone – if necessary!
State what God has done
In Daniel chapter 2 we find an episode that revolves around the interpretation of a dream. Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream and summons his wise men to not only interpret the dream, but also to tell him the content of the dream. They are unable to comply and he puts them to death. Daniel and his friend learn of what had happened and after fervent prayer the Lord provides Daniel with both the dream and the interpretation.
When the king asks Daniel whether or not he can interpret the dream and relate the content, Daniel says that he can not but that there is a God who reveals mysteries. Daniel points to God, not to himself. The God of Israel will do this.
The dream is about a statue of a man made of four substances; a mighty stone crushes the statue. The interpretation: there will be four successive empires, which will in turn be replaced by a kingdom that will never end. The dream is prophesying about the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires that will be in turn destroyed and the kingdom of God will endure forever. Nebuchadnezzar responds by honoring Daniel’s God.
In standing up for God and enhancing God’s reputation have we learned that we need to state clearly what God has done in our lives? Do we notice what God has accomplished? There are times when we fail to see the impact God has and we think we have done everything by ourselves and our own power and might, perhaps even be our own ingenuity and wit and charm! There are times when our vocabulary changes when we are around other people who are not believers. As Christian people are we aware of how God moves in our lives? When we do, are we ready to share that with others?
Has God answered a prayer in some wonderful way? Have you shared that? Do you tell others about it? Not in some obnoxious, holier than thou manner, but earnestly and truthfully and humbly? Has God blessed you; financially, artistically, musically, intellectually or in some other way? Have you given God the credit in the presence of other people? Has God helped resolve a problem in your life? We need to look closely oftentimes so that we see God’s involvement and participation – it is not always a lightening bolt experience. As we are touched by the grace and love of Christ, we need to share that and offer invitations to others into that eternal kingdom and into the presence of our God.
Stay faithful when threatened
By the time we reach Daniel chapter 6, Daniel is an old man. The Babylonian empire has been swept away by the Persians. Darius is king of the Persian empire and Daniel serves him. Daniel is very influential in the government because of his relationship with the king. This rouses feeling of jealousy and hatred in the hearts of the Persians who were also serving the king.
Daniel was a pious, religious man who prayed to God three times a day. During each of those prayer times, he would face Jerusalem. This upset the Persians and so they went to Darius and had him pass a law stating that all prayers were to be directed to him and that if anyone was caught praying to any god, they would be punished by death. Daniel continued to pray to the God of Israel. He is caught. Much to Darius displeasure, the law had to stand and so Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.
What is at stake here is the reputation of Israel’s God. When Darius approaches the den, notice the words he asks, “Has your God been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel’s response: “My God has sent and angel.” He was saved from death by God – and God’s reputation was enhanced so that Darius issues a proclamation that everyone must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
Our journey of faith requires courage at times if we are to remain faithful. Can we do it? Yes we can, if we are people of prayer and devotion and trust. We are called to remain faithful to Jesus in spite of the world and the humiliation, ridicule and apathy that the world throws at us. It’s not always easy, but God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ will sustain us.
When we are ridiculed for church attendance rather than going with our friends to the game, we are threatening our relationship if we choose what God desires.. When we are called upon to compromise our standards based upon what our friends are doing. Will we cave in to the world or stand firm? Daniel stood firm even when threatened with impending doom.
Conclusion
The question for us: How might God desire to make his goodness, greatness, power and love known through us? How might God use us to elevate his name in the world today?
Just as in Daniel’s day, God works through his people. How can we make a difference for the kingdom where God has placed us? Think about the woman who experienced church fights, the peer pressure in the family story and the issues in our own life. Be an example of Christ’s love and faithfulness in all areas and circumstances. Stand alone if necessary, State what God has done, Stay faithful in all situations. God be with us. Amen.