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You know the story of the three Hebrew children (more like teenagers or adults at the time of the story) and the fiery furnace. Well, God has placed us in our own version of Babylon, a multicultural, religiously diverse melting pot with great power in the world and a god (ourselves) we cannot worship. So, what should we do? It’s time to get fired. Here’s what I mean from Daniel chapter 3.
How to Get Fired in Babylon in 4 Not-So-Easy Steps:
- Remember Your Name
- Take a Bow
- Practice Your Line
- Get Fired
Key Takeaways:
- Why King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a multi-material statue in Daniel 2 is critical to Daniel 3 and the king’s statue made entirely of gold.
- The significance of a forced name change as part of cultural indoctrination.
- Rosa Parks took a stand by sitting. And, in a similar way, these Hebrew exiles took a bow by standing.
- How these Hebrew dissidents practiced Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s advice to “live not by lies” long before Aleksandr said it (or Rod Dreher wrote a book about it).
- This courageous stand turned the tables and put King Nebuchadnezzar and his false religion (rather than the Hebrew exiles) on trial.
- How getting fired in this way can take everyone’s focus away from a statue/false religion and point it toward Jesus.
Excellent message Josh! Great parallel with the spirit if our age and Babylon.
Thanks,Tad! Appreciate your encouragement!
So true Josh as we seem to be following in the idolatrous steps of Israel.
Like Daniel, we can take a stand. The results will go far beyond what we expect or can imagine. The book of Daniel has several examples of what God can do when we “Stand and having done all stand”.
Nebuchadnezzar repents and testifies of the true God in chapter 5
Darius’ decree in Dan 5:25-27
Cyrus release the Hebrews to return in II Chronicles 36:22-23
Amen! Thanks, Don! There are a lot of parallels in the Book of Daniel, and I am planning on re-reading the whole book this year in an effort to stay focused on these truths no matter what happens!
Dreher’s book is a must read for Christians. I’m just finishing it today, and believe its an insightful resource to help believers grasp current cultural change and our response to it. I was having a conversation yesterday with a close friend who is a progressive Democrat and that exchange reminded me that our efforts to argue others to a different perspective is not near as effective as living a a genuine Christian faith that points to Christ as King, and doing so in the power and leading of the Holy Spirit. If the church is truly living as Christ called it to live, neither soft totalitarianism nor the very gates of hell will prevail against it.
Absolutely (on Dreher’s book), and I was struck by the simple but powerful testimonies of so many Soviet or Soviet bloc dissidents. Grateful that you took the time to have that conversation and share the insight above. That reflects my experience in the public square as well, and may God grant us the courage and patience to live out our faith in the way you describe!