How the Christian Navigates the Culture

Ben Stuart launches us into a new series through the book of Daniel. We will look briefly at the book’s layout and then settle in the first chapter, where he helps us answer how we live as believers in Christ in a world trying to squeeze us into its mold.

The Book of Daniel is strange and exciting. It is divided into two halves, each representing a different genre.

• Chapters 1-6 tell the stories of how Daniel and his friend survived the pagan rule of Babylon. They also teach us how to live and navigate working amidst earthly powers.
• Chapters 7-12 are prophecy. The events and timing are so accurate that secular scholars want to late date the book because they can't believe a Jewish guy from the 54th century BC could know these things that would have happened in the future. Some of the things are still to come. In Israel's darkest day of captivity, would God prove to be faithful? In this half, we see a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.

—

The Book of Daniel answers many questions. How does a believer navigate working a government job in uncertainty and multiple administration changes? How do you honor God when working for a boss who doesn't know God? How does your faith survive the pressure to conform? Is God sovereign over the nations, and does He shepherd His people?

In Daniel 1:1-21, we see how a believer navigates our present-day Babylon.

—

Daniel 1:1-2

This sets up the historical setting. If you asked a Jewish person in the Old Testament what was the worst thing that could have happened to them, they would probably answer with three words.

• Defeat—their king getting deposed and put under the power of a pagan king.
• Degradation—someone coming in and defiling the Temple.
• Deportation—being cast out of the land that God gave them going all the way back to Abraham.

God's people don't lose. God made it clear that He gave Judah over to judgment. Judah means "to praise," and they were created to praise, obey, and bless God. They were blessed to be a blessing. When they were disobedient and got mixed up in the pagan ways, God brought judgment.

Shinar—a warning that where they are headed is where wickedness reigns. It's a place that stands in defiance of God. If you stand upright, you should expect opposition.

—

Daniel 1:3-4

The Israelites brought into the king's service were the best of the best.

The goal was re-education. The plan was to take them back and make them just like the Babylonians. They were useful as hostages, but it was better if they could serve the kingdom. There was pressure to make them fit and squeeze into a mold.

Therefore, things had to be removed:

• Location
• Literature
• Language
• Love

Things also had to be added:

• Luxuries
• Education
• Jobs

They even had to change names, and changing a name in the ancient world was an indignity because your name was who you were. All of their names were connected to the God they served.

—

Daniel 1:6-7

1. Daniel—"God is my judge" to Belteshazzar—"May Bel protect his life."
2. Hananiah—"God is gracious" to Shadrach— "Under the command of Aku."
3. Mishael—"Who is like God?" to Meshach—"Who is what Aku is?"
4. Azariah—"Yahweh has helped us" to Abednego—"Servant of Nego."

—

Daniel 1:8

There were lines Daniel would not cross. When it came to food, who you ate with was communion with them. So, eating the food of the king meant he was dependent on him and his god to keep him alive.

Daniel was okay with taking on the education and vocation because he was able to learn things without believing them. Some ideas are good to know but not good to hold deep because they're not true. But telling him to take on an association that denies his allegiance to the true King was too far. It was dangerous for him to be this resolved. He knew he could lose his life over it. He had the COURAGE of conviction because He knew God was Adonai, the sovereign ruler of everything.

If you don't know what your lines are sexually, morally, or relationally, be careful because the world will try to squeeze you into a role.

How did Daniel handle his convictions? He asked. He had courtesy and civility. He could disagree without being disagreeable. He could say true things, especially when he disagreed, but was gracious as he did it.

—

Daniel 1:9-11

God gave Daniel favor. The God who allowed judgment to come also allowed His heart to be moved toward Daniel. He didn't get an automatic yes, the eunuch basically gives him a soft no. If Daniel starts looking bad, the eunuch will lose his head. But he doesn't give up, and he goes and speaks with the assistant.

—

Daniel 1:12-15

Daniel said to test him and the boys for 10 days on a diet of vegetables and water. They could observe and deal with them based on what they see. Daniel had the confidence in His God to say, "Watch me honor God in my job, and you see if my way of living is not better." The boys miraculously look better on this diet than the others who were eating all the luxurious food. Proverbs 9:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

—

Daniel 1:18-20

Nebuchadnezzar found the boys to be 10 times better than everyone else in every way. The magicians and enchanters were religious scribes who studied astrology and mysticism to try to determine how nature affected men's wills. Yet, the four were found to be better than the learned. They were committed to being better.

If you claim to be a Christian and your life looks no different than the world, how almighty is your almighty?

If you know God, you're going to be different. Be committed to doing things right. Be great at what you do. Don't do the minimum required; do whatever it is with excellence as to the Lord.

Daniel didn't do it alone. He had his friends with him. The enemy picks off the straggler. Have people around you to be with you and pray with you. Together, you can grow in the same things Daniel and his friends did.

1. Conviction—I will not dishonor God.
2. Courtesy—I won't be a jerk about it.
3. Courage—I will stand by my convictions.
4. Confidence—I believe God will show up in my story and will live according to his ways of living.
5. Commitment—I will do my best at whatever I put my hands to.

—

Daniel 1:21

Daniel was in Babylon until King Cyrus, the King of Persia, overtook Babylon. So, in 70 years of captivity, the mighty fell, but Daniel still stood with God.

God doesn't leave us alone in the dark. He's always with you and always prevails.