Not Squeezed but Transformed

Last Sunday we began our study on Daniel. In chapter one, we learn that the Jews are suffering through the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem has been destroyed and many of the Jews have been taken as prisoners of war into exile in Babylon.

I stated that in chapter one the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, represents a powerful force that is trying to squeeze four young Jewish boys into a mold to use for his purposes. He wants to shape them into the ways of Babylon. He wants to enlist them into his cause. If they do well, they’re guaranteed success. I believe Nebuchadnezzar is trying to domesticate the Israelites. If he can show the Israelites that success is possible in his kingdom, they will assimilate and serve. It’s an ingenious approach.

This is not far from our own lives. There are forces at work in our world that are trying to squeeze us into a mold. We too are being enlisted into the service of countless things. We are all encouraged to bow to the idols of body-image, sex, power, and success. Furthermore, we’re all shaped by certain ways of thinking—some of them good and others not so good. What do we do? How do we respond?

Daniel provides a positive example. Daniel knows that he’s been claimed by another so he refuses to eat the King’s food. Daniel stays true to the dietary rules in the Old Testament. This might sound inconsequential. But we mustn’t forget, these laws were given to help the Israelites remember to whom they belong. Daniel stays true to God, remembering he’s been claimed by God--by refusing to eat the King’s food.

The question remains, what practices do we have that will help us stay true to the God who has called us to be his servants? I suggested six last week. Here they are:

1) Regular church attendance. We need to go to the place where we’ll be shaped into the image of God, regularly. Our culture is squeezing us into a mold, telling us church is not important. We need to think about this and talk about it some.

2) Regular giving. Paying God first (tithing 10%) helps us keep him first in our lives (Deuteronomy 26).

3) Tune in daily. See Deuteronomy 6.4-9. Notice how often they’re supposed to think about this great commandment. They are to keep it central in their lives all of the time, talking about it constantly.

4) Turn to substance. Our media culture is becoming a freak show. Anything is better than most of the junk fed to us through the media—a good novel, meeting with friends, rest, silence, prayer, etc.

5) Fasting. This is a good discipline to embrace. Try a 12 hour or 24 hour fast. It will help you remember that you don’t live on bread alone but upon every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

What do you think?

Living Forward

I’m at it again, writing to assuage my own conscience, letting you listen in and respond.

Last week’s sermon troubled me. I found myself asking many questions: Is the concept too radical? Is it too idealistic? Is it too unbelievable? Am I living this? Am I willing to live this?

I talked about Paul’s solid belief that the resurrection changed everything. In the resurrection we learn that this world is being replaced by the new world that has begun in the resurrection of Israel’s messiah. The resurrection opens up a new door, or a new chapter in God’s history (His story). The end of the ages has come upon us (1 Corinthians 11). Paul lived in anticipation and celebration of what was not yet here, but what has been disclosed already in the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the already but the not-yet. For in the resurrection we learn that death—the tool of the tyrant!—has been dealt its first blow; we learn that Jesus truly is the one we ought to follow; that all of our efforts of love and compassion will not be in vain; that life and creation does really matter. The resurrection is the beginning of God’s New Creation.

But how do we live?

Paul wants us to live as if what God has done in Christ Jesus is the most important event in history and in our own personal life. We are to live as if there’s something more important than success, romance, marriage, business, and a secure retirement. Though all of those these things are important and though they are all gifts from God, we need to recognize that we have not been placed on this earth for just these things. We have been created to serve and enjoy the God who has created us in love and redeemed us in grace. We are to live for God’s kingdom, letting that commitment transform our marriages, our reason for parenting, our work ethic, etc., etc. The text I’ve been thinking about all week is when Jesus tells the disciples that they should not fear death but the one who has power over their soul, God. You see, there’s even something more urgent than a long life. What could be more important than that? Simple: honoring God in life or in death.

This commitment doesn’t mean we embrace two ways of life. We don’t separate our spiritual life from our public life. Far from it. We allow our spiritual commitment to influence how we live in this world. We seek to embrace the things God values at work, at school, with our children, and at the polls.

How does this work?

I believe we need to start praying daily the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: “May your kingdom come” through us, through me (Matthew 6). It’s really quite amazing how it works. Once you start praying this prayer regularly, I believe you’ll see opportunities that you’ve never seen before. You’ll see opportunities to extend God’s care and compassion to the lost and the last everywhere you go. In other words, through that prayer our desires will be changed so that we will start to value the things that God values. Peace!