from endtime disciples weblog:
I was singing some worship songs in my hotel room in Da Lat, Viet Nam today. The window was open, and I became aware of a self-consciousness. This started me thinking.
Was I self-conscious because my singing voice basically makes me sound like a sick cat sitting on a fence? Or, because I didn’t want anyone who might be outside to hear me offering worship to the Lord?
Then, some ideas began to formulate, which I will share with you here.
During the captivity in Babylon, there were two significant events that happened in the book of Daniel. The first is in Daniel, chapter 3.
Good ole’ king Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge, golden image, and it was commanded that the people were to fall down and worship it whenever they heard the sounds of certain music played. Whoever failed to comply would be tossed into a burning, fiery furnace, which would surely be quite unpleasant.
Daniel’s friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (those were their real names) refused to worship and some jealous men went and told the king about it. In other words, they got ratted out. The king gave the three Hebrews another chance to comply, immediately, or face a horrible death.
We are familiar with how the three men responded in Daniel 3:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
The second significant event is in Daniel, chapter 6.
Some men wanted to get Daniel in trouble, so they went to the king, and convinced him to sign a decree, that if any person were to ask a petition of any god or man other than the king for thirty days, that person would be cast into a den of lions. Since king Darius (new king) had an inflated ego, he went along with the proposal. Let’s look at what happened, in Daniel, chapter 6:
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree…
We know, of course, how these stories ended, with the three Hebrews, and Daniel being saved and protected by God. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were not harmed by the blaze, and Daniel was kept safe from the hungry lions.
What am I getting at?
We’re used to hearing about these events as nice, encouraging bible stories, about men being true and faithful to God, but what is the depth of meaning we can take from them? And where is the application?
We typically think of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah standing proudly, arms folded across their chests, and confidently proclaiming their decision to refuse to worship the image. I doubt that’s how it really happened, though. I sense they were in fear and trembling, but, they had settled it in their hearts, long before this moment, that they would remain true to God, no matter what.
They even acknowledged that God might not deliver them, but that didn’t matter. They were settled on remaining loyal and faithful to God and what God had revealed. Holding to the truth of God was more important than life itself.
Also, let’s notice something about Daniel. Even with the decree of the king, he knelt down and offered his prayers to God with the window open, as was his custom. He didn’t change his routine to try and protect himself. It almost seems like he is daring the officials to take action against him.
Now, if it were me, I might have continued praying to God, but I’m fairly certain I would have been more discreet about it.
Where am I heading with all this? I am heading here:
The Hebrews were all in captivity in Babylon. There was a joining of a religious system to the state. The vast majority of the Hebrews, God’s people, were complying with the new order of things, the corrupted Church/State system. In fact, even after the decree was made that the Hebrews could return to Jerusalem, to restore true worship of the Lord, only a fairly small percentage of them chose to do so. They had grown accustomed to… comfortable in, Babylon.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah represent a remnant. They were certainly not the only ones who held true to God, and they demonstrate a principle… the principle that whatever is going on around you; regardless of the risks; even if you must die in the process… you must will to hold fast to God and His truth. Better to die, than be untrue to God.
What about us? Do we believe the modern Church is mixed with the world, the state, and even unbiblical beliefs and practices? Do we see how far off this entity we call “Church” really is? If you don’t, you’re surely on the wrong blog.
Do we quietly go along with things as they are, not wishing to “make waves” or call down the displeasure of the leaders upon ourselves?
Do we bow down to false beliefs and practices, for the sake of “unity”, or protecting ourselves, or out of ignorance, such as:
- The ministry being done, and the decisions being made, by one man, or perhaps a small, select group of individuals?
- A way of being the Body together that practically rules out real relationship and fellowship?
- The false teaching that tithing is a New Covenant principle, and Christians should do so?
- The idea that believers should simply “submit” to their leaders, and that the leaders are answerable to God?
- The idea that questioning or challenging teaching within the Church is resisting God, “touching God’s anointed”, or sowing discord?
- Much time, energy and money going into many things, except genuine biblical outreach and mission, or truly being the Body together?
- A “class system” within the Body, with a few doers and many spectators?
- Many more such things?
I truly believe, and you might certainly disagree with me, that the Lord is calling out a remnant to be a genuine testimony to Him in these last, dark days. These people will stand with God and for Him. They will demonstrate His life, love and nature. They will live and also speak truth to many… believer and unbeliever… and they will pay a heavy price for that; but the eternal weight of glory will be incredible. They will show that there is an awesome, mighty God in the heavens and that He lives and rules among His people. They will be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.
I also believe that we all have the choice to be a part of this company of believers; or remain in mixture, silence and compromise, but to be part of this company, we will each have to settle matters in our own hearts.
