One of the questions thoughtful Christians often ask when we’re trying to live incarnationally – putting flesh on the gospel – is how far should we go in accommodating ourselves to our culture? What’s OK for a Christian to do and what’s not when we’re trying to reach people where we are?
For example, should Christians watch movies? I imagine most here wouldn’t have a problem with going to the flicks, but some people would argue that we shouldn’t because Paul says we’re to meditate on what ever’s good and pleasing and noble and so on, and movies generally aren’t. And let’s face it, most of what goes through the cinemas isn’t very edifying, is it? The early Christians generally considered the theatre inappropriate. Yet other people believe it’s vital we stay in touch with our culture.
Is it OK to night clubbing? I bet a lot of you are screaming to do that! It’s not that
dancing is wrong, but there’s probably a lot in the clubbing culture – especially excessive drinking, drugs and sex - that’s not very healthy. But some people would argue that’s the best place to be to reach some people with the gospel.
What about the Eastern martial arts – karate, tai kwon do, Judo and so on? I did some research into martial arts when I was considering taking up karate some years ago and was surprised how deeply embedded Eastern religion and spirituality is in the martial arts. In fact, some non-Christians believe spirituality and the martial arts are so intrinsically connected that they can’t understand how Christians can accept them. Certainly the Lord forbade me from doing it. But others use martial arts to preach the gospel.
Even our sexuality is up for question nowadays. I’ve heard of some Christians saying it’s OK if they sleep with their girlfriend or boyfriend, they’re friends are sleeping with multiple partners and they only have one... presumably at a time. Yet the Bible is quite clear that we are to keep these things for marriage.
Sports on Sunday – not that one day is more important than another, Paul tells us, but when we choose sport over worship, what is that telling others about our priorities?
Appropriately modest clothing...
The list goes on and on. And the lines in the sand are quickly moved, especially in a society that’s constantly changing like ours.
Four guys in the Bible were faced with this very question. So let’s turn to Daniel 1.
Read Daniel 1.1-21
The captivity in Babylon raised all kinds of issues for the Jews. Their entire religious life revolved around the land of Israel. Now they’ve lost their land and their temple and they have to figure out what these laws and Scriptures mean in a new context.
THE ROYAL COLLEGE
These four young men, who evidently were nobles or princes and very gifted, were presented with this huge opportunity to study at a college to prepare them for service in the government. Although a brutal conqueror, Nebuchadnezzar had quite an enlightened approach to recruiting the best and brightest from across his empire.
But from a spiritual point of view, there’s a catch. Learning the language of Babylon was one thing, but learning the literature would have meant a heavy dose of astrology and the divination and the like, as well the history and philosophy of the Babylonians. These kinds of things were forbidden for Jews, as they are for Christians.
But they still go for it!
What do we do with that! What would you do?
I guess studying this stuff isn’t the same as buying into it. As you read on in Daniel you see a lot of the first part is about the conflict between Babylon and God. Daniel constantly relies on God’s wisdom, he prays to God in the face of certain death, and ultimately outwits Babylon’s best and brightest. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego face the furnace rather than bowing down to the King and are miraculously and spectacularly delivered. The King is humiliated and ends up acknowledging that God is the true King.
I think we need to be clear about the decisions we make in these situations. Daniel’s decision moved him into a position of great influence that he could not have had otherwise. It was the only way to get that kind of education. And God preserved him in it for his purposes.
Perhaps it’s a question of motivation - why do we seek or take the opportunities we’re after? Is it for our benefit, to get ahead, make money to enjoy for ourselves, more prestige or whatever? Or is it motivated by a desire to glorify God and see the gospel infiltrate and transform every part of society.
In 1Cor 9.22-23 the apostle Paul writes, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
As we’ll see in a moment, these guys clearly had their hearts set on God - throughout the book we see faithfulness to God is a key motivation for Daniel. And as we move into situations under the guidance and power of the Spirit for the glory of God I think there’s a sanctification that takes place. Sanctification is a fancy word that means being set apart for God, it’s making something holy. And as we are motivated for God he sanctifies our hearts to protect us, and even sanctifies the places we’re in to bring them into alignment with his will and purposes.
What’s your motivation in the places where you are - not just social or education but work. ’Oh but I have no choice, I have to go to work.’ Yes, but what if you elevated that from a job you have to do to a mission you want to do? For the glory of God!
Are the places you’re part of being sanctified and transformed? You don’t have to actually do much, just go with God, it’s his job to sanctify and transform.
MAINTAINING PURITY
So these young men have made this choice to go into what is a very pagan environment.
Now let’s just put this into context. I don’t know how old these guys were, but I’m guessing in their early twenties. They’re described as youths. And they are truly exceptional young men, because in spite of the situation they find themselves in, they keep their hearts firmly on God. They’re not just dissolving into the culture, they have to make a stand. What makes them different to those around them?
One area they find that they can make a stand for faithfulness is in the food laws. Now this might seem a little strange to us, but it runs deep in the heart of the Jew. Food is divided into clean and what can be eaten, and unclean and what can’t. If you eat unclean food you’re out of fellowship with God and his people until you are purified.
For us, food is something you eat. For them, it’s spiritual. It’s not just trying to keep some identity or be obstinate - it’s at the core of their spirituality. By maintaining food regulations they express their commitment to God.
But it’s a delicate situation and evidently takes some maneuvering. Daniel doesn’t come up with some religious argument, he comes humbly, politely and reasonably and basically says, "Look, could we just try this for a few days. If it doesn’t work we’ll do it your way, but could we just have a go?" And what happens? God blesses these young men and they come out healthier than every one else!
Daniel effectively drew a line in the sand. Where’s your line in the sand when it comes to faithfulness to Christ? Because this is the question, isn’t it? How can I stay faithful to Christ while trying to reach a world that has such different values to my own?
Some time ago my photography club had a lecture and practical workshop about studio photography. Part of the evening involved photographing the model. Now I knew we’d have a model, but I didn’t realise she’d be quite so - hot. She was dressed a little more casually than what I was comfortable with. Seriously, I was in a dilemma because I’m the club president and more importantly I’m there in large part because I want to encourage them to meet Christ and didn’t want to alienate people by being uppity or anything. I think I spent some extra time in the kitchen. You know, with hindsight I should have drawn a line in the sand. Not made a big song and dance but just quietly excused myself and gone home - and next time I will.
The other side to being all things to all people is 1Pet 2.12.: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they will accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
Being missional is not an excuse to sin. We need to move closer to Christ, be more grounded in him, more secure in him, have our identity in him.
And by the way, drawing a line in the sand doesn’t mean imposing our values and morals on everyone else. How long do you think Daniel would have lasted if he’d lambasted the officials? Like, 5 seconds! We struggle to keep a standard of love and purity even with God in our lives, how are others meant to do it? I’m not talking about offering loving wisdom to a friend who’s going to make a dumb decision. But we’re not to bring condemnation - we want to show them the way of salvation which is a Christ, not our morals. Morals follow when we know Christ.
CONCLUSION
Being incarnational - putting flesh on the gospel - means that we need to leave the safety of our church activities and go and engage with people who need to know that God loves them and has an abundant life for them through Jesus. So it calls for sometimes risky and difficult decisions. It calls us into difficult places and situations.
How can we discern when to say yes and when to say no? Where do we draw the lines in the sand? These are never easy questions to answer, but God has given us his Word and his Spirit to guide us in this. We need to make a decision to tenaciously hold onto Christ and not let him go. He is our identity, so we need make sure we don’t lose sight of the cross and what he has done for us. And from there we need to ask, what is going to reveal Christ in this situation? Will the choices I make help others move closer or further away from him?
It’s finding ways to reach society from the inside without letting it get inside us!
