Series: When Cultures Collide
Topic: Developing Pressure Cooked Principles
(How to have a tenacity of faith that will stand the pressures of life)
June 30, 2002
Introduction: ill-A few years ago psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed to show how a person handled group pressure. The plan was simple. They brought groups of ten adolescents into a room for a test. Subsequently, each group of ten was instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three separate charts. What one person in the group did not know was that nine of the others in the room had been instructed ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line. Regardless of the instructions they heard, once they were all together in the group, the nine were not to vote for the longest line, but rather vote for the next to the longest line. The experiment began with nine teen-agers voting for the wrong line. The stooge would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group. The instructions were repeated and the next card was raised. Time after time, the self-conscious stooge would sit there saying a short line is longer than a long line, simply because he lacked the courage to challenge the group. This remarkable conformity occurred in about 75% of the cases, and was true of small children and high-school students as well. Berenda concluded that, "Some people had rather be president than right," which is certainly an accurate assessment.
[C. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 225.]
[recent news program of the same scenario, 2 out of 3 failed, as time went on even the one who kept giving the right/honest answer began to speak with less and less confidence and certainty.]
Pressures abound to fit in. Few can stand apart and be different. This morning we look at the lives of three men and the challenge they faced as they sought to stand up for what was right, even though it nearly cost them their lives.
King has dream. Dream of large statue. Daniel relates that the king is the head-a head of gold representing the best and grandest. As the kingdoms/ statue progressed they became stronger; 1st bronze, then iron. But, at the same time they also became weaker through instability. The last had the strength of iron, but the cohesion of iron/clay mixed. "United we stand, divided we fall". Such kingdoms quickly collapse. In spite of this there was yet another kingdom-one which God would establish-a kingdom that would crush all others, and upon which no other kingdom would prevail.
Jesus said, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18, KJV)
But dreams like this can be disturbing to a king who is accustomed to being in control. So, the king, knowing that his kingdom will come to an end attempts to control the situation. And in a moment of irony creates this statue 90’ high and 9’ wide as a means by which to control the decay of the kingdom and solidify all in the kingdom under homage to this idol, the king, and the king’s gods.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, were assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace." Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Daniel 3:1-7, RSV
[background -conflict between Jewish law and this decree. Their identity to YHWH meant the most to them]
1. Our Greatest Trials Are Those Closest To The Heart
James 1:14 "A person is tempted when he is drawn away and trapped by his own evil desire" (GN)
I may not be tempted to rob a bank, but rather to flirt with a coworker.
I may not be tempted to lie, but maybe to slander a neighbor/ churchgoer.
I may not be tempted to kill, but most certainly, in the American way, to covet.
Proverb 4:23 "guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (NIV)
Principle #1: Guard Your Heart
Proverb 23:7 "For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he." (KJV)
Matthew 12:34 "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (RSV)
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for ever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." Daniel 3:8-12 (RSV)
2. Convictions Create Conflict
Standing up for what is right will create friction
They didn’t draw attention to themselves; didn’t try to start a revolt, or overtly act out. Trouble came looking for them.
Ill. FBI Whistle blower Coleen Rowley, feared retaliation because she stood up for what was right
Ill. As a youth I remember the substitute teachers and what the class would try to get away with. Those few who behaved well and told the teacher what was normally expected were looked down upon. Even more so was the experience with a substitute bus driver. There was always the crowd who tried to lead the driver down the wrong path versus the crowd who wanted to do what was right. It always created friction. I noticed this even as a driver myself.
Principle #2: Wear Grace- It’s Comfortable
Shroud yourself in God’s mercy.
"While we were yet sinners–enemies of God–Christ died for us"
Keeps our eyes focused on Christ and recognizes his sacrifice for me.
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." Daniel 3:13-18 (RSV)
(Read with commentary)
3. Reason Is Not The Best Evaluator Of Right And Wrong
"Who is the god that will deliver you?" For the king the logical conclusion would be no god. If their were, then these men would not be under his submission. If Israel’s God was truly greater than Nebuchadnezzar’s, then Israel would be the superpower and not Babylon. "Might makes right."
But the answer was simple. "We have no need to answer you...whether we’re saved, wither we’re not...it doesn’t matter, because we know our God is right."
Reason can get us into trouble as easily as it can get us out of trouble. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It’s not that hard to find a reason to steal. "I deserve it; everyone else does it; nobody will notice" Or to kill. "They molested my child; raped me; murdered the one I love" Or to commit adultery. slow progression-relationship grows.
The best guide for right and wrong is God, Himself.
James 1:18 "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth." (RSV)
John 8:31-32 "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (RSV)
John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth." (RSV)
Principle#3: Evaluate According To God’s Truth
Compare yourself to God. It’s easy to compare ourselves with others and so easily see their faults, then determine we’re not so bad, but when we compare ourselves to God’s holiness, every fault, flaw, failure stands out as though amplified by a great magnifier.
God/ God’s character is pure and faultless. He determines what is right and what is wrong.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he ordered certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their mantles, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was strict and the furnace very hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He answered, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." Daniel 3:19-25 (RSV)
(Read with commentary)
4. God Will Not Let You Down
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 "Be strong and of good courage ... for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed." (RSV)
Isaiah 43:1-3 "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."" (RSV)
cf. Psalm 118:6-9 "With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." (RSV)
Principle#4: Trust God
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their mantles were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set at nought the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:26-30 (RSV)
Conclusion:
In his book Loving God, Charles Colson draws attention to an incident involving an Indiana judge named William Bontrager. Bontrager had to pass sentence on Fred Palmer, a decorated Vietnam veteran who was found guilty of burglary. The crime was caused partly by involvement with drugs and alcohol. Indiana law required a sentence of ten to twenty years for Palmer’s offense.
However, new regulations designating a lesser penalty had gone into effect eighteen days after Palmer’s arrest. To complicate matters, Palmer had become a Christian in jail and seemed to have changed. Should the judge sentence Palmer, a man who had never been in jail, to ten years or more? Or should he declare the older statute in violation of Indiana’s constitution and give him a lighter sentence? Bontrager did the latter. Fred Palmer was out of jail in seven months, had a job, and was paying back his former victims.
The events that followed received national attention. The Indiana Supreme Court reversed the judge’s decision and ordered Fred Palmer sent back to prison. The judge’s attempts to fight the court’s decision during the next two years led to his own indictment for criminal contempt of court and, finally, his forced resignation. Fred Palmer was sent back to prison, only to be released twenty months later by the governor. Bontrager’s convictions cost him his job, but not his integrity.
[Klyne Snodgrass, Klyne. Between Two Truths: Living with Biblical Tensions. (Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1990). p. 40.]
Do you have the strength of character, do you have the integrity that will stand the test of time. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. They held fast because of these four simple principles that guided their behavior.
P.1. Guard Your Heart
P.2. Wear Grace– It’s Comfortable
P.3. Look To God
P.4. Trust God
