Gutsy godliness
The cost of being a confessing Christian in today's workplace is clearly on the rise. In at least two global investment banks, employees in London are openly encouraged to complain to HR if they feel harassed by others speaking about their faith.
What should Christians do when tempted to fear people more than God? The book of Daniel is a great antidote. It reminds us that God is the real King of an eternal kingdom, empowering us to stand in his world.
When King Nebuchadnezzar summoned all his officials to bow before a huge idol, three workers faced a final fatal choice: bow or burn. Of ourse, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have been tempted to say, "When in Babylon, do as the Babylonians do." But these three resisted the urge to deny private belief with public behaviour - even to save their own lives.
These Jewish exiles chose not to blend in and bow down because that meant disobeying God. When confronted with the king's rage, they remembered that God rules. They were respectful, but firm. God is on the eternal throne, not Nebuchadnezzar. They knew God still ruled even if he didn't save them from the furnace. They refused to worship false gods that were no gods at all.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand as timeless trophies of genuine gutsy godliness. They are workers we should seek to emulate. Whether or not it was prudent or pragmatic, they stood firm out of principle. They feared God not people, irrespective of the political power and military might. They resisted the pressure to conform to an aggressive cultural agenda. They relied on God's righteous rule first, not on a rescue from their predicament. And all because they were convinced of God's power and promises.
Although God can rescue from trials, he may not always do it. Yet ultimately, his promises will be fulfilled and His people vindicated. The truth that God wins in the end ought to encourage us to stand firm and not succumb to the world's idols, even in the face of the fiercest fiery trials.
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