Daniel (2) - Tuesday 3rd June 2008

This week we’re looking at the book of Daniel.

After Daniel and his friends were taken into the training program of Nebuchadnezzar, they were given new names. Their old, Hebrew names had meanings based on their God and would have had deep personal significance; their new Babylonian ones were based on false gods and were likely to be personally offensive. There is, however, no record of any of them objecting to these new names.

And yet when they were offered food that was contrary to their teaching they took a stand.

Why is it that they took a stand on one issue and seemingly ignored another?

Or more importantly, how can we know on what issues we should take a stand and on which we should pass by?

We live in a society where things that are offensive to our faith are all around us. Should we object to them all? Should we allow people to live their lives as they choose? How can we decide on which to take a stand?

The first, and most obvious, answer is the issues that God lays on our heart. A prime example of this is William Wilberforce. God showed him the inhumanity of slavery and it drove his life until it was outlawed.

However, for me at least, there seems to be a daily encounter with dozens of issues that I’m not sure whether to oppose or ignore.

My answer is that until God lays such an issue on my heart, I can’t try and perfect the behaviour of all around me, but I need to perfect my own behaviour. Therefore if there is an issue that effects how I behave I need to make a stand. For example, if in my place of work there is a lot of gossip or dishonesty and it rubs off on me, then I need to make a stand.