Living among the Babylonians

All throughout Scripture, it is apparent that Christ was fully “in the world,” but not “of the world.” He embraced the pain of the world; he recognized the sinfulness of the world; he had great compassion on those victimized by the world; but he never became part of the world.

In Christ there is not even a “hint” of sexual immorality, or impurity, or greed. These are improper for God’s people. These are truths that I have heard all my life and challenges that I have dealt with all of my life. How is it that we can “be in the world” but not “of the world?”

This past weekend I read Fred Stoeker’s latest release, Hero. It’s a wonderful book. One that I will insist my boys read through and one that I will recommend to every father of a teen age son. I love all of Fred’s books, but these last two, Tactics and now Hero have been the best yet, in my opinion.

The picture of the four Hebrew princes: Daniel, Hanahiah, Mishael and Azariah in Daniel 1 is a great portrait to focus on. Most of us are pretty familiar with the story, they were in the process of being “brain washed” into Babylonian society. Their names were changed to names that represented Babylonian gods. And for three years they were educated in Babylonian history, philosophy and literature. But they drew the line on the food they were to consume. They did not want to be defiled by food that was “unclean.”

So, the deal was struck. The Hebrew princes would eat their diet while the others would eat the Babylonian diet for ten days. After ten days, they looked healthier and were better nourished than those who had consumed the Babylonian diet. They were in the Babylonian culture, but not of it.

This was a great testimony of what happens when we honor God with our actions and focus on pleasing him even though we live in a culture that is counter to God.

In the book Hero, you will read the same outcome in the life of Fred’s son and his wife Rose. They were in the world, but not of it. They stayed focused on the things of God in a culture that was counter to those things.

Perhaps this is what the prophet Isaiah had in mind when he wrote: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. {4} Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. {5} He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust." (Isaiah 26:3-5) (NIV)

Always in Pursuit