Hellow, my dear colleagues, friends and New Lifers.
I haven’t blogged for a few years. It is great to be able to find time to blog again.
We have started a new series of sermon based on the Book of Daniel, at New Life Baptist Church from the last Sunday. Here, I want to share with you what may interest you: some of my observations from the Book of Daniel, Chapter One.
We have been held captive in the Covid-19 for almost 2 years and a new norm/culture of doing things and running church has emerged in the midst of Covid 19. We are restricted: cannot meet one another as usual, dine out as usual , socialize as usual, fellowship as usual, and worship the Lord as usual … The challenge we are facing, I am sure, is nothing compared to the experience Daniel underwent during his days of exile from 605 to 535 BC. Daniel was one of several young men chosen to serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (605 BC). When Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC, Daniel was again given a position of power. He remained faithful to God and stood firm not to compromise in a pagan culture. I am sure Daniel and his three friends are good examples, showing to us how we should face the challenges due to Covid 19 and challenges in the different workplace we are called to serve.
Here, I observed that the crisis starts from our cultural identity.
Daniel and his three companions had Hebrew names that mentioned God. Then, they were given Babylon names that cunningly and gradually made them forget the God of their fathers. The meaning of the Hebrew word, “Daniel,” is "God is my judge", The Babylon (Akkadian) name given to Daniel is Belteshazzar (Akkadian: π©πͺππ), it means "lord of the straitened treasure”. Moreover, they had to learn the culture and language of Chaldean as their formal education. The most compromising thing that Daniel and his three friends were caught in is the request for them to eat the King's meat and wine which is against the Law.
My reflection is that our name, education and daily food, if we don't aware of, could become our cultural identity that corrupts our mind. Therefore in Roman 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom. 12:2 NAS)
It takes courage for Daniel to reject the King’s offer of food and wine because the consequence was persecution or death penalty.
Dare we live out our value system by faith?
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