World Affairs

Stand Your Ground

by Zeal Clark
10/25/15
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     It’s clear that as we go further into the near future and are subjected in our culture to further departures from God’s Law, especially here in America, we, as Christians, will be subjected to increasingly difficult times and an increasing amount of pressure to submit to the anti-Christian rules and laws that are being imposed on us. Although not to minimize the difficulties that we will face, it will be extremely important that we develop a determination to not be intimidated by any of this, even to the threats of punishment, or to the punishments themselves, and that we refuse to not surrender to the pressures and thereby violate God’s Laws.

     We must decide beforehand and make a personal commitment to obey God’s Laws, regardless of the consequences. Otherwise, when confronted with the consequences of disobeying what is contrary to God’s Laws, we might find it even harder to resist the temptation to comply, or we might compromise just enough to get us out of the difficult situation. But to do so might not be pleasing to God.

     In the Book of Daniel there is a narrative concerning the predicament that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were confronted with after they had been taken captive to the province of Babylon. In this story, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, made an image of gold. Then an announcement was made to all: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

     However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to adhere to this command, refusing to bow to this idol. When King Nebuchadnezzar was told of their refusal to worship this idol, he became furious. As described in Daniel 3:14-30 :

     14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

     15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

     16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

     17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

     18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

     19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

     20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

     21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

     22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

     23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

     24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

     25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

     26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came from the midst of the fire.

     27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

     28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

     29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this."

     30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon. NKJV

     The reading of this Scripture, even without added clarification, should reveal the clear message that God stands ready to shore up our confidence in His ability to deliver us from the threats of retaliation by those whose purpose it is to punish us for our Christian beliefs and our determination to follow God’s Laws. He has not abandoned His people and He can still be trusted to give us the confidence needed to stand against the attacks toward Christianity and toward each of those who faithfully trust in Him.

     In another Scripture Peter addressed Christians living in various parts of Asia Minor who were suffering rejection because of their obedience to Christ. In I Peter 3:13-17 he wrote:

     13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

     14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

     15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

     16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

     17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. NKJV

     Here Peter is encouraging Christians who were facing what has now become an increasing reality in our own society. Christianity is now under attack by a culture that wants to eliminate the use of God’s Word as a standard or reference point in our culture. People are now increasingly rising up and fighting against God’s Word by insisting that many of God’s principles should be abandoned and replaced by new laws that distinctly make it legal to not conform to God’s principles, while also making it illegal to speak out against or not comply with their aberrations.

     This movement has resulted in laws that permit abortions, same-sex marriages, and other activities which are contrary to Scripture. Of course, this effort will continue to expand, with new anti-Christian laws being added in the future. Any attempts to resist these activities, or to speak out against them, may result in public exposure and retaliations, often including prosecutions, for disobeying aberrant laws.

     Therefore, each Christian must decide whether to yield to this new normal, against God’s Will, or to “Stand Your Ground.”

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