In most situations in life, you have the right way to do something and the wrong way. Often both ways can accomplish the task but one way, the wrong way, often brings forth many unnecessary troubles. The way we live our lives as Christians is no different. We can do things either the right way in complete alignment with scripture. Or we can go about things the wrong way. Still accomplishing what the scripture says but in a way that mimics more of the world’s attitude than God’s. Sadly due to our fallen nature, we often go about things the wrong way. It’s of the utmost importance that we try to find the right way to walk the walk of faith. Especially when standing up for our beliefs.
The book of Daniel offers a great lesson in holding to your beliefs the right way. Giving us insight into how we can stand strong in a culture that doesn’t believe as we do even to this day. When Daniel was taken to Babylon he purposed in his heart not to defile himself by taking the king’s meat. He held to his beliefs and morals in a respectful and righteous way. He didn’t demand to be provided different food, refuse to accept the meat, or become rude and arrogant. Instead, he simply made a request humbly to the person above him.
Daniel 2:8–14 (ESV)
8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
Later when Daniel learned that prayer to God had been outlawed he still responded in the right way. He didn’t get mad and run around screaming at everyone. Instead, he simply continued to pray and serve God as he always had humbly. Then when caught and turned in, he accepted consequences for doing so still without complaining. If others try to impose rules or laws that infringe upon our faith we don’t have to turn to violence or hate. We simply need to keep serving the Lord as we always have. Simply taking whatever they try to do to us. Maybe then we will be blessed for standing righteously for our faith just as Daniel was.
Daniel 6:10 (ESV)
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Daniel 6:16–17 (ESV)
16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
Daniel 6:19–22 (ESV)
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
We must stick to what we believe today but that’s doesn’t mean we have to be forceful or rude. We can still hold to what we believe while living in the humility scripture calls us to. When we find ourselves in any situation where others are trying to compromise our morals and beliefs we need to remember the teaching of scripture. Which calls us to meet those who oppose our beliefs gently and humbly. Offering love to all people even when they don’t share our beliefs. Following the example of our Lord and Savior.
Colossians 3:12–13 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
2 Timothy 2:25 (ESV)
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
Even when facing death the three Hebrew boys Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah spoke peaceably to the king. They were not rude, mean-spirited, or angry. They simply told the king that their beliefs would not be compromised no matter what. In doing so they handled the situation in the right way. Which honored God and acted as a mighty testimony once God delivered them.
Daniel 3:15–18 (ESV)
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:24–28 (ESV)
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
This same theme is carried forth throughout our Bible’s. Much later in the book of Acts, we read of another group of men who were forced to stand up for their beliefs. Peter and John were captured by the Jews after healing a man outside the temple. The Jews demanded that they stop preaching the name of Jesus and even threatened them. Many of us would have probably fired back with the same anger displayed by the Jews. But that would have been the wrong way to handle the situation and imitated the world, not God. Instead, the Apostles responded humbly and posed a simple question. Asking who’s voice is better to listen to than of man or God. Still, the Jews continued to threaten the men but they could leave knowing their actions honored God.
Acts 4:17–21 (ESV)
17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
The Bible teaches us how to handle conflict through peace and love. We are to be slow to speak and get angry but quick to listen. Our response to those who want to force their beliefs upon us should be handled today in the same way these men handled it before us. Calmly and kindly in a way that honors the teaching of God’s word. We must never compromise our morals and sin against God. Even when the pressure is on. But that’s doesn’t mean we have to look like the world when we do it. Spitting venom, hate, and rude comments. Instead, we must simply turn the other cheek and continue to serve the Lord no matter the consequences.
How we hold to and share our belifs is so important. Because our response will have an effect on how people view the God we claim to serve. So our actions should be a reflection of God and not of the world. Souls are not won through hate and anger. That’s not how God responded to us and that’s not how we should respond to others. Instead, we as Christians should be shining the same light of love, grace, mercy, and compassion that God shined, and is still shining, into our lives into the lives of others. Remember our purpose in this world is to lead others to Christ. Scripture is clear our actions play a large role in that. Holding on to our beliefs in the right way is just one more tool we can use to lead others to salvation.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
1 Peter 3:1–2 (ESV)
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Our beliefs are the most important things in our lives. So it only makes sense that we want to protect them with all we have. But as we protect them there is still a right way and a wrong way. The right way won’t always be the easy way or the way you want to go. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is the right way. Make sure you find the right way to stand strong for what you believe. The way that matches how the great men of faith above did it. The way that brings glory and honor to the name of God.
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