Sample Discussion: Dad, should we use pronouns?

Daniel 1:3-8

Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.… Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Daniel and his friends were forced to live in a culture that constantly challenged their religious convictions. They were given new names, taught a new language, and instructed in all the knowledge and ways of a culture that believed in other gods. They accepted those names and must have studied hard, because they were soon promoted high into the ranks of the king’s wise men.

But they drew the line at eating the king’s food. Food was an important way in which God had commanded his people to distinguish themselves from the other nations around them (just take a look at the book of Leviticus). Later Daniel’s friends risked death in a fiery furnace for refusing to bow to an idol and Daniel risked death in a lions’ den for refusing to give up praying to God.

Daniel and his friends provide a powerful example for us as we try, like them, to navigate the challenges of living in a contrary and sometimes hostile culture with wisdom, grace, and conviction. We can learn the culture, participate in it, and even contribute significantly to its flourishing. We don’t have to fight every battle. But, sometimes, when we are asked to do something that violates our commitment to our distinct identity as followers of Jesus, we will have to draw the line. If necessary, we may need to pay a price.

Daniel and his friends were ambassadors in Babylon. They lived in the land of Babylon, but they refused to let its culture define them completely. They maintained a higher allegiance to God, which enabled them to say no to some of the culture’s demands. Do you have a higher allegiance to God? You’ll know who you really serve when representatives of our culture—your friends, people on social media, maybe even your teacher—ask you to violate your conscience and affirm something that you know isn’t true, like that a boy can become a girl or a girl a boy. Will you be willing to pay the price if necessary, like Daniel and his friends did, to stand up for the truth? But this doesn’t mean you need to go looking for a conflict with the culture. Daniel and his friends got along where they felt like they could while still honoring God. They were so respectful and helpful that they became the king of Babylon’s trusted counselors. They were renowned for their wisdom (Daniel 1:27), which is precisely what we need when we face these difficult questions. Fortunately, the Bible tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).