A Christian basketball player was told by her coach to find any way possible to win the game, even if it meant taking advantage of the rules or cheating on the court without getting caught. A Christian banker was told by his boss to offer the loan because it would be good business, even though he was certain the person requesting the loan was making a terrible financial mistake that could ruin his livelihood. A college student accepts Christ during his freshman year and returns home to a family where the Muslim father has his kids pray and worship Allah of the Quran.
Does this sound anything like the pressures you face as a Christian? We are told in the Bible to submit to human authority (1 Peter 2:13), obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1–3), and to honor the governing powers over us (Romans 13:1–7). But how can Christians be faithful to these commands of Scripture when the authorities over us demand immoral activity? Each situation is different and there are no easy answers. However, the Bible offers tremendous wisdom that seems to become more relevant every passing year as our world becomes more hostile to God’s way of living.
Moral Conflict and Creative Solutions
In much of the Old Testament, God’s people lived under a theocracy. In other words, they lived under a system of government where God was the king and the law of the land was the law of Scripture. However, everything changed when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian empire and God’s people were dragged away to a foreign land of false gods and pagan rulers. The Israelites had become exiles, and now, everything was going to be different. This is where the book of Daniel begins.Related: The Authority of the BelieverIn Daniel chapter 1, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar selected the best and brightest men he could find among the exiles of Israel to train them in the ways and culture of Babylon. Daniel was chosen among them. They were given new Babylonian names and were taught Babylonian culture. The problem, however, was that some features of Babylonian culture went against God’s law. One such feature regarded Babylonian diet. According to Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods” (NLT). The chief of staff did not want to accept Daniel’s request, so Daniel requested for him and his companions to eat a different diet for ten days, and then compare their health with those who ate the king’s food. The chief of staff agreed. As Christians, we will experience real moral conflict with people who are placed in authority over us. For Daniel, his conflict was the desire to honor Babylonian authority, but not to violate the dietary laws of the Old Testament. Christians today face similar dilemmas. Some of us may be tempted to isolate ourselves from the non-Christian world entirely so we never experience this problem (as unrealistic as the strategy may be). Others of us may abandon all of our Christian convictions because we want to “love” our non-Christian neighbor. But notice that Daniel took neither of these options. He reasoned with the chief of staff, negotiated with him, and came up with a creative solution that they could both agree on. God was gracious to Daniel. After the 10 days, Daniel and the rest of the Israelite exiles who participated in God’s diet were healthier than those who ate the Babylonian diet. The chief of staff ended up putting everyone on God’s diet! As Christians, we too will find ourselves in moral dilemmas, and we may need to think winsomely and creatively to find ways that both respect our authorities without compromising our moral convictions. Things worked out great for Daniel. But there is another story in the same book where they didn’t.
Stuck Between a Rock and a Hot Place
Unfortunately, finding ways to honor our leaders while remaining faithful to God is not always so easy. Later in the Book of Daniel, three other exiles from Israel—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—are commanded to bow down in worship before a golden statue of Nebuchadnezzar. Doing this would be in direct violation of the Old Testament law to worship God alone (Exod. 20:4–6). Not doing this would get them thrown into a furnace where they would, presumably, be burned to a crisp and die.Related: Is God’s Authority Good Enough for Us?These brave men had no choice but to choose between two moral dilemmas: Either honor their human authority and disobey God, or honor God and disobey their human authority. The choice was both painful and painfully obvious: Honor God. After refusing to bow down before the golden statue, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are brought to the king. They are offered one last chance to comply with his commands or be thrown in the furnace. Their reply is stunning: “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. 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 3:17–18). Notice that they are not being disrespectful, but they are clear that their primary allegiance is to God.
We too are Exiles
Following God in a world of non-Christian leaders will be difficult. Although we should be wise and seek creative solutions to honor our authorities whenever possible (like Daniel), we will experience times where we have no choice but to decide whose authority is greatest over our lives (Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Choosing God can be tough, but we have a future vision that works like an anchor in the midst of difficulty. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Like the characters in Daniel, we Christians live as exiles in a non-Christian world. We would do well to read Daniel chapters 1–3 closely and see what life can look like honoring God under immoral authorities. Then, spend some time considering what it looks like to honor God with the authorities in your own life. Are you asked to participate in something you know does not honor God? Consider what sort of negotiation may be possible. Take your time and do it prayerfully; creative solutions don’t always come to us instantly. If nothing works out, resolve to give priority to God’s authority. In all this, we can trust that God is faithful and our reward will be far greater than anything in this world we will ever have to give up.
