Do we Worship at the World’s Golden Statues?
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I’m sure we are all familiar with the story of Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Or, as they’re better known by their Babylonian names:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
We find the story in the book of Daniel, chapter 3.
But does that story still apply today?
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
This world is full of golden images.
And even the church is expected to bow down to them.
Homosexuality & transgenderism.
Abortion.
Substitutions for marriage.
The all powerful government.
And let us not forget the almighty dollar.
And as I said, we are expected to bow down.
Or we get called names,
We get canceled,
And in some cases, sued and put out of business.
All because we don’t bow down to the world’s siren song.
Then a herald cried aloud: “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.”
The world tells us we have to accept these new idols.
Adapt or die.
Be “seeker friendly”.
This is nothing more than the herald calling us to fall down and worship the image of the world.
Sadly, it’s not just the world doing this.
How many “consultants’ have told churches how to grow by worshiping these idols?
How many ministers bow down when the trumpet of “inclusion” plays.
How many congregants in the pews demand the church obey the world’s definition of “separation of church and state”?
So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
How many in the pews fall down and worship at the idol of acceptance by the world?
And how many of those in the pews have demanded that their congregation be just like their neighbors?
How many church leaders look to the world for their standards?
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
In Babylon, it was the Chaldeans who turned the Jews over to the authorities.
How many who call themselves Christians turn over their brothers and sisters for placing the Word of God above the idols of the world?
Have demanded that the “church” follow the world’s lead on marriage, abortion, even on how to worship?
Have used “separation of church and state” to squelch the Word of God?
Have changed hymn, songs, even translations of the Bible to be more “inclusive”?
How many have punished, and even thrown out of the congregation, those who hold to a biblical worldview?
And just how many christians have bent the knee out of fear of what the world might do?
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 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? 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?”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that those who wish to be worshiped don’t like people who don’t.
Use a term someone doesn’t like and you’ll be berated.
Refuse to condone certain behavior can cost you a job or get you sued.
Preach certain topics and some will threaten a church’s tax-exempt status.
And how many churches of bowed to protect that?
It’s easy to bow when threatened.
Especially when it’s not just you who is under threat.
But as our three friends will show, courage is a choice.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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.”
Sure, we all know that God saves our three Jewish men from the furnace,
But they didn’t know that when they said these words.
Rather like Peter and John would one day say before the Sanhedrin:
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Boldly standing before those who ordered they turn their back on God,
These five men put God before their leaders.
Something to remember when we read Romans 13
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Conclusion
Conclusion
And so, I return to the question that led me to give this sermon,
Does the church bow down at the golden image of the world?
In many instances the answer, sadly, is “yes”.
To many congregations place acceptance by the world above acceptance by God.
And prioritize size above fidelity.
To many people who call themselves Christians are more worried about their image before their neighbor then the one they call Lord.
And in the short run, that works.
They are honored in the world.
They are called great spiritual men.
And their works are lauded and their congregations grow.
But in the end, their “works” will be condemned.
Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
And what happens to those who stand against the world’s corruption?
Who refuse to bow to the world’s demands?
They are demonized and ostracized by the world.
They are called all sorts of names.
Their works are derided, and their congregations may shrink.
And unlike our three Jewish men, their earthly “king” may never see the light,
But their Father in heaven will.
Some will be saved, others will suffer, maybe even die,
As we see happening in countries around the world.
But does that absolve us of the duty to stand when the world tells us to bow?
Does that justify those who call on the name of Jesus, but follow the world’s commands?
As Jesus described them...
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
It’s not easy to stand in the face of difficulty,
Even more so in the face of pain or death.
But those who are truly disciples of Christ and followers of God Most High do stand.
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
Like Peter and John.
Like Martin Luther before the Diet of Worms, when he said:
“Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me.”
Even modern Christian are standing,
And their stand is just as noble, even though their lives aren’t in danger.
Jack Phillips.
Barronelle Stuzman.
Jack Trieber.
And thousands more.
No one has come to this congregation to attempt for force us to bow,
Which means we have time to prepare before they do.
When someone comes demanding we have a same-sex wedding in the church, what will you do?
When a “transgender” person asks to be baptized or become a member, what will you do?
When the state orders us to close, for any reason, what will you do?
I don’t mean what will the “church” do, but what will YOU do?
When faced with the pain and punishments the world can hand out, what will you do?
Not just here in this congregation, but anywhere in your life.
Will you bow the knee, comply, and submit to your master the world?
Or, like our three Jewish men, will you say:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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.”
Or like Peter and John:
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Will you stand, like Martin Luther, and ask for God to help you?
Will you remember the words of our sixth President, John Quincy Adams:
The duty is ours, the results are God’s.
When that day comes, and you are asked to bow to the golden image of the world,
Remember the words of Joshua:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
