4.1.27 6.3.2018 Daniel 1 Compromise in Crisis

• Entice: As a Christian there are times I am offended by our culture. Probably you too. We are a minority seeking to have increasing influence. We are exiles in our

Entice: As Christians we don’t always draw the right conclusions thus we fail to adjust our strategies to changing circumstances.

There are times I am offended by our culture. Probably you too. We are a minority seeking to have increasing influence. We are exiles in our own country. Our culture is in crisis. We don't speak the common language of excess, anger, eroticism, and materialism; yet we have a word to speak to our culture. Ours is not unlike the situation we read about in the book of Daniel.

own country. Our culture is in crisis. We don't speak the language of excess, anger, eroticism, and materialism; yet we have a word to speak to our culture. Ours is

not unlike the situation we read about in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 1:1–7 ESV

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 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, 4 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. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 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.

•

• Engage: I want to discuss a topic this morning and clarify a vilified and misunderstood term. Compromise. Compromise is the process that gives exiles a voice in a

Engage: In trying to develop some metrics for the Church I need to discuss a topic this morning and clarify a vilified and misunderstood term.

strange, uncomfortable land. It is not giving up or surrender. It is not caving in. Compromise is when a weaker or disadvantages party creatively engages the

Compromise.

Compromise is the process that gives exiles a voice in a strange, uncomfortable land. It is not giving up or surrender. It is not caving in. Compromise is when a weaker or disadvantages party creatively engages the stronger party and finds its voice. Compromise is the metric of turning the other cheek and effecting change when you are powerless.

stronger party and finds its voice.

Expand: Judah's captivity was ultimately due to idolatry and disobedience. The book of Daniel is more concerned with the result of the exile than the reasons for it. Judaism will be transformed in a more text-driven than cult driven direction. It will also learn to function on a semi-permanent basis as a distinct faith group in the midst of idolatrous paganism. Daniel and his three friends will be at the vanguard. This project will fail if men like Daniel etc. cannot forge an evolving faith identity in Babylon. They had to learn how to express their faith in the One true God in the language of Babylon-without caving into the temptation to go along to get along. They had to be able to forge compromises with their captors. They needed

• Expand: Judah's captivity was ultimately due to idolatry and disobedience. The book of Daniel is more concerned with the result of the exile than the reasons for it.

Judaism will be transformed in a more text-driven than cult driven direction. It will also learn to function on a semi-permanent basis as a distinct faith group in the

New Metrics

midst of idolatrous paganism. Daniel and his three friends will be at the vanguard. This project will fail if men like Daniel etc. cannot forge an evolving faith identity

Excite: Compromise is the process of maximizing weakness for the sake of progress towards an important goal. Our recent politics has miscast compromise as cowardice, weakness, or spinelessness. Civilization is only possible with compromise. Without it the stronger always gets their way. Daniel and his friends are already defeated captives; the next step is death. They have been given the opportunity to bear witness and make a difference. Their example to us is a model of effective, empowering compromise. They model a

in Babylon. They had to learn how to express their faith in the One true God in the language of Babylon-without caving into the temptation to go along to get along.

They had to be able to forge compromises with their captors.

New Metric

• Excite: Compromise is the process of maximizing weakness for the sake of progress towards an important goal. Our recent politics has miscast compromise as

cowardice, weakness, or spinelessness. Civilization is only possible with compromise. Or the stronger always gets their way. Daniel and his friends are already

A world in crisis needs believers to excel without abandoning the faith that defines and empowers us.

defeated captives; the next step is death. They have been given the opportunity to bear witness and make a difference. Their example to us is a model of effective,

empowering compromise.

Explain: Daniel and his friends unpack the process of developing an empowering compromise with our culture. Their model requires three specific commitments.

• Explore: A world in crisis needs believers to participate without abandoning the faith that defines and empowers us.

• Explain: Daniel and his friends show us how to develop an empowering compromise with our culture.

1 Provide an Explanation.

▾ Body of Sermon:

Daniel 1:8–14 ESV

8 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. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

▾ 1 Provide an Explanation.

1.1 Resolute flexibility.

▾ 1.1 Resolute flexibility.

1.1.1 Since conflict (war) had already failed: Daniel tries conversation and compromise.

• 1.1.1 Since conflict (war) had already failed: Daniel tries conversation and compromise.

1.1.2 The Courage of our convictions functions with in the context and circumstances of our lives.

• 1.1.2 The Courage of our convictions functions with in the context and circumstances of our lives.

1.2 Reasonable opportunity.

• 1.2 Reasonable opportunity.

2 Pursue Excellence

▾ 2 Pursue Excellence

Daniel 1:15–17 ESV

15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

2.1 Understand the goal.

• 2.1 Understand the goal.

2.2 Work hard.

▾ 2.2 Work hard.

2.2.1 I am tired of Christians who whine and withdraw, who complain and cry, who throw tantrums but won't try.

• 2.2.1 I am tired of Christians who whine and withdraw, who complain and cry, who throw tantrums but won't try.

2.2.2 The compromise agreed to in vv. 8-14, and the test they will take presupposes that they will do everything in their power to be the best they can be.

• 2.2.2 The compromise agreed to in vv. 8-14, and the test they will take presupposes that they will do everything in their power to be the best they can be.

2.2.3 It is hard work to learn the language of Babylon. It is even harder to learn it better than the natives. That is what Daniel and his friends did. They did not try to be good they tried to be the best.

• 2.2.3 It is hard work to learn the language of Babylon. It is even harder to learn it better than the natives. That is what Daniel and his friends did. They did not try to

3 Perform Exceptionally.

be good they tried to be the best.

3 Perform Exceptionally.

Daniel 1:18–21 ESV

18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

▾ 3 Produce///perform Excessively /////expectations 1.18-21

3.1 Daniel and his friends were the best…and it wasn't even close!

• 3.1 Daniel and his friends were the best…and it wasn't even close!

3.2 They did not earn a place at the table…they went to the head of the table.

▾ 3.2 They did not earn a place at the table…they went to the head of the table.

3.2.1 Daniel remained a fixture in Babylonian politics through the end of one regime into the growth of another.

• 3.2.1 Daniel remained a fixture in Babylonian politics through the end of one regime through the growth of another.

3.2.2 We need…Christian Teachers who are known for being the best teachers. Christian Students who are known for being the brightest students, Christian engineers who are the most creative engineers, Christian Doctors who are known as the best Dr.s. Christian Mayors, Governors, Biologists, Physicists, Stock-brokers, CEOs. We need Christians to keep their faith strong but who know the language of Babylon so well that they blow away the expectations of the culture with

• 3.2.2 We need…Christian Teachers who are known for being the best teachers. Xian Students who are known for being the brightest students, Christian engineers

NEW METRICS

That honor God.

KPI…

who are the most creative engineers, Christian Doctors who are known as the best Dr.s. Christian Mayors, Governors, Biologists, Physicists, Stock-brokers,

Key performance indicators…

CEOs.

How are you doing? What are you doing? Jesus does not need us to to be sulking, complaining, underperforming, excuse-making quitters.

KPI…

Daniel and friends entered into a compromise agreement to live by their faith and to honor God by being their best. They negotiated an opportunity to reset the game and partnered with God to do the work necessary to make a difference.

It’s summer…but vacations will end. Are you committed to living big for Jesus?

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