Noticeably Different

Intro

Intro

When I first thought of this year’s theme, and the sermon themes that would go along with it, todays was the first I thought of. In fact, while not this sermon, it was the genesis of the whole thing really. You see, I looked deep into my life, and looked all around me in our world, and saw what I feel is the very root of our inability to follow as we should.

We love ourselves too much.

Now I don’t mean that we love looking at ourselves, or love thinking about ourselves - nothing that obvious - but I do mean that by and large, our society is one that is more satisfied pleasing self than others - or even God.

[pic-newsortargetedads] And you can see the evidence everywhere you look! From the news we consume, to the ala carte TV packages, on demand everything from Amazon, even home delivery meal prep - all you have to do is follow the instructions! Advertising, so granular and precise, that even the time we spend on social media - which by the way, is targeting those you interact with as well, creating an echo chamber that we gladly live in - but even the advertising for things you MIGHT want is aimed directly at what YOU like and what YOU might think is important.

That leads us to assume our likes and dislikes, our positions, our thoughts, our ways of acting, are not only the norm, but that they are the widely accepted position in the world!

And when that happens, we begin to love our own ideas because it is our ideas that are being fed back into our lives.

[definitionofnarcissism] That is the very spirit of narcissism that lives in our world today. A world that is OK with anything that happens, as long as our way of life is maintained; as long as what we want is given to us, we will accept whatever else is happening in the world.

And therein lies the dilemma of the #follower. The people who want God, to be sure, but also a people who can't seem to break the chains of the modern social complex. They can't seem to move beyond the superficial in order to cultivate their life into that of a follower of the one true God. And it's not that we don't love God when we're like that! It’s not that we don't want to follow God. It's that we can't see the truth that lies outside of our limited worldview because we're too comfortable with the worldview that's being presented to us. Our situations, the ease with which we live, the way we fit in, our lifestyles in general, they calls us to not be willing to question and to fully and our lives over to God.

Our love of self, and comfort, stands in the way of our love of God.

[pic of daniel and peeps] But that isn’t a new thing, really. That is the very context, in fact, of the text we are going to walk through today. You see, this was a time when Babylon had overtaken Jerusalem. And as a result, the King of Babylon took with him some of the young aristocrats. These were young, devoted, educated followers of God. These weren’t heathens, they weren’t slaves used to appeasing unruly masters. These were devoted Jews.

And today, as we read, I want us to remember that they did not all stand up. They didn’t all notice that they were too interested in their comfort and position. No, their love of self blinded them to the truth of God - at least it did until one of them stood up and became the example.

Pray

Daniel 1:3–4 ESV

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.

[Talk briefly about how the King wanted to assimilate them. To normalize them by making them like everyone else. ]

Talk briefly about how the King wanted to assimilate them. To normalize them by making them like everyone else.

...We aren’t called to be like everyone else. There should be something noticeably different about us. And that difference isn’t found in our external actions as much as it is in the little things we think say and do. Our attitude towards the things of this life, and our love for God shown to our love for others.

5-7

Daniel 1:5–7 ESV

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. 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.

Talk briefly about the King thinking he was right...compare to how we think we are right too!

[Talk briefly about the King thinking he was right...compare to how we think we are right too!]

Talk about Phoenix briefly...it is so easy to find confirmation of what we think is right. But God, if given the room to work in us, will speak the truth. But to hear it, we must first remove that stuff from our lives in order to let God in.

Daniel 1:8–13 ESV

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. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 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.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 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.”

-13

This is what I mean by removing that stuff. You think that Daniel didn’t want that food? You think that Daniel didn’t want peace and comfort? Of course he did! But more than all of that, he wanted to follow God. And because he wanted to follow God, he had to be different - noticeably different. But if we are being honest, that is the whole problem, isn’t it?

This is what I mean by removing that stuff. You think that Daniel didn’t want that food? You think that Daniel didn’t want peace and comfort? Of course he did! But more than all of that, he wanted to follow God. And because he wanted to follow God, he had to be different - noticeably different. But if we are being honest, that is the whole problem, isn’t it?

None of us want to be different. But, if we are honest, I think our aversion to looking different finds its roots in how we treat those who are different! If only we could let God work on people in His own way and His own time, we would be able to accept who and what we are, and then be able to answer His call more often, and more willingly.

[pichere] But that goes for us too. If we would only let God work on us, and accept who and what and when we are, we would be able to answer the bell. After all, often, the path of the follower seems foolish. And we can’t follow if we don’t accept the situation in which God has placed us.

And once we accept that, we then realize that we have to sacrifice when others have plenty. We have to fast, we pray, we abstain from this behavior, or that outing, or those fun times in life. As Paul says, “[we] strike a blow to [our] body and make it [our] slave so that after [we] have preached to others, [we ourselves] will not be disqualified for the prize.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

[] So we don’t eat this or that. We don’t do this or that. We limit the reach of the world in our hearts in order to allow God limitless access to our lives.

So we don’t eat this or that. We don’t do this or that. We limit the reach of the world in our hearts in order to allow God limitless access to our lives.

You see, all things are permissible - the Bible tells us that - but all things are not beneficial. Just because we can do something, doesn't’ mean that we should. Daniel could have eaten this food. He could have drank that wine. But that wasn’t what he understood God wanting him to do!

Likewise, we can take our positions, post whatever stuff we want on social media, utilize every ounce of the rights that have been fought for - but that doesn’t mean we should.

Daniel reminds us that those things - things that seem so innocuous, and so innocent. Things that we feel like we are owed, or that we feel like we should be able to say or do or wear or even base our identity on! Those things, IF THEY AREN’T GOD, will NEVER BRING US LIFE OR ACCEPTANCE. Only the things God wants for us will bring us life. And acceptance with Him is all that matters.

[obviousmetaphorisobvious] The story continues, and concludes, with Daniel and the others being brought before the King - obvious metaphor is obvious, right? This is a bit of a homiletic layup here, really. You see, we too will be brought before the King. And the king in this case looked at them, ostensibly to see the result of all that he gave them. Just as our King will for us. What have you done with the food, and education? What will you now offer to the kingdom now that you have been given so much?

And as we look at this text, and our lives, through the lens of Jesus we must ask ourselves those same questions? Have we asked for more and more? Have we taken whatever this world offers us and then like a spoiled child want that AND eternal life? I mean, my friends all go on vacation 4 times a year, and bought a bigger house, and go out to eat every night, and never drive a car older than a year or two! I know because they said so on Facebook! They tweeted all this unbelievable stuff they are doing! So I want that too!

Maybe we find acceptance in social groups, or organizations that don’t live up to the high call of our Savior? But listen, it doesn’t hurt anyone, so no big deal!

Church, understand that Daniel’s eating would have hurt no one too! But without Him doing the apparently foolish, by chasing after God’s call, those around him, and we ourselves, would never have seen what true devotion to God looks like.

You see, it doesn’t look like a spoiled child! It doesn’t want and want and never give! It doesn’t hold the patterns of others, and what they have or do as important! Sure all that stuff might seem normal - it might seem to be what you want. But if you really think about it, if you really take scripture seriously, you would want nothing at all to do with it!

[picherehelpingtheoppressed] If you really wanted to follow Christ, you would be willing to do what seems to be foolish to the world around you. You would want to be noticeably different! You would love blindly. You would practice hospitality. You would seek ways to serve, love, and pray for those with whom you disagree. You wouldn’t just reach across the aisle to get what you want - you would give up your position in order for God to be glorified in your humility and trust in Him. You would turn the other cheek. You would love and honor everyone else more than yourself. In short, you would take the seemingly foolish position of a follower of Christ, and do so by taking His words seriously.

You know, we walk around speaking of eternal things, don’t we? We want eternal things! But at the same time we live out our moments here on Earth in a very different, and very non-eternal fashion. We gather things this world tells us to gather, just to store in our barns. We reap where we haven’t sewn, and act as if we deserved it! We fail to live out our moments in such a way as to point our lives - not to mention the lives of others - to Christ. To be blunt, we don't live our moments with an eternal perspective, instead we live our moments with a perspective and love of self. We occupy our lives with what pleases us. We obsess over what we want in this moment - things we think will be pleasing or beneficial to us right now. But our text, and our Christ calls us to stop following this world, and make the seemingly foolish choice to follow Him, and in so doing to have an eternal perspective! You see, that's the perspective Daniel had. He didn't want to be different! He didn't want to have to eat that food! I am sure that just like us, he wanted what EVERYONE ELSE around him was getting! But he had an eternal perspective. Daniel knew that in order to show the power and glory of God he had to make a sacrifice. He had to follow even when it seemed foolish. And church, he didn’t do all of that for his own sake alone! No, that example was being set so that all could see the true power and influence that is to be had in this life! And when he made a stand, his friends stood with him!

Listen, we walk around acting as if our influence or money or position shows the power and the influence of God. But all that shows is the love of self that we have in our hearts! The only power that can be shown by God is when we give our lives away to another. When we stop consuming and start contributing. When we set our life's goals not on ourselves, but on every other living being that walks. And church, we do that by taking our responsibility to be the example to this world seriously

Romans 14:13–19 ESV

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

I want to close by offering Paul’s perspective on this idea, one that really comes at this same theme from the other side. This idea of following Christ, even when it seems foolish, and the idea of all things being permissible, but not all helpful. This same idea that started in Daniel’s decision to follow God and not the world, and culminates throughout the New Testament in God’s people removing stumbling blocks from their lives so that others can better follow Christ. And I want to do so with a fill in the blank. I do that, because while it is true that Paul was talking about food, he was also making a larger point about our faith.

I want to close by offering Paul’s perspective on this idea, one that really comes at this same theme from the other side. This idea of following Christ, even when it seems foolish, and the idea of all things being permissible, but not all helpful. This same idea that started in Daniel’s decision to follow God and not the world, and culminates throughout the New Testament in God’s people removing stumbling blocks from their lives so that others can better follow Christ. And I want to do so with a fill in the blank. I do that, because while it is true that Paul was talking about food, he was also making a larger point about our faith.

So, right now, I want you to think of something you do, or say that might be a stumbling block for others. Maybe it’s a habit, a social cause, your friends, the clothes you wear, whatever. What is it that you think it is your right to do that might cause others to question who you are following. And if you don’t know of something, just fill in the blank with “like” or “Like to do.”

[read]

Church, sometimes it is going to look foolish. Sometimes it is going to be hard, and sometimes, it just won’t seem fair. But we aren’t called to fair. We aren’t called to be like the world. We aren’t called to get everything we want. We are called to service. We are called to the freedom of Christ - a freedom to give ourselves to others just as our Messiah did.

So if what we do offends someone else we get rid of it. If what we say causes others to stumble we get rid of it. If what we are deep in our soul causes anyone around us to not be able to see Jesus then we stopped all of it in order to be remade into what we need to be for them to see the one who created us all and loves us all beyond measure. We seek to build up this world through peace, and not division. Through harmony. Through love. Through mercy. Through Jesus.

And that begins anew today, here, at this table. The place where we lay down what we want, and take up what Christ wants for us. The place where we find our true strength.

[communion]