God vs. Culture

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We live in a society in which culture reigns supreme. We have to choose God over Culture. We have to choose Christ over culture.

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Introduction and Background

Do it for the culture, a montage that has grown into a phenomenon in which people will do things against moral value, and beliefs for the sake of acceptance by the culture they have aligned themselves to. The composers of a new fad in hip hop called the migos, entrusted the title of their last two albums culture I and culture II.
Paige Patterson in the Southwestern Journal of Theology defines culture by citing Scruton’s definition that a culture is defined as something separate - an island of “we” in the ocean of they.
As Christians we cannot allow ourselves to forsake the proverbial ocean for the sake of maintaining a status quo on the island. On the other hand we cannot allow the ocean to dictate what we do on the island as well.
Here we have 4 Hebrew boys who are essentially on an island as followers of God. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah later to be known as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
These men witnessed the culture of the city they lived in change right under their nose, and were punished at the expense of choosing God rather than going along with pop culture. They essentially embody Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Disclaimer, all culture is not a terrible thing. Culture is an identifier of pride for most of us. We identify with our culture by the food we eat, the clothes we wear the religion we practice nonetheless culture should never trump God.

Situation

Babylon is in a state of decay, Judah geographically aligned along the fertile crescent and Nebuchadnezzar has seized it.
The king then orders his chief to capture some of the sons of Israel and orders them to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
When you want to change culture or oppress a group of people you teach them your ways of life.
Not only did he attempt to change the language and the education the king also desires to change the way that they eat.
If you want to remove culture you have to change the identity of the people you are trying to oppress.
Seemingly this is what Satan does to us, he does not just want to entice you with temptation but he hopes that sin changes the way you walk, the way you talk, and every facet of your daily life in Christ so that you lose your identity with God.
Satan always questions your identity in hopes that you question your limitations.
Isn’t it interesting that Satan typically looks for people and things that are appealing to the eye in hopes that we fall victim to the same traps.
The enemy takes over their land, teaches them a new language and changes their name. Satan knows that if he can change your identity you might align yourself with him.

Complication

What is the issue here? The problem is these were government mandates. These were laws that if not followed were punishable by death. But regardless if death is the only option we still have to choose God.
Listen, today you have to make a choice. Who are you going to serve?
Daniel made up in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or the wine he drank.
Pay attention to how Daniel fights back. We cannot fight Satan the same way he fights us.
Daniel sought permission from the commander and God blessed him because despite what the world was doing he stayed true to God.
Even when everyone around you does not have faith in your ability to trust God, you choose God over culture.
Culture said it was okay to eat like they wanted, but God sought discipline.
Culture said it was okay to drink wine, but God says be sober and be vigilant.
Sometimes you do not have to say anything, sometimes the glow up speaks for itself. Some folks are looking for you to struggle when God is prepping you for triumph. You do not have to tell folks you’re transforming, just let them see the results and then thank God when they notice.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
At some point we have to get to a place of resolve. Who is going to step up amongst your circle and say I choose God even when it is not as popular as culture.
At some point we have to get to a place of resolve. Who is going to step up amongst your circle and say I choose God even when it is not as popular as culture.

Resolution

God blessed them for doing what he prescribed rather than what culture desired. Regardless of culture you can never go wrong with purity.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Overseer continued to give them vegetables, they shined educationally, the text even says they were found to be ten times better than all who were in the realm.
Christianity is not about co-dependency, sometimes it’s about self-differentiation. Dare to be different, just because the world moves one way, find your peace in God.
Be ready, because when you go against the grain everyone does not like it.
Chaldeans continued making statutes in effort to destroy Daniel and his men. When you reject culture and keep your identity in Christ everyone is not happy about that.
The culture is only happy as long as you are putting on for the culture.
Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.

Celebration

How can one rejoice in the midst of trial. These men were robbed of their home. Held to a way of life that attempted to strip their identity from them and when they still decided to follow God they get punished further by being placed in the fiery furnace.
Praise God that purity allows us to see God when we need him the most. Even when the culture turns of the heat on your trial, know that God is still with you.
When you choose God over culture it does not matter what you have been through God brings you out of it like you did not even go through it.
The world is turning up furnaces for you, but God is preparing to walk out not looking like or smelling like what you have been through.
They changed the culture by trusting in God. We do not have to assimilate for the sake of man, trusting in God is the best remedy to changing our situation and the variables around us.
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