Pressure to Conform
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Unshakable: Pressure to Conform
May 5, 2019
Introduction
Wherever life takes us, whatever it brings us, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.
Last week, we began a new sermon series from the life of Daniel. Where had life taken Daniel? What had life brought Daniel? How difficult were Daniel’s problems?
What had life brought Daniel? His country was defeated and destroyed. Where had life taken Daniel? He had been taken to Babylon. How difficult were Daniel’s problems? He was a prisoner of war. He was in a program in which the Babylonians were trying to brainwash him, detox his faith, erase God and his spiritual heritage.
Wherever life takes us, whatever it brings us, however difficult our problems, we must remain faithful to God.
Daniel remained faithful. His faith was unshakable. His commitment to God was unshakable.
Today, we are going to talk about comprise, the pressure to conform.
Illustration: Japanese Square Watermelons
Read Text
1. The Pressure to Compromise
Illustration:What would you do for $10 Million:
Put your children up for adoption 3%
Give up American Citizenship 16%
Abandon your Church 25%
Abandon your family 25%
Leave your spouse 16%
Kill a Stranger 7%
Daniel and three of his friends along with other young men from Israel are chosen for this special program for the purpose of one day serving in the king’s palace. The program was designed to indoctrinate these young Jewish men in the customs and culture of Babylon: their history, language, and religion.
We see in these verse that Daniel and his three friends are under tremendous pressure to change, to conform to Babylonian ways. We see in these verses that Daniel and his three friends were under tremendous pressure to comprise their faith in God. Notice some things that the Babylonians wanted to change about Daniel and his friends.
A. Change in Identity (v. 6)
Daniel and his friends had name honoring the one true God. Their names were changed to honor pagan, Babylonians gods.
Daniel (God is my Judge) vs Belteshazzar (May bel protect me)
Hananiah (God is gracious) vs Shadrach (Aku is exalted)
Mishael (Who is like God) vs Meshach (Who is like Aku)
Azariah (God is my helper) vs Abednego (Servant of Nebo)
The Babylonians wanted to change their identity. Daniel and his friends no longer belonged to God. They belonged to the false gods of Babylon.
B. Change in Beliefs (v. 4)
The Babylonians wanted to change their beliefs, convictions, values. Daniel and his friends got a Chaldean education: an education in history, culture, and religion.)
Babylon wanted to change their beliefs.
C. Change in Lifestyle (v. 5)
They wanted to change Daniel’s lifestyle. They wanted him to eat meat and wine from the king’s table.
What would I serve if I were king? Fried Chicken, Ribeye Steak, Baby Back Ribs, Fried Shrimp, Chriss’s pork loin with raspberry sauce.
Daniel couldn’t eat any of that. Why?
Food from the king’s table was against the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament law. The food from the king’s table was sacrificed to idols.
If Daniel chose to eat food from the king’s table, it was a choice of comprise. Daniel was under tremendous pressure to conform and the do the wrong thing. Daniel was under tremendous pressure too compromise.
Illustration: Karen made her living as a quality-control inspector for a major pharmaceutical company.
One day, through faulty procedures, the automated machines produced a large order of syringes that became contaminated and therefore failed inspection. Karen reported the problem to her boss, but he quickly computed the costs of reproducing the order and made a “cost-effective” decision. Because so much money would be lost in replacing the syringes, the boss ordered Karen to sign the inspection clearance despite the contamination. She refused, but this did not get her off the hook.
Because of certain federal regulations, only Karen could sign the clearance forms. If Karen did not sign, the syringes could not be marketed. The boss urged and threatened, but Karen would not budge. The impasse between Karen and her superior led to a visit from the company president. He also computed the costs of reproduction and issued his decision: The forms must be signed. Karen would have the weekend to think over whether or not she would sign the clearances. The president told her that if she was still determined not to sign the forms on Monday, her job would be in jeopardy.
In fact, much more than Karen’s job would be in jeopardy. This was her only means of income, and it was a well-paying job, not easily replaced. Randy’s education and their family’s future were severely endangered. The hopes, dreams, and career plans of many years could be shattered as a result of the choice that had to be made in the next two days. When Dr. Bryan Chapell, the seminary’s president, told this story, he concluded with the fol- [Dan, p. 16] lowing words: “For this young couple, all the theological jargon and doctrinal instruction about consecration, righteousness, and holiness suddenly came down to this one concrete decision: Could they afford to remain undefiled from the contamination the world of business practicalities urged Karen to approve?”1 What would you do?
What’s your story of being tempted to compromise? Maybe you are under pressure to say certain things and do certain things. Seniors, you may tempted to reject God in your college classes. Maybe like Karen, your temptation to compromise has to do with something unethical.
We are under tremendous pressure to conform to culture and compromise. The world wants us to think a certain way. The world wants us to act a certain way. The world wants us to believe a certain way. The world wants us to look a certain way. The world wants us to live a certain way. The ways of this world have little or no room for God and the Bible.
2. Pledge to Purity
Daniel is under tremendous pressure to conform to Babylonian culture. The Babylonians had changed his name. The Babylonians had tried to change his beliefs. The Babylonians had tried to change Daniel’s lifestyle.
v. 8
You might want to underline the word “purposed.” The word means a pledge or commitment.
Illustration: Pledge to name first son Francisco
Some pledges we have intention of keeping; other intentions we have no intention of breaking.
Daniel made a pledge not to defile himself.
Defile means to pollute, to contaminate.
Illustration:
The Babylonians tried to defile Babylon. But Daniel wanted to be holy. Daniel wanted to be pure. We have a pledge to purity. Daniel refused to compromise his convictions.
How?
A. Never forget who we are.
Daniel never forgot who he was. They could change his name, but they could not change his heart. They could change his name but could not change who He was. Daniel was an Israelite. Daniel belonged to the Lord. Daniel had made a commitment to obey the Bible. Daniel never forget who He was.
When we are faced with temptation to compromise, we must never forget who we are. We are God’s. We belong to Him.
(NLT) Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
B. Different Standards
It may been ok for others. But it was not OK for Daniel. Daniel had a different of standards. Daniel’s standards for living was based upon God’s Word. Eating food from the king’s table went against God’s standard for his life.
When we are faced with a temptation to compromise, we must remember that God has called us to a higher standard.
(AMP) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own apurchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
C. Courage
Daniel had the courage to do the right thing. Here was a teenager taking a stand against the most powerful king in the world. Daniel had courage.
When we are faced with temptation, we need to have the courage to do the right thing.
Daniel never forgot who he was. Daniel had a different set of standard. Daniel had the courage to do the right hing. This led to an unshakable faith, unshakable commitment to the Lord.
(CSB) Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.
Conclusion
There were other Jews in the program who compromised.
What about as a Christians? Do we compromise our convictions? Will we have an unshakable faith, unshakable commitment.