Category: Culture & Society

King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue at which officials of various religions and faiths were to genuflect (worship) at prescribed times (Daniel 3:1-7). It was the king’s attempt, as it were, to bring a modicum of unity to the pluralistic realm over which he reigned.

But like most such attempts, there was something else going on, and the faith of a few insignificant citizens exposed it.

You might be familiar with the story: Nebuchadnezzar erected a gold statue ninety feet tall, and ordered that at the prescribed musical signal, all the government officials were to “fall down and worship” the image. Nonconformity was punishable by death in a fiery furnace.

It apparently escaped the king’s immediate attention, given the spectacle of the multitudinous music-fest, that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — Daniel’s friends — did not comply.

But, not to worry. Some of their coworkers ratted them out. “Certain Chaldeans” (Daniel 3:8) dutifully complied with the king’s oppressive edict, and turned in others who did not. They reported that “certain Jews” were being particularly offensive: they “pay no attention to you, O king.”

“Full compliance is necessary,” we might imagine them saying, for the “good of the people.”

Nebuchadnezzar, as they say, was not pleased. In a “furious rage” he ordered the boys to appear before him and explain themselves, questioning whether there was any “god who will deliver” them. If he had not been pleased before, he was particularly un-pleased with their answer: God can deliver us, but even if he doesn’t, we won’t worship your gold statute.

Now “filled with fury,” Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal because, for these insouciant miscreants, any old burning just wouldn’t do.

What prompted the Chaldeans to rat out their fellow cosmopolitan coworkers? What prompted Nebuchadnezzar to wax so completely apoplectic?

The desire for complete comformity among the people, and the desire for absolute allegiance to the government.

The result? The super-hot furnace burned the guards alive, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego emerged not ashen, not harmed, and not even smelling of smoke.

In Philippians 1:9-11, the apostle Paul describes the type of love that should abound among the disciples of Jesus Christ.

It is not what current culture and politics suggests.

Paul describes a love that is defined by something. Love among disciples — and what they manifest to other disciples and to the unbelieving world — is, first, abounding. It is not static, but always growing — in scope, in depth, and zeal.

Second, this Jesus-love is defined by knowledge and discernment. But knowledge of what? Culture and politics would say that love is defined by the knowledge of what the recipient desires, such as to be affirmed in their sexual preference, or gender identity, or political stance, generally. Discernment, then, according to the world’s approach, is the ability to perceive what the recipient wants from your love, and provide it without reservation or hesitation. According to the world, you love properly when you love according to the recipient’s preference.

But the Bible has a different idea.

The third parameter of biblical love is that it is for the purpose of approving what is excellent. “Fine” — the world says — “what is excellent is a person’s sexual preference and gender identity, so, approve that in order to be loving.”

But, again, the Bible has a different idea.

The fourth parameter of biblical love is that it is for the end of being presented before Jesus, at his return, as pure and blameless. This, too, is the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus, and is for the glory of God.

Being pure and blameless, as the fruit of righteousness, for the glory of God, is defined by the Bible, by God, himself, not by sinful humans.

To love, then, in a way that pleases God, is to love people away from lies and falsehood and wickedness, toward truth and righteousness and grace.