SERMON: INTO THE FIRE

30 June 2013

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Daniel 3:1-7

Daniel 3:1-7 (NIV)

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:
5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

            -- in the life of every person there comes a time -- a moment of decision -- when we must choose how we will live our lives -- a time when we are called to choose whether we are going to follow Christ or follow this world, even if the choice may cost us everything -- our hopes -- our dreams -- our freedom -- even our lives

            -- it is a moment that no one longs for -- that no one wants -- but that is thrust upon us, seemingly by chance, because of situations beyond our control -- it is our response in these moments that define who we are as a people and as Christians
            -- many before us have faced such defining moments in their lives

            -- I may have mentioned to you that I am currently a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister who was a contemporary of Hitler -- Bonhoeffer was ordained and began serving in the Lutheran church at the same time Hitler and his Nazi party began to gain power in pre-World War II Germany

            -- and as Bonhoeffer began to see civil rights eroded -- as he watched Germany face a moral crisis unlike anything every experienced before -- as he began to see injustice and prejudice spread throughout his beloved country -- Bonhoeffer was faced with a decision -- would he take a stand and actively oppose the evils of the Hitler government? -- would he flee the country to live in safety until Hitler was defeated? -- or would he maintain neutrality and concern himself solely with the business of the church and not with the affairs of state?
            -- at the urging of his friends, Bonhoeffer took a professorship at a seminary in America, determined to wait out Hitler's regime so he could participate in the rebuilding of German society following the fall of the Third Reich
            -- but within two months, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany -- he could not, in good conscience, sit on the sidelines in safety while so many of his brothers and sisters in the church suffered under the oppressive Nazi regime -- he returned to actively oppose the evils of Hitler -- to take a stand for what was right instead of what was expedient
            -- in the end Bonhoeffer was imprisoned by the Gestapo for his role in an attempted assassination of Hitler and other crimes against the state -- and he was hanged by the Germans in April 1945, just 23 days before Germany's surrender
            -- his final message to the church of Christ were these short words: "This is the end -- for me the beginning of life"

II.  Our Defining Moment

            -- while we are certainly not facing the same situation that Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced in Nazi Germany or the Apostle Paul or the other Christians faced in the first century, we are facing our own moment of decision here in this country
            -- it is no secret that we have been faced with momentous moral decline in this country over the past several decades
            -- there have been 1.3 billion abortions worldwide since 1980 -- student healthcare plans at our local universities include coverage for sex-change operations
            -- the so-called "morning after" abortion pills are now available to 15-year-olds over the counter without parental approval, even though schools cannot administer aspirin to these same students without parent's permission
            -- Jason Collins, the pro basketball player who left his fiancee and proclaimed he was gay was lionized by the media and applauded in a personal phone call from the President -- we are told we can no longer just tolerate homosexuality, but we must celebrate it¹
            -- and just this week we saw the U.S. Supreme Court rule on two major cases that have the potential to affect the moral climate of this country and the very practice of religion -- the Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA and California's Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriage
            -- key aspects of DOMA were repealed by the court and they refused to hear the California case, in essence affirming the decision of the 9th Circuit -- but what does this mean to us?
            -- it means we are treading on the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout this nation, regardless of the will of the voters -- but, more importantly, in the decision on DOMA, the Supreme Court castigated those who would stand for traditional marriage between a man and a woman and who oppose same-sex marriage, defining them, as Justice Scalia wrote in his dissent, "enemies of the human race"²
            -- if our country takes this next step and follows those nations around the world that have legalized same-sex marriage, it is likely that in the very near future, a sermon such as this would be characterized as a hate crime and I could be imprisoned for standing up for biblical principles in this area

            -- how did the church respond to these major decisions by the Supreme court? -- by and large, with silence -- while there were a few commentaries by groups such as Focus on the Family and the Southern Baptist Convention, the majority of the Christians in this country either chose not to comment on this issue or they simply did not care

            -- I like to use what I call the Walmart Test to get my finger on the pulse of America -- if you want to know what this country really thinks about an issue, you don't turn to the Gallup Poll -- you turn to Walmart and Facebook and Twitter -- you peer into the lives of real people and you see what's important to them -- you listen to what they talk about -- you read their lives
            -- I will be the first to admit my choice of friends on Facebook is somewhat biased -- it is not representative of this country as a whole -- many of my friends are what I would term strong conservative Christians with one token liberal thrown into the mix
            -- and there was not a single comment on Facebook or Twitter or any of the social media I follow about the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA or Proposition 8 -- even earlier than that, no comments on the NSA eavesdropping scandal or Benghazi or the trial of the notorious Philadelphia abortionist Dr. Gosnell -- nothing -- not one word and no response to anything I posted about these landmark cases

            -- Dante Alighieri of The Divine Comedy fame wrote: "The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis"

            -- when is it time? -- at what point does the church finally stand up and proclaim from the pulpits and in the streets of America and in the halls of power in this land, "Thus saith the Lord, 'This is wrong.'?" -- when will the church stop turning a blind eye to these breath-taking cultural and sociological changes and start taking a stand for what is right?
            -- the moment is upon us -- the time is now -- and we must make a choice as to what we are going to do
            -- this same choice faced Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they gazed upon the golden idol of Nebuchadnezzar from this passage in Daniel Chapter 3
            -- let's look at their story and see what we can learn about our own through their eyes

III.  Scripture Lesson (Daniel 3:1-30)

            -- look back at verse 1-7

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:
5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

            -- so here the scene is set -- King Nebuchadnezzar ruled the Babylonian Empire -- the first world empire -- stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the west through modern-day Turkey and down through the Persian Gulf -- Babylon had conquered Israel in 597 BC and brought back the leaders of the nation along with their best and brightest young men and women as captives and servants of the king

            -- Daniel, the author of this book, was one of the captives brought to Babylon from Israel, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who we will read of in this passage
            -- here at the height of his fame and glory, we read that Nebuchadnezzar erected a great statue on an open plain near his royal city -- nine feet wide and 90 feet tall -- about the height of the pine trees you drive past every day -- we don't know what the image was, but more than likely, it was an image of himself -- an idol to his fame and prowess since many early leaders considered themselves to be gods or the sons of gods
            -- Nebuchadnezzar passed a law and commanded that everyone would gather in front of this idol and when they heard the music, they would bow down and prostrate themselves before his image and worship the great idol
            -- so think about what this would mean to Daniel and the other Jews in this land -- in Exodus 20:3-5 God told the Israelites, "I am the Lord your God -- you shall have no other gods before Me -- you shall not make for yourself an idol or graven images -- you shall not bow down and worship them"
            -- a moment of decision had arrived -- a defining moment for the Jews in this land -- would they follow the law of the land or would they follow the law of God?

            -- verse 8-15

Daniel 3:8-15 (NIV)

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.

9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!
10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,
11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

            -- neutrality was not an option -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were turned in by the other officials in the land for not following the law -- they were summarily hauled before the court of Nebuchadnezzar and questioned, "Why have you disobeyed the law? -- Why have you not bowed down before the idol?"

            -- Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance -- they would be carried before the idol, and when the music played, if they refused to bow down and worship the image, they would be thrown into the fire
            -- neutrality was no longer an option -- the choice before these men was clear -- either they follow the law of the land in violation of God's clear command and live in peace and safety or they choose to take a stand and go into the fire, facing certain death

            -- verse 16-18

Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

             -- the decision is made -- the men choose God over Nebuchadnezzar -- instead of doing what is expedient -- instead of compromising their values and reasoning within themselves, "It's only a statue of wood and gold -- it's not real -- bowing down before it really wouldn't mean anything, anyway -- God knows our true hearts and wouldn't want us to risk our lives on this issue" -- these three men chose to stand for what they believed -- the chose to stand for God in spite of the risks to their personal lives

            -- verse 19-30

Daniel 3:19-30 (NIV)

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

            -- true to his word, Nebuchadnezzar had the men bound and thrown into the furnace -- but God chose to rescue the men from their fate -- God joined them in the fire and freed them from physical death and Nebuchadnezzar began to appreciate the power of God

            -- but, let me caution you here -- God chose to rescue Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the flames, but not everyone is rescued in this same way
            -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged by the Nazis in the Flossenburg Concentration Camp
            -- the Apostle Paul was martyred by the Roman emperor Nero
            -- many, many men and women have lost their lives over the years because they chose to stand for God against the evil of their generation

            -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to go into the fire regardless of the cost -- they chose to offer their lives as a sacrifice to doing what was right and in opposition to the evil of Nebuchadnezzar -- they went into the fire believing they would die

            -- the decision to stand for what is right should be made based upon faith in the promise of God, not upon a hope for rescue in the midst of calamity -- the decision to stand for what is right should be made regardless of our fate -- simply because it is the right thing to do and because God commands it
            -- as Paul wrote in Romans 14:8, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

IV.  CLOSING

            -- one of Bonhoeffer's friends and allies in his stand against the Nazis was Martin Niemoller, who left us with this powerful quote before he was martyred by the Nazi Regime:

"First they came for the communists,

 and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,

 and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

 and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,

 and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.
 
Then they came for me,
 and there was no one left to speak for me."³

             -- If the church does not speak, who will? -- if you do not speak, who will?

 

            -- the time of passive Christianity is past -- the time of silent witness is no more -- it is time for us, as God's people in this place, to stand up for the gospel and proclaim the message of Christ to the people and leaders of this nation -- to speak up against injustice and immorality in the name of Christ

            -- for we stand on the precipice of destruction and if we do not sound the warning, this country will face the wrath of God and will be no more 

            -- an old Chinese curse says, "May you live in interesting times." -- folks, we are living in interesting times -- the lines are being drawn -- the temptation for neutrality and compromise afflict us -- but the word of God is clear -- we must choose to pick up our cross and die to self and follow Him -- there is no other option -- the time is upon us 

            -- let us pray

 

¹Andree Seu Peterson, "The Morning After," World Magazine, 15 June 2013

²http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/scalias-blistering-dissent-on-doma/277245/

³http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...