A Question of Values - Part 2

Topic: Culture and Engagement

In Part 1 of this series, we considered three important aspects of effective cultural engagement: history, values, and identity by looking at Daniel’s life in Babylon. Being assured of God’s sovereignty over his life, Daniel maintained not only his private devotion but also his public witness. In our modern culture of relativism, we are under immense pressure to privatize the expression of our faith. We can talk about our faith in boxes, be it our homes, churches, and small groups, but we are not allowed to talk about it in public. Daniel firmly believed that God was behind his experience that cost him his family and led him to exile in Babylon. Daniel believed that God was over his personal story as well as that of a nation, even when things seemed to be going wrong. This is a hugely important faith foundation Christians need to build on, if they are going to stand in society for God. We must develop the faith eyes to see that God is behind our history. Daniel’s faith was grounded in the absolute truth of God’s Word; his morality had a vertical reference point. He was not given to relativism, as many in our day are prone to. Even his name was changed, but he never lost his identity, nor his name forgotten.

In part 2, we consider two more aspects, that of image and resistance.

A question of image

It appears that Daniel had built good relations with Ashpenaz, the chief eunuch in king Nebuchadnezzar’s court. He may be likened to the unbelievers that are all around us. When Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the food and wine from the king’s kitchen, Ashpenaz was expectedly fearful of his own head, should Daniel and his friends appear to be worse off than the others. This pressure of living to the expectations of others is felt by many well-intentioned Christians; we are more concerned with our image in the eyes of people than with what is right in God’s eyes. Culture is never neutral in this regard—any protest in the name of God will be to your physical and intellectual disadvantage. This led to them performing a social experiment for ten days during which time Daniel and his friends would only be given water and vegetables. At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends were found to be ten times better than the others.

Daniel 1:17 says that God gave these four young men learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. Consequently, they were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters (1:20). “Ten times better” did not just mean relatively better in skill or performance. Their lives were a visible representation of the God they served, in thought, word, and deed. Chapter 2 reveals the difference. When faced with an impossible task of interpreting the king’s dream, the enchanters moved merely by reason (naturalists, like many theologians and philosophers today) but Daniel moved with revelation. 

Difference between predicting the future (using human reason to predict future outcomes, forecasting systems) vs biblical prophecy- 2 Peter 1:19-21

The dream interpretation - Through Daniel, God was evaluating various forms of government, not just valuing them based on human systems. If you notice, the values are decreasing, but strength is increasing with each successive kingdom. Relying on human reason alone is akin to idolatry. Many Christians trust their reason and use God when they get stuck. But revelation is using reason and trusting God. This is the same with all the other gifts God has given us. We are to use them but learn to trust God. A disobedience in this area causes many Christians to disobey the first commandment. It is quite common to see Christians, knowledgeable of the Scriptures, filled with the Holy Spirit, but operating with a split-level capacity- their reasoning has advanced through education, but revelation is missing. People in the world notice that gap, that Christians haven’t thought through these important matters of God, life and culture. That is how opportunities to disciple people and nations are lost. Daniel had access to God’s mind which made Daniel and his friends ten times better. As believers, the Bible assures us that we have the mind of Christ. It is important we learn to align our thinking and living accordingly, if the culture around us is to be transformed.

A question of resistance

Daniel 1:8 he resolved that he would not defile himself

Whatever this food and wine meant, Daniel decided it would defile him. This is a question you must answer for yourself. You know what defiles you. This resolve had to do with his moral attitude. Daniel protested the food and the wine. In chapter 1, the vessels of the house of God are taken to the house of the god of Babylon. Then there’s a protest with the food and wine. In chapter 5:1-4 both those ideas come together in Belshazzar’s feast. At that feast, the wine is poured into the vessels taken from the house of God and raised up to the gods of Babylon. A hand appears, with a chilling message for the king. Belshazzar had valued Jehovah at zero (5:23); now Jehovah was judging Belshazzar at zero (5:26-30).

How do we resist the culture we live in? As Christians, do we stop engaging with culture and the intellectual food that’s being served up? No! How did Daniel do it? He didn’t start a revolution. Nor did the apostle Paul. They engaged with people and built relationships. Have the courage to talk to your peers and colleagues about what you believe. Daniel’s worldview was that of Genesis, that there is a Creator. Are you standing up for that in your college, university, workplace or do you think it’s not important? This is a Word-based universe (John 1:1). Daniel and his friends stood up to the culture of their day, and the God of the Bible called them by their Hebrew names, not their Babylonian ones. Surely, that should be an encouragement for you to engage with people in your context. God will honour the ones who stand up for Him. They will shine like the brightness of the heavens above. (Daniel 12:3)

Daniel’s legacy lives on as an inspiration for Christians today.

My prayer and encouragement to each of you is to develop the courage, fight the fear, overcome the shame, so that you will be clear and confident to talk about God in the public spaces.

Background

Kainos Church India, Bengaluru led by Ps. Manoj and Lincy Iype is a gathering open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is ideally located for believers in the Koramangala, HSR Layout, Agara, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur areas of Bengaluru and our Church Service in English starts at 10am on Sundays.

These notes are from the Sunday Sermon held on 15th June 2025