Faith and Politics Part Three : Faith with integrity Daniel 1:1-21 We live in a time when the debate about the role of faith in public life is becoming ever more heated. Indeed, it is becoming ever more difficult for Christians even to hold public office, and there are great pressures to compromise fundamentals when they do. Making sense of what it means to live and act as a Christian in what can be a hostile environment is not always easy, and it becomes even harder the more you get involved. In about 600BC, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded Judah. The king besieged Jerusalem and carried off some young noble Israelites to serve in his palace - Daniel was one of these men. During the 70 years of exile, he rose to a position of power in an environment hostile towards his closely held faith. How did he deal with the pressure to compromise? Daniel was able to live out his faith with integrity and, at the same time, find favour in the eyes of pagan kings. He faced tests of faith far beyond those which most of us are called to experience, yet on each occasion found that God honoured his faith and protected him. For those embarking on a career in politics, or thinking about how faith can be lived out with integrity, there is great encouragement in Daniel’s story.
Read Daniel 1:1-21 and Daniel 6
Every day we are faced with making decisions that place demands on our belief system and may require us to compromise. If Daniel had eaten the palace food, which had been sacrificed to Babylonian gods, he would have compromised his beliefs (Leviticus 12: 30, 31; 14:1-21). Indeed, later Daniel’s enemies even used his integrity against him, knowing that he would refuse to compromise his worship and prayer. Daniel stands firm but puts himself at great risk. In Chapter 1 God blessed him and his friends with better health and strength than their peers who were eating the palace food. Daniel then stepped out in faith and was able to interpret the King’s dreams. The King was so impressed that he appointed Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). As Daniel’s favour with the King grew, his jealous enemies used his integrity against him. Daniel chooses to disobey a royal decree rather than dishonour God and, though it seems his life is forfeit in the lion’s den, he is protected by God and his enemies face their death.
Discussion and questions When we live as part of a community, we must make choices that benefit the common good. Indeed, it is impossible to live as part of a community and not make concessions on a daily basis – think even of your home or church life.