Is Christianity still relevant? That has been one of the big debates ignited by Christmas. On Boxing Day the Times had this by-line about Christmas Day on their front page "2.7 million go to Anglican services, 3.5 million shop on the internet." Is Christianity still relevant was the unwritten question?

Richard Dawkins writes this "In England...religion under the aegis of the established church has become little more than a pleasant social pastime." Do you see what he is saying? Actually Christianity makes no more difference to the way someone lives, or any more of an impact on the community and country than joining the golf club or local WI. Is Christianity still relevant if it makes no difference?

As we stand at the end of one year and the start of another I wonder how things like that make you feel? It can make us feel embarrassed, it can make us disheartened as actually we may think Dawkins is spot on. But I actually think it should make us feel excited. Imagine if that is what people expect how they will react when they come across people, a community, where actually following Christ makes a real difference. Think of the questions such living would pose, think of the opportunities living a life worthy of the gospel would bring.

Daniel is a book that we need to read. It calls us, tells us and models for us how to live serving God in such a way that his reality is made obvious to all, and it happens not in the easy arena of Jerusalem but in the pressured, pagan and perilous arena that is Babylon.

Chapter 1 poses 3 questions of us this morning as we see Daniel and his three young friends in Babylon. Do I have:

1. Biblical Double Vision.
How do you view the world? Is it as a set of random events which are the result of individual and collective decision making? Or is it that God is sovereign and he is working out his eternal purposes in all things?

We may say that obviously it is the second, obviously it is that God is sovereign. But I wonder if we live life in the light of that reality, whether that knowledge saturates our actions or whether we live to all intents and purposes as practical atheists. I think the key to identifying which it is is seen in our responses to situations.

There is a family emergency how would you react? a. Instantly rush to do everything you can to help, b. Sit at home worrying, or try to keep busy so you don’t have to think about it, c. to help as best you can whilst praying and getting others to pray?

You are put into a difficult position at work where there is conflict between your faith and your reputation, do you? a. Just do your job after all its what you’re paid for. b. Find a compromise between the two saving your reputation. c. Stand up for what you believe.

You are sat with friends and they are talking about what happens when you die, saying that everyone goes to heaven? a. Go along with them b. Just keep quiet, you know they won’t like what you have to say. c. Explain that sin separates eternally but that Jesus saves by faith.

Daniel and his friends throughout the book are put in high pressured situations, situations where it is their lives on the line not their friendships or reputations and yet they are able to live with God as their King because they have Biblical Double Vision, they see events but they also know and serve the God behind the events.

Just look at (1-2), what has happened? From the world’s perspective Israel has been crushed by Babylon and in the thinking of the day that meant ‘Bel’ the Babylonian God had conquered Yahweh the Hebrew God. Even the objects used in Yahweh worship are taken to Bel’s temple. God is defeated isn’t he?

But there is a second view of history here, it is the reality behind the appearance, the history behind the events. It’s repeatedly emphasised in this chapter and throughout the book; (2) "And the LORD delivered" (9) "now God caused", (17) "God gave knowledge and understanding." God is not defeated as Judah is taken captive, God is still Sovereignly working out his purposes even in Babylon.

It is seen clearly in Daniel’s life, in chapter 1 Daniel is probably a teenager and (21) tells us that "Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus", 70 years later. Daniel the exile of a defeated power remains for 70 years while 5 Kings and various empires rise and fall, Daniel remains constant why? Because he serves the sovereign God.

But it poses the question if God is sovereign why is Israel in exile? Did God get distracted? Did he make a mistake? No God is disciplining his children, back in Deuteronomy 28 as God through Moses prepares his people for life in the Promised Land he is giving them he warns them that if they reject him they will be taken into exile. Isaiah prophesied and warned Israel that the Babylonians would do just that, fulfilling God’s purposes.

God’s hand has not slipped, he has not taken his eye off the ball, he is in fact proving his faithfulness and the utter reliability of his word even as Israel is carried off into exile. He is sovereign even over Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar and even in Babylon he is working out his purposes.

The challenge for God’s people is to keep trusting in that Biblical Double Vision even when events seem to challenge it. The challenge is the same for us today as we hear the debate rage about the relevance of Christianity, we need to hold to Biblical Double Vision. God is Sovereign and we need that to be seen in our actions.

2. Understand the enemies’ tactics
Do you recognise who this is? It’s the borg from Star Trek, the race who assimilate every other into their collective. Taking them and supressing their individuality to make one collective with no culture and no differences.

That is what is happening in Babylon to these four young men. What is done to assimilate them? (4) taught the language and literature of Babylonians, (5) fed from King’s table, (6-7) given new names. They are being taught to think and react like Babylonians, it seen most clearly in the new names they are given. Each of their Hebrew names is a reminder of God’s Sovereignty and the need to serve him, but they are replaced with names relating to Babylonian gods.

It is not a direct full frontal attack, it is an educational moulding of their thinking so that they no longer think like God’s chosen people but like Babylonians. A view of history and understanding the simply discounts God. It would not be denigrating or hostile to Yahweh, they were free to worship him alongside other gods but it would marginalise him.

The tactics haven’t changed, we are surrounded by messages, pressures and teaching that seeks to make us discount God. Here is a snippet of an article from the Guardian "What I do argue is that all faiths, particularly the embarrassingly dysfunctional Abrahamic family, have to acknowledge that no faith tradition is supreme, that no-one has monopoly on God truth." In a survey in Great Britain only 9% of those surveyed said that there was only one way to God. Do you see the subtle pressure? And that is just on one subject, one area and to stand up and say Jesus is the only way just gets you labelled a bigot or fundamentalist.

Martin Samuels wrote in the Times "Enough with God already...When I think of reasons I am proud to be British, number one is that just about nobody goes to church anymore."

That danger is that the drip drip effect means I am embarrassed to identify myself as a follower of Jesus or to Biblically answer questions, or that we live as dualists, with a sacred secular divide. Thinking and living one way at home and on a Sunday and another way during the rest of the week. It is just a survival strategy we reason to ourselves but actually it is just a sign of assimilation.

Have I recognised the strategy and where the pressure points are in my life?

3. Entering the King’s Service
I think (8) is the key to understanding the rest of Daniel, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine." Notice that Daniel doesn’t wait to see if they spot he is different by the way he lives, he makes a stand and speaks out. He puts his trust in God. Why over the food and wine? Was it that it was offered to idols, or is it that he doesn’t want to be dependent on the king? It doesn’t really matter which, the important thing is that he makes a stand. Despite the attempted assimilation Daniel is a Hebrew and he will serve the living God and this is one way of making his faith clear.

Daniel’s bold words at the outset of his service in Babylon are not without danger, Nebuchadnezzar is not known for his tolerance (10), but Daniel and his friends know who they are serving even as they enter Nebuchadnezzar’s service. (17-20) And God continues to work out his purposes in his faithful four.

The early test and stand is key to what follows, it establishes at the outset exactly who Daniel and his friends serve, they are Yahweh’s men and they will not compromise, they will live, work and die for God’s glory. Without 1:8 there would have been no faith in the furnace or the lions den. How are they able to do it? Because they are convinced that God is sovereign, he is in control.

We need to make a stand despite potential hostility. Because Approach P80. The challenge of Daniel is have I taken that stand? Have I grounded myself in the absolute reality of the sovereign of God. It is only that knowledge which will enable us to identify ourselves as those who follow Jesus, live Serving God, and stand against the enemies’ assimilation.

As we stand at the start of a new year will we commit ourselves to living wholeheartedly for God in front of a watching world? To hold out the great news of Jesus in our words, our actions and our involvement?

1. How do I view the world? What is behind my responses to others and to events? Am I a practical atheist?
2. What has moulded the way I think? The Bible or the world? Am I danger of living with a sacred secular divide?
3. Have I made a stand and committed myself to living in every area of life in service to God? How does that show itself day by day?

Daniel