Weighed In The Balance

Feature 1 – October 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Weighed In The BALANCE

The principle of disciples’ being in the world but not of the world is a well-established truth (Jn. 17:11,14). This means that any idealist who would have nothing to do with the worst sinners of this world must “go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:10 KJV ). However, Scripture condemns living a secluded life and the Master said, “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (Jn. 17:15). Clearly a well-balanced life is necessary.

The Master Himself spent time with God, His disciples and unsaved sinners. Although He was in full-time service, the Lord kept in contact with His family even when His brothers did not believe in Him (Jn. 7:5). The Lord Jesus spent much time in solitary prayer (Mt. 14:23) and yet He could still be found among His Jewish brothers in the House of God (Jn. 7:14). He did not shrink from being with the common people in their towns and villages. Out in the country too He was both seen and heard (Mt. 5:1, 14:23, 15:33, 21:12; Mk. 1:38). Even though many of the religious rulers of the day hated His words, “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mk. 12:37). He enjoyed hospitality at the home in Bethany where He was the most honored Guest of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Also, He was a generous host to the five thousand men in the wilderness whose wives and children also tasted of the “five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (Jn. 6:9). So we see that a Christian is obliged to divide his or her time three ways: a private devotional life with God, a church association with fellow believers and a social and business life with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Just as we know that before His public ministry our blessed Lord had a synagogue life, a social life and a business life in Nazareth, those called to full-time service should already have distinguished themselves in each of these areas. The perfect example of a balanced life is seen, without equal, in the Master. His humble followers must weigh themselves against the standards set by their Lord if they are to achieve a balanced life. If they are found wanting they need to make the necessary adjustments.

Fiery Trials Of Faith
As we study the Scriptures we discover that disciples of all generations have found themselves in various trials. It was in these times when their faith and obedience were tested to the limit that the same virtues triumphed greatly to the glory of God. Only through testing can a professed faith be proved true. We are reminded that the Lord warned “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (Jn. 16:33). Whether actually or allegorically, every disciple must endure “the burning fiery furnace” or be cast into the “den of lions” (Dan. 3:21, 6:16). These last two quotations from Daniel are most helpful in illustrating the point. Therefore let us seek to discern the principles of a balanced Christian life from the book where a wicked king was told “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Dan. 5:27).

Upright And Holy
Though slaves in Babylon Daniel and his friends remained the faithful servants of the living God. Christ can never be equaled; but this does not mean that His example cannot be imitated (1 Pet. 2:21). Even though the impeccable Christ always excels His disciples, mortals can display enough of the Righteous One to qualify as valid witnesses of Christ in them, “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). In pursuing this aspiration we hope to prove that this principle was pre-figured by the ancient saints who “were carried away to Babylon” (Mt. 1:11).

During the time of the Captivity God’s faithful servant Daniel lived uprightly – preserved from impurity and saved from stocks and chains. Indeed Daniel and his friends found themselves favored by the Chaldean worshipers of Bel. If they were willing to co-operate there was an assurance of a comfortable and easy life among the idols of the heathen. However, as genuine worshipers of the One True God these Hebrew men held their Babylonian status loosely. Regrettably Nebuchadnezzar was notoriously intolerant of conscientious objection. His fury burned like a furnace when he was resisted. Having the power of life and death, the pagan king knew how to use it. For “whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive” (Dan. 5:19).

Get It Right The First Time
Now let us consider Daniel’s dilemma. The tyrannical king had personally determined the diet of the Hebrew captives. This means that both the royal meat and the wine were what an orthodox Jew would call “triff” – food that was considered unclean and was forbidden to be eaten as per the dietary laws of Moses (Lev. 11). But Daniel was not in the land of Israel. He was a prisoner in Babylon far away from the priesthood and the temple. If he provoked his lord the king then Daniel’s life would be in mortal danger. However if he conducted himself wisely, he would flourish in the palace of the king. He and his fellows were Jews gifted with the wisdom and traditions of Solomon’s better days instilled in them from birth. So how should the helpless captive respond to this first trial of his faith? “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:8). Very bold and commendable! But did he manage to avoid being skinned alive and spit-roasted? We read that “Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus” (Dan. 1:21) – well outliving Nebuchadnezzar!

The Battle Which Won The War
The unchanging and universal character of Moses’ Law for the Jews included Babylon. The dietary laws did not cease at the borders of the land for God had already condemned Israel’s eating of unclean things in Assyria (Hos. 9:3). The Law given through Moses was effective even in the waste and howling wilderness where many Israelites died as a consequence of their disobedience before they reached the Promised Land (Heb. 3:17). In any event, the chief point is that the diet dispute was the battle which won the war! To be sure this was not the last crisis in Babylon where the lives of the captives would be in danger. And even granting that the Golden Idol edict was more serious and dangerous than an unclean diet, yet the first like the second was a cause worthy of noble martyrdom. If the first chapter in Daniel teaches us anything it is that the final outcome is dependent upon the initial victory. Daniel, a holy man in a wicked place, retained his integrity through the diverse reigns of many heathen kings. We must not assume from the example of Daniel that our faithfulness will preserve us against torture or death. However if a truth is worth anything, it is worth dying for. Anything not worth dying for is not worth anything.

A Faithless And Perverse Generation
Daniel and his friends had to live with things both abominable and abhorrent. They never had everything their own way as the Babylonians were the masters. None of them could avoid every aspect of Nebuchadnezzar’s “Babylonianising” policies. Therefore when Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, renamed the Hebrew captives they were unable to resist (Dan. 1:7). In effect, if the “El” in Daniel signified the God of Israel, the “Bel” in “Belteshazzar” signified the god of the Babylonians (Dan. 4:8). Likewise there was only a slip of the tongue between Abed-nego and Abed-Nebo. For whereas God never deviates from deploying the name “Daniel” in every other reference, Nebuchadnezzar never mentions “Daniel” without adding “whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god” (Dan. 4:8).

All this is more than history when we consider the crafty computer language of modern times. In this age of assertive technology both icons and wizards, though excluded from our theology, have overrun our computer screens. Also if the term “logo” seemed harmless enough, then not so when the plural “logos” appeared. For if “nego” was like “Nebo“, then many “logos” sounded similar to the One and Only Logos of John 1:1. However as we do not rule the world we must endure with patience the technical conventions of Bel’s children. This is one of the sad constraints of a balanced life.

Railing Accusations
Daniel’s peaceful handling of the situation is a textbook example of spiritual diplomacy. His respect for dignitaries coupled with his humble plea for consideration should be imitated. To be sure there is a time and place for straight speaking and outright non-conformance; but there is no accommodation for militant demonstrations in the kingdom of God. The three Hebrew men declared categorically “we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Dan. 3:18), yet they did not forget to preface their defiance with the term “O king”! Likewise Daniel had already displayed the same total respect for the master of the king’s eunuchs. For as the “Judge of God” explained his reason for abstinence to Ashpenaz, the pagan official responded to the petitioner’s respect. Daniel had already endeared himself to his Babylonian master (Dan. 1:9) and by the grace of God Ashpenaz had total admiration for the faith of the devout captive. In all things the Lord must have pre-eminence; yet in obedience to Him the saint must show fear and respect to rulers in this world (1 Pet. 2:18).

Drawing The Line
One of the stumbling blocks to faith is that unbelievers fear the loss of their dearest pleasures through conversion. Then after believing in the Lord there are serious questions about the “balanced life.” This is by no means a new problem as Tertullian (c.155-220 AD) wrote a famous apology condemning the Roman shows, sports and arena entertainments. He regarded attendance at such things as a denial of our vows to renounce the world. The ancient apologist also stressed the dangers of temptation through observance and association with sinners. Tertullian, an early Bible scholar, was a man who quoted hard facts and bitter experiences in support of the separated Christian life.

His attitude survives today among those who fear all the addictive and intrusive ways of the world. However, as God has not made a specific list of prohibitions, every believer must continually choose whether they will seek to please themselves or their Lord. We must therefore exercise extreme care when considering the lines of limitation; and we must remember that the Holy Spirit indwells us and our body is His temple (1 Cor. 6:19)!

By Tom Summerhill