“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself . . .” Daniel 1:8
He was part of a group of athletes from out of town. He and his teammates were seated across the pizza parlor and it was obvious they had been drinking for a while. Their conversation had been punctuated with profanity and sexual comments, and this young man had been a full participant. He hoisted his beer above his head and toasted their victory with a few choice expletives. With his arm raised high, I could see the WWJD bracelet he wore. It was faded and dirty, but I recognized it right away.
I shook my head as we stood to leave, just as the young man walked to the restroom. As my husband paid our bill, he walked out and I commented, “You guys must have had a great day today, you’re doing a lot of celebrating.”
“Yeah, we beat everyone today – we’re the CHAMPS!”
“May I ask you a question?” I queried. He nodded his assent. “What’s that bracelet you’re wearing all about?” He glanced down and his wrist and quickly pulled his shirt sleeve down over the bracelet.
“Awe, it’s just something I got at church a while back. My mom likes for me to wear it.”
“What does it mean?”
“It says WWDJ I think. It just means . . . well I guess it means I’m a Christian.”
“Really? Wow, that’s great! I didn’t know Christians could get drunk and cuss like that! I guess it’s no big deal anymore is it?”
He shifted his weight back and forth on his feet. “Hey, I’m still a Christian in my heart, isn’t that where it matters?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
In contrast to the young man in the pizza parlor, consider Daniel and his friends. They were part of the exile to Babylon and had been taken with a group of elite young men to be indoctrinated into the culture of their captors. They were given “royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8), food which was forbidden for a Jew. They asked to be excluded from the meal plan in favor of foods that would not compromise their faith.
Now you might ask, what harm would there be in eating and drinking the provided food as long as they remained true to their faith in their hearts? As the young athlete said, “Isn’t that where it matters?” Couldn’t they set aside their convictions since they were captives, just go along with the others who had no such qualms? While they chowed down they could tell God, “This doesn’t change who I am. You know I’m still a Jew at heart.”
Or when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were ordered to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue, what harm would there have been to go along on the outside, as long as they still claimed their Jewish status in their hearts?[1] Maybe Daniel could have outwardly pretended to pray to the King, but kept his heart for God? It sure would have kept him out of the lion’s den.[2]
Jesus gives us the answer: “By their fruit you will recognize them,” (Matthew 7:16). Fruit in Scripture is evidence of what is inside. If a tree has the sap of a peach, it’s not going to produce a pear. Likewise if we are truly Christians in our hearts, we will not exhibit ungodly behavior. That’s not to say that Christians don’t occasionally stumble in their walk. But they feel the sting of conviction and repent in sorrow for their failing. A Christian cannot be comfortable living like the world. I would even go so far as to say, it you can live like the world while claiming to be a Christian, you might want to re-examine your relationship with Christ.
Secret faith – faith that only exists in your heart but not in your words and actions – is a contradiction in terms. Genuine inward faith has an outward expression. It can’t be kept hidden away or tucked up under a shirt sleeve when it’s not convenient or popular to be a Christian. Faith has to be lived out loud. I don’t mean standing on a street corner with a Bible and a sign, but rather standing apart from the culture and the influences of the world. I mean not participating in ungodly behavior. I mean saying “No” when you are enticed to compromise your faith. I mean making choices that may seem odd to others, but that reflect Christ in your heart.
Had Daniel and his friends compromised with the food issue, it would have been easier to give in with the statue or prayer. They would have blended in to the culture and had no influence for the Lord. They certainly would not have encouraged us with their example of uncompromising faith. Likewise, the stand you take today in small things will determine the stand you take tomorrow with larger issues.
In other words, your outward faith matters. It really, really matters.
[1] Daniel 3
[2] Daniel 6
Deeper Roots 