|
 When
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were called before the king and
faced charges of refusing to worship the golden image he had
erected, Nebuchadnezzar asked, "Who is that god that shall
deliver you out of my hands?" Things looked pretty dark.
But
they replied, "We have no need to answer thee in this
matter" (AS). The King James version reads, "We are
not careful to answer thee in this matter" (Dan. 3:15-16).
The thought seems to be, we will not choose our words carefully
— concerned lest we offend; we will not try to "talk our
way out of" this situation. And they added, "Our God
is able to deliver us" (if it suits His purposes to do so)
"but if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will
not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast
set up."
Several
years back a preacher said John (the Immerser) "lost his
head" because he "lost his head" — he was not
tactful in his criticism of Herod. John had said, of Herod's
marriage to his brother Philip's wife, "It is not lawful
for thee to have her" (Matt. 14).
| |
John
was not "careful to answer," someone might say. Well,
he certainly was not trying to "butter up" the king.
On the other hand, John and the captive Jews of Daniel 3, were
very careful to maintain their faith in God and to court His
approval. John lost his head, and the three Hebrews were thrown
into the fiery furnace, but each gained more than he lost. We
"have no need" for any man's approval as we
have need for God's approval.
Jesus
said, "Fear 'not those who kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul. but rather fear him who is able to destroy
both soul and body in Hell" (Matt. 10:28).
We
are not advocating crudeness! Daniel's brethren were respectful
to the king; and love for souls will forbid our becoming a bully
with the truth. Shouting, stomping pronouncements of Damnation
are often signs of weakness, while genuine strength is
accompanied by humility. But genuine strength speaks truthfully,
directly and clearly, regardless of temporal consequences
— and because of inevitable eternal consequences.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
