holding our tongues

One of the things I often try to do in this blog each week is put forth something I wish I had said, but didn't have the time, or forgot to say.  That is the case this week.

On Sunday, for all who were there (for those who weren't you can listen here), we looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3.  What a great story of faith and unbending trust in "the God of gods and the Lord of kings!"  I love how our three heroes simply refuse to bow.  I said on Sunday that we ought to learn something from the purity and strength of faith exhibited by  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (I have thus far resisted the temptation to refer to them as "Rack, Shack and Benny" and will continue to do so, even though it's a mouthful).  When brought before King Nechadnezzar and challenged to bow down to the statue or be burned alive, they simply stated their case and faced the consequences.  The same could be said of Christ.

As I've continued to think about their situation, however, I'm struck by what they didn't say.  I mean, they're done for, right?  The king is already ticked enough to throw them into the furnace.  What have they got to lose?  This would be a perfect time to call Nebuchadnezzar names or belittle his authority.  After all, the king can't do any more to them than he is already planning to do.  Go ahead, we might say to them.  Say what you want to say.  Call him names, cast dispersions on his character, throw a good zinger his way!  It won't make any difference now.  After all, he's the bad guy, right?  He's opposing God and demanding everyone to take part in idolatrous practices, for crying out loud!  Let him have it!

But they don't.

Look again at their powerful words to the king: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3.16-18, NIV)

So simple, so powerful, so honorable.  They told the truth, but they did not "embellish" it with slander or unkind talk toward the king.  We would do well to learn from them today, I think.  So much of the "Christian" rhetoric I hear, see in print and on bumper stickers is slanderous and unkind.  Such talk - whether aimed at ordinary people with whom we live and move and have our being or those who hold (or seek to hold) public office - is inappropriate for those who claim to know God, follow Jesus and pursue God's purposes in the world.  We do not have to be unkind, even as we seek to be unbending in our allegiance to God. We do not have to withhold grace, even if we have strong opinions about policy.  

The book of James warns us, The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.... With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3.6-12)

The call of James, Christ, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego remind me of a statement made by John Ortberg at last week's Global Leadership Summit.  When referencing the election year and the way in which so many of us sometimes conduct ourselves, John stated, "What if, this election year, people associated Christians with humility and civility" instead?  May it be so, Lord Jesus, in me and in us, today and always.  Amen.