Gods People Civil Disobedience Daniel 3 Civil Disobedience

God’s People & Civil Disobedience

Daniel 3

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 ¨ Is it ever right for a Christian to disobey civil law? – – Romans 13? Some disturbing trends in America: • • Abortion – the increasing devaluation of human life. A rising tide of multicultural political correctness, fueled by postmodernism. Truth has become intensely personal – nothing is ultimately “right” because nothing is ultimately “wrong. ” An obvious growing hostility to religion, especially religion that falls under the heading of “Christianity. ”

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 ¨ Two Important Observations: 1. Refusing to bow down was a clear violation of the king’s command – it was deliberate and premeditated disobedience. 2. The basic issue involved was worship.

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 ¨ Three Hebrew young men engage in civil disobedience! 1. They would not BOW! 2. They would not BEND! 3. They would not BURN!

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 1. They would not BOW! – They were accused of three crimes: • Having no respect for the king (not true); • Refusal to serve the gods of (true); • Refusal to worship the golden image (true!). Babylon

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 1. They would not BOW! – They knew the 10 commandments: • The 1 st – there can be “no other gods” before the God of Israel. (Exodus 20: 3) • The 2 nd – prohibits all forms of image-worship. (Exodus 20: 4 -6)

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 2. They would not BEND! – Speaking with one voice, they make a remarkable declaration of faith: • They admitted their guilt. (3: 16) • They affirmed their faith in God. (3: 17) • They accepted God’s will in advance. (3: 18)

Civil Disobedience – A Case Study Daniel 3 3. They would not BURN! – Because of their faith and courage: § They were PUNISHED. (3: 19 -23) § They were PRESERVED by God. (3: 24 -27) § They were PROMOTED. (3: 28 -30)

The early church didn’t say, “Look what the world is coming to!” They said, “Look what has come into the world!” — Carl Henry

41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5: 41 -42 “We must obey God rather than men!” Acts 5: 29