"As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams" Daniel 1:17.
During one of the darkest times in their country's history, the impeccable character of four young men shone brightly. Following the siege of Jerusalem, they were deported to a life of exile in Babylon. Selected from the most intelligent, best-looking youth, the plan was to subject them to a cultural immersion program that would rid them of their Hebrew heritage. The plan was the Hitler youth movement of the day. But, the plan was anything but effective. The king took these young men out of their country, but he couldn't get their country out of them.
Daniel and his friends defiantly resisted the allure of the king's exquisite food and wine (Daniel 1:8-16), choosing instead a simple vegetarian diet. Their God-given mastery of Babylonian literature and culture served, not to make them Babylonians, but ultimately to influence and even undermine their land of exile.
The example of these outstanding young men brings into focus the issue of influence. Are we influencing our culture, or is it influencing us? It is a question not so easily answered.
As those called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), our role is to influence and impact. We are to be students of our culture, not that we be indoctrinated by it, but that we intelligently interact and influence.
It is an epic struggle to be in the world but not of it (John 17:15-16). An important key is to be both students of our culture as well as students of God's word. It is from a position of strength in biblical truth and a vital personal relationship with our Lord Jesus that we are able to resist cultural influence and instead influence culture.
©Steve Taylor, 2023 --Used by permission
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