Drawing Near to God: MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY & PERSECUTION

November 14th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (http://www.idop.org/).

Introduction

Today's devotion is a meditation on Daniel chapter 3, which tells the story of the three men and the fiery furnace. Daniel 3:1-6 gives us the back-story: “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So [they] assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, 'This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.'”

ccc Some of the king's men noticed that, when the music was played, “some Jews whom [the king had] set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”—ignored the king's command. When king Nebuchadnezzar found out about their rebellion against him, he summoned them and commanded them to either “fall down and worship the image” or else they would “be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:15). And they replied, “O 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 save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

ccc Nebuchadnezzar was so angry at their response that he “ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace... The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:19-23). But as king Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he saw, not three men tied together, but four men walking freely and unharmed. So he summoned them out of the fiery furnace and “saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, 'Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God'” (Daniel 3:27-28).

American Idol

Sometimes, we think that idolatry is a thing of the past. When we hear the word, we envision golden calves and the like (Exodus 32, Isaiah 44:9-20). But idolatry is not extinct, it has evolved (in many parts of the world, like America) into something much more subtle than bowing down to a statue. You see, apart from God, anything we worship is an idol. An idol is anything in which we trust. For example, we often end up worshiping ourselves by trusting in our own strength and ability rather than God's. Sometimes we end up relying on God's gifts rather than God Himself. It is so subtle that we often fail to recognize it for what it is.

ccc Food, for example, is a gift of God. Do we receive it as a gift, or do we trust in it as an idol? How do we feel, for example, when we are asked to give up food for a time—not just for ourselves, but rather to give ourselves to God in prayer or service? I can tell you some of the feelings that I have experienced during times of fasting. I sometimes feel restless and distracted. In the past, I have given up food—by choice—for an entire day, only to discover that I have spent the whole day contemplating my hunger. I find that, at times, it is hard not to focus on my hunger and my desire for food. If this is all I focus on during fasting, is anything accomplished? But, if I don't recognize my problem (that I am trusting in food), and ask God to help me to switch my focus to Him, then my idol remains intact. The way I can become mentally obsessed with food when I am denying myself is the way it should be with God. Instead, somehow, we are more tolerant when we are starving for lack of God than when we are “starving” for lack of food.

ccc Another issue (or idol) is the issue of choice. It's one thing to decide, “I will fast tomorrow.” It's another thing for us to be caught up in circumstances that force us to deny ourselves food (or anything). Do we recognize God in our circumstances and humbly accept the hand of cards He has dealt us? Or do we get angry and frustrated? The latter response is not only a failure to recognize that God is in control of our circumstances (He is Sovereign), it is also a failure to trust in God! Such circumstances (anything outside of our control) should bring us to our knees in prayer. Instead (I'm sorry to say of my own life), these circumstances often lead to grumbling, complaining, and other such sins. When I find myself in the desert, like the Israelites (e.g., Exodus 16:2-3), I often complain. Such an attitude is not likely to get me out of the desert quickly.

ccc I praise God, however, that He has allowed me to recognize the negative patterns in my life. And recognition is important, because it is the first step in repentance, which results in real change. The next time I find myself in difficult circumstances (whatever they may be), God will remind me of what He has taught me, and then I will be faced with a choice: (a) submit to God (James 4:7) or (b) submit to myself—to my feelings and desires—or to the devil. If I submit to my feelings, then they become an idol. Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to give up their lives in order to avoid idolatry, we too must die to self in order to live for Christ (Matthew 16:24-25). We must die to our feelings, our desires, and sometimes even our “needs.” We must continue to die until everything within us is submitted to God. I have come to understand that a trust in God that falters in difficult circumstances is no trust at all.

ccc Comfort, I think, is also a big idol for Americans (myself included). “In God we trust,” but don't ask me to give up my comfort! (I am speaking of myself!) Anything we will not give up is an idol. And anything we cannot give up is an addiction. Either way, it is bad, because it interferes with our relationship to God. Having “no other gods” (Exodus 20:3) includes this subtle form of idolatry to which we, in the United States (and certain other countries), have grown quite accustomed.

North Korean Idol

In some countries, choosing God over an idol is a life-or-death decision. North Korea is a perfect example. To some extent, it's hard to know exactly what takes place in North Korea, because its citizens have been intentionally isolated from the rest of the world. In this day and age, it's hard to believe that this would be possible, but their TVs and radios only receive North Korean channels and frequencies. Their cell phones do not connect to the same networks available in other countries. While these devices can certainly be purchased across the border in China, it is illegal to use them in any way the government deems to be “subversive” to the state. By law, radios purchased across the border must be “fixed” so that they will not pick up anything except the government-sponsored stations. In addition, a good portion of the government's wealth is spent on propaganda. It is a modern day version of George Orwell's work of fiction entitled, “1984.” In this country, “Big Brother is watching.”

ccc The national religion of North Korea is Juche, a religion centered on the worship of Kim Il Sung as the only god. It is therefore in direct conflict with Christianity. Many Christians are rounded up and placed in concentration camps... or worse. (I do not wish to repeat what I have heard.) They are intentionally starved by their government because of the threat of their beliefs. (Indeed, many North Koreans “live” on boiled grass and tree bark because their government denies them food.) North Korean Christians (and Christians from many other countries) are the modern-day equivalents of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are “willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28).

ccc When I think about such dedication to Christ, I am ashamed that I am so quick to grumble amid not so difficult circumstances. I pray to God that, should I ever find myself in these kinds of circumstances, that I too would rather face torture and death than deny my only God and Savior. Please use this devotion to not only consider your own idols but also, as a motivation to pray for the persecuted church. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are our family. So, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3).

WEBSITES ON NORTH KOREA: