Daniel 3 focuses on Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The test is still a good example for us in our days of “living in Babylon.” It is the allegiance test.

We know the Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but I am working to keep focused on their given Hebrew names. We are also pretty familiar with the story of the statue and how they wouldn’t bow and they were saved in the fiery furnace.

Their example needs to be set in front of us today because living in our Babylon we have our allegiances tested all the time. Many years ago I would pose the question to my congregation from time to time: “Are you a Christian who happens to be American? Or, an American who happens to be Christian?” The emphasis matters.

What has come to be revealed is that too often we now gladly answer that question with, “AMERICA FIRST, BABY!”

We have allowed our enculturated Christianity dictate our religious practice. It is becoming more important for us in the U.S. to be in church with people more politically aligned with us. Whether to the political left or right, we like worshiping with like-minded political people.

This is an allegiance test we shouldn’t fail, but too often find ourselves in just that spot. Our deepest allegiance is no longer Christ, but our need to have people around us who think just like us and hold the same political views as we do.

We face these tests of allegiance in our day. They just don’t come with 90 feet tall idols.

To have our loyalty in Christ is to offend some political power, no matter which direction that political power comes from.

To say I am “pro life” is the easiest low hanging fruit on the tree. Just the phrase is loaded culturally, so to begin with that phrase is to bring reactions from the extremes. It may be instant rejection from “the left” because it is perceived I am not enough for “abortion.” The assumption may then follow that I’m probably FOR capital punishment.

Then, of course, I mention I am against capital punishment and those who just loved me for being “pro life” call me a hypocrite. I must be “pro crime!”

And we’re off to the races.

And that’s just one issue.

The call to LIVE IN BABYLON is a call of deep allegiance to Christ in a way that sets the heart free.

Daniel 3 is the example of the heart set free to worship. Daniel 4 is the heart set free to love people, including our enemies. (More on that in another post.)

The heart set free by Christ is not manipulated in worship. Nor does that heart manipulate God in worship.

I cannot be dissuaded in my love for Christ by not lining up exactly with any particular political agenda. My allegiance to Christ is far beyond what America means to me. There is simply no kingdom or entity or system on this physical earth that can command my allegiance like Christ.

This is the heart set free. This is the challenge of living in Babylon.

Our allegiances are severely tested in these times. Many are found to be failing. I just don’t want to be one of them.