Models of Faith in Hostile Societies
There is no single correct way for how God’s people should respond to a culture hostile to faith. In the Old Testament, God called the Israelites to develop their own society. He designed laws to keep out pagan influences. But He sent New Testament followers into the world to impact unbelieving cultures.
As we reflect on our relationship to societies that are hostile to Christian faith, it helps to consider Old Testament figures who found ways to honor God even after they were plucked from safety and placed in unfriendly circumstances.
Example 1: Joseph
His story is found in Genesis 37-47
- Sold as a slave and taken to Egypt but maintained his godly character despite recurring setbacks.
- A model of integrity both in adversity and prosperity
Example 2: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
Their story is found in Daniel 1-6
- Taken to Babylon as prisoners of war and trained for service in a pagan government.
- Models of integrity and commitment to the Lord while serving unbelievers.
Example 3: Nehemiah
His story is found in Nehemiah 1-6
- A strategically placed official in the Persian court who was allowed to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.
A model of leveraging position to accomplish God’s purposes while overcoming opposition.
Example 4: Esther and Mordecai
This story is called the book of Esther
-Members of an ethnic minority who found themselves in a position to influence a godless king.
- Models of acting courageously and wisely in order to withstand evil.
* * *
The people in these examples had several things in common:
They were all laypeople. They were not among the priests or Levites, so they had no vocational reasons for exercising faith in their day-to-day work. Yet they carried out God’s purposes faithfully.
They were all believers living in foreign lands. These followers of God did a better job of obeying the Lord in antagonistic societies than their contemporaries did back in a Judean society that had been formed around a covenant with God.
They all remained committed to God. The pressures of their surrounding cultures deepened their spiritual commitments. They were aware of a larger purpose beyond their immediate circumstances, which enabled them to act wisely. While others surrendered to their culture, these followers of God held on to their fundamental convictions.
As we reflect on our relationship to societies that are hostile to Christian faith, it helps to consider Old Testament figures who found ways to honor God even after they were plucked from safety and placed in unfriendly circumstances.
Example 1: Joseph
His story is found in Genesis 37-47
- Sold as a slave and taken to Egypt but maintained his godly character despite recurring setbacks.
- A model of integrity both in adversity and prosperity
Example 2: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
Their story is found in Daniel 1-6
- Taken to Babylon as prisoners of war and trained for service in a pagan government.
- Models of integrity and commitment to the Lord while serving unbelievers.
Example 3: Nehemiah
His story is found in Nehemiah 1-6
- A strategically placed official in the Persian court who was allowed to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.
A model of leveraging position to accomplish God’s purposes while overcoming opposition.
Example 4: Esther and Mordecai
This story is called the book of Esther
-Members of an ethnic minority who found themselves in a position to influence a godless king.
- Models of acting courageously and wisely in order to withstand evil.
* * *
The people in these examples had several things in common:
They were all laypeople. They were not among the priests or Levites, so they had no vocational reasons for exercising faith in their day-to-day work. Yet they carried out God’s purposes faithfully.
They were all believers living in foreign lands. These followers of God did a better job of obeying the Lord in antagonistic societies than their contemporaries did back in a Judean society that had been formed around a covenant with God.
They all remained committed to God. The pressures of their surrounding cultures deepened their spiritual commitments. They were aware of a larger purpose beyond their immediate circumstances, which enabled them to act wisely. While others surrendered to their culture, these followers of God held on to their fundamental convictions.
