Living in an alien culture by Stephen Coffin ''Daniel 1v1-21; Matthew 24v3-14

Daniel & his friends are taken into exile

• Food there is offered to idols before being eaten
• Food there is not prepared according to Jewish rules

This is the first test as to how far they will compromise with Babylonian culture

• Later the 3 refuse to bow to an idol
• Later Daniel refuses to stop praying to God

There are people in our society who are seeking different values to those which seem to prevail, people interested in, for example

• Ecology
• Solidarity
• Personal growth
• A less competitive education for their children

We can learn from them and help them to go deeper in their search, for often they are not opposed to God or to faith

What false demands does our culture make on us ?

• Christians are called to be counter-cultural

Materialism rules !

• People matter more than things

Judge people by financial success

• Love is our chief value

Glorify physical beauty & sex

• Beauty is in character

Cult of celebrity

• Jesus was humble

Look after yourself above all

• Give your life away

If you are not happy with your spouse leave them
Don’t stay together for the sake of the children

• Commit to your spouse & children

Do not talk about God

• God is the most important matter in life

We are bound to be in conflict with society when its values are wrong: Jesus warns -

• you will be hated by all nations because of me.
• many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other
• many false prophets will appear and deceive many people
• because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold

Here's how Paul expresses the challenge to us

• “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12v2)

We must support each other, like Daniel & friends

• “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6v2)
• “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5v16)

Some French ways of doing things are alien too – we should help each other to cope!