Hope that motivates faithfulness

It would be easy to read this story as a promise that we will never get hurt, no matter what the world throws at us. But we know that isn’t true.

This story tells of three young men, taken from their homeland, renamed, and chosen to be court officials. Yet these young men have not ‘integrated’ into the society, they hold fast to their beliefs. They will not worship an idol.

These three men decide “They will remain faithful to God, no matter the cost. When they say that God might not save them, they are not saying that they doubt God. They believe in God no matter what is the outcome.”[i]

They know the potential consequences of their actions, they realise it may cost them their life, but they refuse to bow down to the idol when ordered by the King.

“Martin Luther King says this story is about civil disobedience, not bowing to what is arrogant, oppressive, shallow, or populist. It is not about standing up for God per se, but about defying that which is corrupt. It is a story where the characters can be measured against the earthly gods of trade and economy and populism, or the higher morals of love, compassion and grace.” [ii]

Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws of the state, and/or demands, orders, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power.[iii]

Examples of Civil Disobedience are:

·         The Freedom Ride through NSW in February 1965, where a group of students from the University of Sydney drew national and international attention to the poor living conditions of Aboriginal people and the racism that was rife in New South Wales country towns.[iv]

·         Anti-war demonstrations, against our involvement in wars such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan; and especially against conscription in the Vietnam War.

·         You may have seen groups of Christians praying in Government offices, part of an organisation called, Love Makes a way: Christians seeking compassion for people seeking asylum.[v]

These are all examples of civil disobedience from Australia,

·         people willing to say that aboriginal people are human and there is no place for racism in Australia

·         people willing to say that war and violence is not the solution

·         people willing to say that refugees are people and deserve to be treated with dignity

what motivates people to be involved in civil disobedience?

That varies.

From the Loves makes a way website: “Jesus is the centre of our faith, life and activism. Love Makes a Way makes little sense without the example of the enemy-loving Christ who was willing to suffer for the sake of others.”[vi]

There is a saying that goes "Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not.”

If we say God is Lord, how far are we willing to obey? Who or what rules in our lives? [vii]

As we move through Advent, we look to the coming of Jesus.
The Jesus who challenges and confronts our living.
The Jesus who challenges the notion of true worship
the Jesus who confronts our ideas on sin.
The Jesus who offers life to all.

This first week of Advent is traditionally about hope.

I wonder where you see hope in this story?

Dale Matherly: “Hope doesn’t mean everything will turn out ok…., hope is about imagining tomorrow differently, …, and as we imagine that tomorrow differently we begin walking towards it, holding onto hope is about that walking”[viii]

Where is your hope being lived out this Advent?

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[i] The Story of God Narrative Bible Study December 3, 2017

[ii] Roddy Hamilton, Facebook Narrative Lectionary Group in reply to a post by Tonya Eza 29 November 2017

[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience

[iv] https://aiatsis.gov.au/exhibitions/1965-freedom-ride

[v] http://lovemakesaway.org.au/who-we-are/

[vi] http://lovemakesaway.org.au/who-we-are/

[vii] The Story of God Narrative Bible Study December 3, 2017

[viii] Dale Matherly, Facebook Narrative Lectionary Group in reply to a post by Johanna Rehbaum 1 December 2017