Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Faithfulness without Guarantees

I have been thinking lately about what role our congregation can play in the work of peace and justice in our time and place. We face a variety of issues, some of which are controversial, in our society and locality. We have to confront, among other things, climate change, racism, poverty and hunger, violence in our streets, drug abuse, domestic violence, the lack of affordable housing, homophobia, sexism, the plight of migrants, and more. These issues present themselves to us as individuals and as the body politic, but for now I want to talk about how we are to respond in our life together as a congregation.

How can we speak with one voice as a church when individual members hold such a wide variety of opinions? How do we decide the proper position to take as a congregation? And who decides? It would be easier to skirt around these difficult topics and focus on things that are relatively non-controversial, but how would that match up with our claim to be disciples of Jesus, who did not hesitate to take contentious stands? I for one believe we should seek to implement God’s call in ways that lead to liberation and flourishing for as many of God’s children (and non-human creatures) as possible. I believe we must root out our own prejudices and selfish tendencies and then take the stands that Isaiah, Amos, Micah, John the Baptist, and Jesus would have taken in our place. Even when those stands may get us in trouble. As John Lewis would be quick to point out, there is such a thing as good trouble.

I believe strongly that the task of our church (just as for every individual disciple of Jesus) is faithfulness without guarantees. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego exemplify this kind of faithfulness as well as anyone else in the Bible. You probably remember the story of the three Hebrews serving in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar who get thrown into the fiery furnace because they insist on remaining faithful to God despite the royal command to worship a golden statue the king has set up. When Nebuchadnezzar calls them in to answer for their treasonous refusal to bow down to his statue, they say, “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 [God] will rescue us from your hand, O king. But if even if [God] 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” (Dan 3:16–18, NIV, emphasis added).

We know, of course, that they survive—God does indeed deliver them. But before the fact, they have no reasonable expectation of coming out alive. They are willing to go to their deaths because of their commitment to God. They choose to remain faithful without guarantees. As Mother Teresa once said, “God has not called me to be successful. [God] called me to be faithful.”

I personally believe that when we put ourselves on the line for causes of peace and justice, people will see that public witness and want to be a part of our fellowship. But that may not happen. God is calling us to be faithful without guarantees—of success, of acclaim, or even of survival. It’s a hard call to accept, and we can choose to let the call go to voicemail and never respond. Or we can answer, perhaps with fear and trembling, and say, “Here we are, Lord, send us.”

Grace and peace,
bob