We begin a new series this morning that wrestles with a truth most of us have trouble accepting. It's a truth that breaks my heart because it has such profound ramifications for our daily lives here in America. What exactly is this truth? It's this: We no longer live in a nation that sees Christianity as a good or positive thing. It’s no longer viewed by many as the foundation of moral good for our society.

Now, whether or not you accept the idea that the United States was originally a Christian nation, I don’t think anyone can honestly argue that Christianity didn’t play a major role in shaping this country. Especially when it comes to morality and the ideas that led to human rights. From the early pilgrims to the founding fathers, the men and women who helped shape this country’s values and cultural structures were steeped in a Christian worldview. As a result, those who considered themselves to be Christains felt pretty much at home living in this nation. But over the last 50 to 60 years, things have changed drastically. The United States is no longer a nation rooted in Biblical values. Instead, it has become a form of what the Bible describes as Babylon: A metaphor used to describe a nation whose primary worldview stands opposed to God and His plan of redemption for all mankind.

Just like Daniel and his three friends who were taken from their homes and exiled to Babylon in the Old Testament, we have to learn how to serve God in a culture that stands directly opposed to His Word. Through today’s study in Daniel 1, we’ll discover a powerful truth: Even in Babylon, God is able to do amazing things when His people, who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, walk in obedience to His Word!

In His Service,

Pastor Steve