Eyiekhrote Vero
Pfutsero
It is inevitable that the world is moving towards an inclusive community where each individual is valued and regarded regardless of their differences and challenges. A common definition of an inclusive society read as “a society that values and accepts the diversity of its members, promotes equal opportunities and rights, and fosters a sense of belonging among all individuals, regardless of their background, identity, or ability.”
While inclusivity has its positive impacts and benefits in maintaining social harmony and community living, it is important for Christians to establish boundaries within any given society. Although God's love for humanity is inclusive, and there is inclusivity within the community of believers, the Scriptures draw a line for what constitutes an inclusive community.
We live in a world where all sorts of life, characters, and people - both good and evil - coexist. The Scriptures often call believers to live an exclusive life in matters of conduct and character while living alongside others. It is impossible to completely separate oneself from the rest of the world, as long as we reside in this mixed and inseparable reality. The question then arises: where do we draw the line? Doesn't God desire for us to live in harmony with one another?
When Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken captive to Babylon, they found themselves in an inclusive community. The Babylonian king had chosen the most physically fit and intelligent people from his kingdom to be trained in Babylonian literature and language for three years. They were also expected to eat the king's food and wine, the finest fare on the king's table. The king sought to create an inclusive community, even including the captives within his empire.
What an incredible privilege for Daniel and his friends to be welcomed into this inclusive community! Now, they had the opportunity to indulge in the kingly pleasures that they had never experienced before. They could freely partake in the luxuries, and no one would question them - after all, everyone else was doing the same. This was an inclusive community, where differences were embraced. Moreover, they were in a foreign land, which allowed them to immerse themselves in the unfamiliar food and culture. Even their names were changed to align with the Babylonian religion and customs, a clear effort to foster a sense of belonging and acceptance, ensuring that no one felt excluded or out of place in this foreign land.
We live in a world today where people with the best physiques, wealth, and influence are given the highest place in society to effect change. By doing so, their characters, cultures, and lifestyles are altered to fit into a more inclusive community—one where no one is different from another. We strive to create a progressive world that includes all cultures, religions, and societies as one community. However, in doing so, our lifestyles, character, and faith are put into a compromising state.
Daniel knew what was happening to him. He did not refuse to change his name because he knew who he was. He did not refuse to learn a foreign language and culture because he knew what he believed. But he drew the line when it came to food and lifestyle, which affected his faith and character. He refused to eat the food from the king's table because:
1. Some of the king's food may have been forbidden by the law of Moses, violating Jewish food taboos.
2. The food may have been sacrificed to the gods of Babylon, implying worship of other gods.
3. Accepting or sharing food signifies committing to a friendship (Exodus 24:11), and accepting the king's food would mean accepting the king's friendship and dependency, affecting his faith in God. (1)
In short, Daniel drew the line of resistance when it came to his faith in God. He wanted to ensure that even if others changed, his faith in God remained unchanged. He didn't mind being in an inclusive community, but he ensured that inclusivity didn't affect his relationship with God.
Another incident occurred when Joseph was a servant in Potiphar's home. He did not mind being a servant or doing anything that required his service, but he drew the line when it came to his righteousness before God—he said 'NO' to Potiphar's wife. Although Joseph depended on his master for his needs, he put God above them.
The entire Scripture teaches us that we should draw the line of resistance that affects our faith. As believers, we are to engage with and include others in our approach and response to the world, yet we should not cross the line that impacts our faith and relationship with God. Paul wrote to Timothy to be a faithful servant, a trustworthy worker, and to do everything that makes him good, yet he warned him to flee from temptation because sin takes away the intimate relationship with God (2 Timothy 2:22).
Jesus teaches us that we need to be strict with ourselves when dealing with sin (Matthew 5:29). Peter's epistle tells us to abstain from the passions of the flesh that affect our soul (1 Peter 2:11). As believers, we are in the world but not of the world; therefore, we must abstain from worldly things.
In our daily lives, various social, economic, and political events impact us. Many Christians have crossed the line and engaged in evil practices, failing to uphold the boundaries of their faith for the sake of inclusivity. Today, numerous wrong beliefs have infiltrated the Christian community, leading to the acceptance of sinful lifestyles in churches as part of an inclusive approach. This inclusive mind-set often goes too far, incorporating sin into our Christian faith. For the sake of love and tolerance, we permit all sorts of behaviours in our faith community, frequently blurring the boundaries.
Daniel did not stop there in drawing the line of resistance. He knew something else was needed—he drew the line of dependence. Daniel and his friends knew they needed God to be different from others. They asked the king for 10 days to prove their difference by not eating the king's food. God gave them learning and skills in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in dreams and visions (Daniel 1:17). Depending on God was essential for them to gain wisdom and fit into the Babylonian kingdom; the king found them better than anyone else. For them, the source of wisdom and learning was not the food they ate or the teachings they received; it was God.
When Paul advised Timothy to flee from evil desires, he emphasized that this alone was not enough; he urged him to “pursue righteousness.” Simply avoiding evil is insufficient; drawing a line of resistance falls short. It is crucial to actively seek God’s righteousness. Consider Joseph's response to Potiphar's wife: “How could I do such a thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Joseph exemplified the pursuit of God's righteousness. Similarly, after addressing sins in Matthew 5 and 6, Jesus instructed his followers to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness so that all their needs would be met. It is important to understand that we do not need to commit sins or incorporate sin into our lives for our needs to be fulfilled.
In the community of inclusivity, let all believers be reminded to stand firm in our faith, resisting evil and seeking God's righteousness in all matters of faith and conduct. Remember, we need not sin to have our needs met, for there is no place in our lives for anything that would affect our relationship with God. Let sin be recognized as sin, and wrong be acknowledged as wrong. In pursuing an inclusive community, let us not sin against God and His righteousness. Be strengthened in faith, as Joshua was told: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).
