Daniel's Faith and Witness: Lessons for Christian Living Today

What were the most significant ways Daniel showed his faith in God?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones highlights several key ways Daniel demonstrated his faith:

1. Daniel was better at his work than anyone else: "Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes... because an excellent spirit was in him." His colleagues admitted, "we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

2. He refused to compromise his faith: When the decree came forbidding prayer to anyone but the king for 30 days, Daniel wouldn't compromise even temporarily. He continued his practice of prayer exactly as before.

3. He maintained a consistent prayer life: "He kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did before time." Even in crisis, he didn't change his routine.

4. He expressed gratitude in dire circumstances: Even facing the lions' den, Daniel "gave thanks" to God, showing remarkable trust.

5. He showed confident expectation: By opening his windows toward Jerusalem when praying, Daniel demonstrated he expected an answer from God.

How can Christians effectively witness in a secular society according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Lloyd-Jones, effective Christian witness in secular society includes:

1. Excellence in daily work: "The place of all places to witness is at your work, where you spend most of your time." Christians should be "the best, the most reliable, the most conscientious workers."

2. Living distinctively: "The first thing that you and I are called upon to do is to be different, is to be better." This difference should be noticeable in our honesty, reliability, and thoroughness.

3. Being governed by faith: Christianity shouldn't be compartmentalized—"A Christian is a man who is governed and controlled by his faith... It's the center of the whole of their being."

4. Having certainty about beliefs: "Daniel knew what he believed... If you and I don't know what we believe, we're not going to influence anybody." Lloyd-Jones stresses Christianity is "a body of belief, of doctrine."

5. Refusing compromise: Christians should not compromise their faith principles for expediency or personal advantage.

6. Demonstrating peace in crisis: How Christians handle adversity is their greatest witness—"This is the test of our faith. And this is what the world is watching."

What examples does Lloyd-Jones share about how Christians influenced others through their work?

Lloyd-Jones shares three powerful stories about Christians influencing others through their work:

1. The nurse story: A hospital patient noticed one nurse was different from all others—she was more attentive, conscientious, and didn't watch the clock. When the patient asked why she was different, the nurse simply said she was a Christian. This led to conversations that eventually resulted in the patient's conversion.

2. The Cambridge student story: A brilliant communist student at Cambridge University noticed a Christian student who, during water rationing, wasn't aggressive about getting her bath like everyone else. The communist was impressed that the Christian was actually living out the selfless principles the communist only talked about. Their friendship led to the communist's conversion.

3. The Stalin story: During WWII, Stalin unexpectedly relaxed restrictions against Christians. The explanation came later—reports from factory spies consistently showed that Christians were "the best, the most reliable, the most conscientious workers." This impressed Stalin so much that he gave them more freedom to worship.

Lloyd-Jones uses these examples to show that the most effective Christian witness often begins not with words but with distinctive, excellent work that prompts others to ask questions.

How does Lloyd-Jones explain the importance of maintaining a steadfast faith during trials?

Lloyd-Jones explains that maintaining steadfast faith during trials is crucial because:

1. It demonstrates the reality of our faith: "This is the test of our faith... when things go wrong." True faith isn't frantic or desperate in crisis.

2. It provides our greatest witness: "This is what the world is watching when things go wrong." How Christians respond to illness, unemployment, or terrible conditions reveals "the value, the depth, the character of our faith."

3. It shows we truly know God: Daniel's response to crisis showed "This man knows his God. And whatever may be happening round and about him he goes on exactly as before."

4. It reveals the Christian's unique resource: "When all things seem against me, to drive me to despair, I know one gate is open, one ear will hear my prayer." Unlike the "poor man of the world" who has "nobody to turn to" in crisis, Christians have an unchangeable God.

5. It allows us to maintain gratitude even in difficulty: Lloyd-Jones marvels at how Daniel "gave thanks" even facing death, explaining Christians can thank God for His unchanging character, His availability in crisis, past blessings, and the eternal hope beyond death.

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this steadfast, thankful faith is what ultimately impressed King Darius so much that he commanded everyone to worship "the God of Daniel."

What is Lloyd-Jones' main concern about contemporary Christian witness?

Lloyd-Jones expresses several concerns about contemporary Christian witness:

1. Overemphasis on organization: "We somehow have got the idea that everything's got to be organized. How foolish we are. Why don't we come back to the biblical principles?"

2. Compartmentalization of faith: Many Christians divide their lives—"we give the impression that religion is a sort of side... something that we take up in a bag when we finished work or on Sunday, and then we put the bag down again."

3. Lack of doctrinal clarity: "They don't know what Christianity is" because many church leaders don't believe essential doctrines yet call themselves Christians. "Christianity is a body of belief, of doctrine."

4. Misplaced priorities: He criticizes Christians who neglect their primary responsibilities (like students neglecting studies) to do "evangelistic work," calling it "dishonest" and "a bad witness."

5. Inconsistent living: "The trouble with the poor man of the world... These poor people who live... they've never known happiness... They can't rely upon anybody else, nor upon themselves."

His main concern is that Christians have forgotten the biblical method of witness—being different through excellent work and consistent living that causes others to ask questions, rather than organized evangelistic programs where Christians initiate conversations about faith.