Something Worth Dying For By Marsha West

It is painfully clear that a large number of professed Christians are seriously lacking on what constitutes authentic Christianity.  They've slipped their moorings and are adrift without a rudder.  You know things are bad when a Christian is unable to explain why he or she believes in Jesus Christ. They simply cannot move beyond, "Jesus died for my sins" in a discussion.  Some people even try the excuse, "My religious beliefs are personal."  They're hoping that if they toss out the "personal" defense, it will get them off the hook, as most people won't pry into private matters. Inside they're quaking like a bowl of Jell-o, praying that their questioner won't press them to give a rational reason for believing that Jesus is the Son of God. 

I have actually heard professed Christians say, "I was raised Baptist (or Methodist or Catholic…) and went to church every Sunday when I was a kid" as if that qualifies them as a Christian.  Going to church on Sunday doesn't cut it, folks.  The Bible says, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

Christians are put on this earth to share their faith with unbelievers.  Dodging questions regarding your faith does not get you high marks with God.  On the contrary, Jesus said, " Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8,9).  Harsh words.  Scary thought. 

Which brings to mind an Old Testament story.  Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were around sixteen years old when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and carried the Jews into captivity. Forthwith their names were changed to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, respectively.  (Veggie Tales calls them Rack, Shack and Benny.)  These young men were "good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans" (Daniel 1:4). They were also religious.  What mattered to them above all else is what the Bible said. It was the ultimate authority in their lives. Because they had God's word in their hearts, they were faithful to Him. One day the king decided to have an image of gold made and summoned the governors from the surrounding area to come to the dedication of the image.  The king commanded that all of his subjects fall down and worship the gold statue.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were pressured to worship the image but they refused.  They chose to remain faithful to God regardless of what the consequences might be.  The king threatened to have them thrown into a blazing furnace.  Still, they would not relent.  It took chutzpah to defy a king.  But that's what they did.  True to his word, the king had the three of them thrown into the blazing furnace.  God to the rescue!  He sent a heavenly visitor into the furnace with them.  Not a hair on their heads was singed.  (Those boys had fire insurance!)  The king became an instant convert.  He said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!" (Daniel 3:28).
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