Biblical Lessons for Academics from Daniel
I believe firmly that we need more conservative evangelicals and charismatics in all walks of life, including academia. However, I don’t often speak of it.
First, I gave up on academia and chose a “real world” job long ago. Second, there are Christians who can’t think or tolerate the idea of the importance of academics. In some places, I’ve struggled with admitting that I have an education and an intellect. Third, some in all “real world” walks of life think Christians are phony hypocrites, God’s dead, and morality has no relevance to modern life; there, I struggle with admitting I have faith.
Is there any biblical precedent for Christians being fully engaged in academia? Or are we deluded into thinking we can be?
Some would argue not. They would cite passages like 1 Corinthians 3:18–21:
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Others could argue that it is acceptable. They could use the actions of the Jews at Berea, examining a new message and holding it up to Scripture, as in Acts 17:10–12:
As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
I believe that it is possible to both serve God and the academic community in more fields than theology, religion, or comparative religious studies. As proof, I submit the book of Daniel. I believe the following lessons are available to academicians from this book.
You have to understand the culture (yours and theirs) before you can influence others (Daniel 1:3–5, 1:8–14, 1:17–20)
Daniel knew Israelite culture well. He was more than likely either from the royal family or a noble family and would have been trained in all points of what it meant to be Jew, down to dietary instructions. He would have been selected for Babylonian service based on an ability to learn quickly, stay informed, and understand well.
He accepted instruction on Babylonian culture, literature, and language. He observed how the Babylonian religion worked (or didn’t based on Daniel’s frame of reference).
As a result of faithfulness and diligence, God gave him additional knowledge and understanding of academic matters as well as the spiritual ability to interpret dreams and visions.
When tested by the king, Daniel and three of his friends were found to be far superior even to the native Babylonian magicians, enchanters, and other wise and learned men.
The only reason they could impress the king was that they understood their own culture well enough to live it and maintain their health, grace, and favor. Then they kept in the kind of intellectual shape that allowed them to learn quickly. And God brought to mind all the things He knew they’d need to know.
Some problems are so complex only God can reveal the answers (Daniel 2)
Nebuchadnezzar had a very disturbing dream. All the educated homeboys of Babylon couldn’t understand or interpret it. Testy from a lack of rest, Nebuchadnezzar was putting to death all the academicians, including the Israelite transplants.
Daniel asked the king to give him time. He and his friends asked God to show them the meaning of the dream. God revealed it to Daniel (succession of leadership and rise and fall of kingdoms in the geography of Babylon), who explained it to Nebuchadnezzar who spared everyone.
No matter how smart you are, at some point you will face a problem you can’t solve within the confines of your own wisdom and intellect.
Doing the job well with integrity results in jealous colleagues (Daniel 3, Daniel 6)
Kings have power trips that open the door for jealousy .
Nebuchadnezzar was no exception. He built an idol and commanded the idol to be worshipped whenever the music played. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not follow his rules. And they’d done the job he’d asked of them well. So when they refused, the enemies were quick to identify them. They underwent quite a fiery trial.
Darius too had a power trip. He trusted all his underlings. They tricked him into making a rule about prayer that turned into idolatry. Daniel chose to follow Israeli rules. Again, the enemies quickly identified him. He ended up in sleepover with lions.
Be true to yourself (Daniel 3, Daniel 6)
Every time the Israelites had a choice between Babylonian ways and Israelite ways and it was a moral choice, they chose the Israelite ways. God blessed them with the strength to stand with righteousness and integrity, and He got them out of the most difficult binds. The way that they handled those situations so influenced the leaders who created the scenarios that God got the glory and they had increased credibility.
Pride yields craziness… and sometimes complete destruction (Daniel 4, 5)
Nebuchadnezzar forgot that God was in charge. This is easy to do when you’re not used to the concept of one true God. He was warned in a dream to be careful about the credit he took through the efforts of Daniel’s dream interpretation. A year later, he forgot the warning and pridefully claimed everything God had given him. Immediately, he became insane, acted like an animal, and avoided people (Note: I do not accept mental illness as spiritual punishment as some do when they cite this verse.) His sanity was restored only when his pride was demolished.
Yet another king in the book of Daniel had a pride problem. Belshazzar forgot the lessons of his father Nebuchadnezzar. In the midst of a great party, he chose to bring in the sacred vessels of the Israelites looted from their temple and use them in debaucherous worship of idols and false gods. The true God made a hand appear and write on the wall; no one could read the writing. Scholars don’t know if the writing was Hebrew or some special runic markings that known to God alone. They sent for Daniel who interpreted the writing as a warning that Belshazzar would lose his life and his kingdom. And it happened that night.
Improper pride can make anyone a target for elimination. Improper pride can result in gross errors in judgment in professional and personal choices. Improper pride results in lost careers.
