So promising is Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar himself
He applies his mental skills so he can live biblically. This
appoints him to a three-year course in Babylonian culture
too had come from somewhere. Most likely someone
and language. At the end of this time, Daniel will serve the
had modeled for Daniel how to think about life from the
king in his court.
perspective of Scripture and what it means to live for God.
Daniel, however, proves to be much more than a really
Influence and Christian Education
smart guy. He’s a young man with iron in his bones. When he
Since this is the kind of young person I want to come from
discovers that his education will require him to eat food that
my home, this is the kind of influence I want to have on
Scripture has forbidden, he takes a stand: “Daniel resolved
my children. I want them to have a broad knowledge about
that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with
the world: its history, its literature, its wisdom, its learning.
the wine that he drank” (v. 8).
But I don’t want them just to memorize facts about these
But how he takes his stand ends up being just as instruc-
things. I want them to be able to think with them: to analyze
tive as the stand itself. He doesn’t make demands of the
that history, evaluate the literature, and to create new things
Babylonians. He asks that the chief of the eunuchs give him
based on that wisdom and that learn-
a special diet. When the man objects
ing. And more than anything, I want
that such an action could endanger
Children aren’t born
them to think about these things
his position before the king, Daniel
“skillful in all wisdom,
biblically so they can live biblically. I
proposes a test. He asks to be given
endowed
with
knowledge,
want them to see all of life not from a
a special diet for ten days. At the
understanding
learning.
”
worldly perspective but rather from
end of the ten days, the chief of the
the perspective of Scripture.
If a young person
eunuchs will decide what Daniel’s
The kind of influence I have just
possesses such things,
diet should be.
described is not the kind of influ-
it’s because someone
You know the rest of the story.
ence that can happen on a Sunday
has taken the time and
God gives Daniel favor before the
morning or a Wednesday night. It
effort to teach him.
Babylonians and before Nebuchad-
is an all-day, everyday kind of influ-
nezzar himself. Before long, Daniel
ence. It is not the kind of influence
is one of the most powerful men in
that concerns church and ministry
the world—a power God allows him
things only. It is the kind of influence
to retain well into old age.
that concerns all of life. It is, in other
Lessons
words, the kind of influence that
The first lesson to learn from this familiar story is that some-
only a school can exert. That’s the reason I’m committed to
one—or a group of someones—had prepared Daniel for the
Christian education for my children. To my way of thinking,
prominence he later achieved. Children aren’t born “skillful
it’s the best way to get a Daniel in this day of twisted think-
in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding
ing and corrupt living.
learning.” If a young person possesses such things, it’s
If ever there was a day that needs the influence of young
because someone has taken the time and effort to teach him.
Daniels, today is that day. Who knows what our children
And this teaching was evidently much more than just
may be called by God to do? Restore our nation? Perhaps.
instruction in bare facts. Daniel knew how to think too. He
But what if Jerusalem cannot be saved? Are our efforts in
didn’t just refuse to eat the king’s food. Daniel proposed
vain? No. A child who is prepared to live for God in Babylon
a test that protected his immediate authority from undue
can still change the world.
risk while enabling him to be faithful to God. To use the
language of current educators, Daniel knew how to analyze,
Dr. Bryan Smith has worked in Christian education for over
twenty years. He has been a classroom teacher as well as a
evaluate, and create.
textbook author. Currently, he serves at BJU Press as the Bible
Integration Senior Manager. In this position, he assists authors
Best of all, Daniel knew how to think and reason from
and teachers in the work of integrating faith and learning in the
Scripture. He analyzes, evaluates, and creates not so he can
classroom. Bryan holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament Interpretation.
He and his wife, Becky, have six children.
get away with something or engage in some sinful pleasure.
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