Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Exiles in the American Lion’s Den
Exiles in the American Lion’s Den
Jul 6, 2025 7:11 PM

We have routinelypointed to Jeremiah 29 as an introductory primer for life in exile, prodding us toward faithful cultural witness and away from the typical temptations of fortification, domination, and modation.

As Christians continue to struggle with what it means to be in but not of the world, Jeremiah reminds us to “seek the welfare of the city,” bearing distinct witness even as we serve our captors. We are to “pray to the Lord for it,” Jeremiahwrites, “because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

The Biblical examples of how this actually looks are numerous,and in a new post at The Washington Institute, Thomas Kent draws our attention to one of the most prominent:

The story of Daniel teaches us that it is possible to live a faithful life even during exile in a pagan land and amidst a culture antithetical to God’s law. As if spurred on by Jeremiah 29, petence and character, Daniel contributes with “an excellent spirit” to the prospering of Babylon. Other high officials, jealous of Daniel, “sought to find a ground plaint against Daniel with regard to the Kingdom”, but they could not because Daniel was faithful. When thrown into the lion’s den, God delivered Daniel and protected him because he trusted in God. As Christians in the marketplace, we must approach our work in the same fashion: we must strive to be faithful and we must trust God.

Daniel retained a distinct prophetic voice in the King’s court, but it was tethered by good service culture-making that transformed hissurroundingsin mon-grace sort of way.

Whereas many evangelicals have diluted and confinedChristianwitness to narrow, altar-call evangelism, Daniel demonstratesa more varied vocational arc, requiring active discernment, obedience, and sacrifice as it relates to culture itself.America is not Babylon, but retaining that same perspective in our own setting will help to align our cultural imaginations and enrich the work of our hands accordingly.

As Kent explains:

Truly we, as exiles in a strange land, are already in the lion’s den. Abstract – but very real – idols and sinful attitudes such as materialism, careerism, perfectionism, and cynicism tempt our hearts and find increasing expression in concrete laws of the land. If it hadn’t been clear already, Obergefell vs. Hodges shows us that this country we live in had already changed from what we thought it was. In a word, we were always exiles. Previous generations were wrong to think otherwise.

To live faithfully in the land, we need to fully step into this identity. An exile knows where his or her true home is. Our identity as exiles clarifies, crystallizes, and even simplifies our calling. As exiles, we do not pretend that Babylon, or America, is the Promised Land. As exiles, we live as distinct people in a mission-field, in a lion’s den. We are not safe, but there are profound opportunities to live an incarnational life and reach our lost neighbors around us, to show them the power of our God.

To be clear, Christians have never been “at home” in America. Our position of exile is not tied to the regression of American society. It is the basic orientation of the Christian life.

But as we continue to face increasing pressures against religious liberty and freedom of conscience, we should be prepared for what’s e. Life in exile has traditionally been fortable for American Christians, but the golden statues are beginning to loom. As the days get darker, we should be prepared to open ourwindows with boldness when prayer is ushered indoors, even as weretain a proactive focus on serving those samecaptors faithfully across all spheres of culture.

As faithful exiles, let us pursue acultural influence that proclaims truth and life acrossall of society and in multiple manifestations.The light will offend and the lion’s den will beckon, butas it does, let our witness toGod’s goodness be so clearthateven pagan kings will fret at our destruction.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on James 5:12-18   (Read James 5:12-18)   The sin of swearing is condemned; but how many make light of common profane swearing! Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God's name and authority. This sin brings neither gain, nor pleasure, nor reputation, but is showing enmity to God without occasion and without advantage It shows a man...
Verse of the Day
  Romans 16:17-18 In-Context   15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord's people who are with them.   16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.   17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:9-17   (Read Ecclesiastes 5:9-17)   The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less...
Verse of the Day
  Deuteronomy 7:9 In-Context   7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.   8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and...
Verse of the Day
  Ephesians 6:14-16 In-Context   12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to...
Verse of the Day
  Romans 8:28 In-Context   26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.   27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 John 4:7-13   (Read 1 John 4:7-13)   The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all...
Verse of the Day
  2 Corinthians 6:14 In-Context   12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.   13 As a fair exchange-I speak as to my children-open wide your hearts also.   14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?   15...
Verse of the Day
  1 John 4:19 In-Context   17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.   18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Luke 6:27-36   (Read Luke 6:27-36)   These are hard lessons to flesh and blood. But if we are thoroughly grounded in the faith of Christ's love, this will make his commands easy to us. Every one that comes to him for washing in his blood, and knows the greatness of the mercy and the love...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved