Against the Flow: The Inspiration of Daniel in an Age of Relativism


Deb’s Dozen: Daniel – a man of God imprisoned in a corrupt society but faithful.

As I read through Against the Flow, I was reminded of my theological studies. This book is not for the casual reader, but will be of interest to those who like to “dig deeper” and are interested in insights from the Book of Daniel.

An interview with John C. Lennox, Author of Against the Flow

The concepts of tolerance and political correctness are having a chilling effect on the public practice of Christianity. That’s why readers will find Dr. John C. Lennox’s new book Against the Flow: The Inspiration of Daniel in an Age of Relativism (Monarch Books/March 27, 2015/ISBN: 978-0857216212/$19.99) incredibly timely. Lennox, who has defended the Christian faith in debates against the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, gives every follower of Christ the intellectual foundation they will need to argue the role their faith should have in the public discourse.

While anyone who has spent time in a Sunday-school classroom is familiar with the biblical story of Daniel, Lennox mines this classic historical account to encourage cultural bravery in Christians trying to find their place in a postmodern society. The story of these four young men born in the tiny state of Judah around 500 B.C. and captured by Nebuchadnezzar, the emperor of Babylon, is one of extraordinary faith in God lived out at the pinnacle of executive power. The book of Daniel describes in detail how each of them eventually rose to senior positions of administration.

Q: You have studied and lectured on a number of different biblical topics – why did you choose to write Against the Flow about the biblical story of Daniel?

It is one of my favourite narratives in the Bible because it records the life of an individual who was prepared, even when he was given high office, to publicly stand up for God, despite being under immense pressure to renounce or privatize his beliefs. He didn’t just maintain his private devotion to God, but a cutting-edge public witness which is much rarer.

Q: Why should every Christian be familiar with the themes found in the story of Daniel?

Much of the book is of direct relevance today. Babylon is the ancient version of our secular society, and Daniel and his friends were called upon to stand for their faith even though they were in a tiny cultural minority. They did this in the full glare of publicity rather than run away to form a ghetto. Their values were challenged – is there anything of absolute value or is everything merely relative? Are our religious beliefs just a result of our upbringing? What evidence is there that the supernatural realm exists? What do we do if God’s law clashes with human law? When is the status of humankind compared to animals? Do we live in a closed or open universe, and how ultimate are the laws of nature? Does the Bible have any predictive power? The real weight of many contemporary intellectual spiritual, moral and ethical questions come out clearly in Daniel’s remarkable book.

Q: Babylon, where Daniel was captive, was a hub for commerce, culture and education. How was this possible when it was built on false religions and moral ambiguity? What can modern Christians learn from this juxtaposition?

This was one of the questions that Daniel and his friends must have contemplated. Was the sheer scale and might of the city a sign of God’s favour or even a confirmation of the power that the Babylonian gods wielded? Yet, as the story shows, Babylon was built on very shaky and inadequate moral, spiritual and philosophical foundations as we see in Daniel’s analysis of the reasons for its ultimate demise.

Q: Why do you call the times in which we live a “modern Babylon?”

The city of Babylon is used throughout the Bible to describe a society that has turned away from God, indeed is founded on defiance of God basing its confidence on human ability and intellectual capacity to “make a name for itself.” Its ancient ziggurat was a forerunner of the modern skyscraper and all that such buildings symbolize. It was a powerful city within which a plurality of beliefs existed and the same kind of idols that its inhabitants worshipped (many of which were based on deifying the laws of nature) still predominate in society today (sex, greed, power, wealth, etc). Daniel, though he lived in Babylon didn’t live for it. He, like Abraham, lived for a heavenly city which has true foundations and whose architect is God.

Q: Why do you think Daniel and his friends were able to rise to power in the midst of such a corrupt culture?

What is interesting about their rise to prominence is that they were not prepared to keep their faith in God a secret, which they could easily have done in order to save themselves. Instead, they deliberately stood up for their belief in the public sphere and, as a result, crucially, they were seen to be different (in a positive sense). Daniel was known for his “insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom” (Daniel 5:13). His life was such that his accusers were unable to find anything to charge him with (Daniel 6:4). He also showed immense courage to interpret the dream for Nebuchadnezzar, as the King had already threatened to execute his wise men for their inability to do so. Nebuchadnezzar’s promotion of Daniel was a result of Daniel’s obedience to God. Those that honour God, he honours.

Q: What should the focus be for Christians who have found themselves placed in positions of power and influence?

The focus of all Christians should be to live for God in whatever sphere of influence they are in. It is in our work environments that our faith in God is most likely to be tested. People in positions of power are under particular pressures. In one sense they have a great opportunity because of their influence, but in another they have a great responsibility, as well as much to lose. Yet these concerns were exactly the same for Daniel who provides an amazing model for us today, whether or not we are in positions of power.

Q: It would be hard to find a child who grew up in church who has not heard the story of Daniel in the lion’s den – but this is more than just a thrilling story – what does it tell us about the relationship between law and religion –specifically, the Jewish religion?

The genius of Daniel is that it shows how important law and legislation is. Once laws are passed they can be very difficult to overturn and it can be too late to protest about them. So in Daniel a central theme is about how we should focus on living under God’s law in a culture that is prepared to pass laws that discriminate against believers publicly expressing their faith.

Q: What has been the effect of political correctness on the public practice of the Christian faith? Could Daniel have identified with this?

There is a pressure in society to respect all different viewpoints and to keep our faith private, so we don’t ‘offend’ anyone. One problem with this is that it causes confusion about how to judge between different ideas (their truthfulness), for example, or right and wrong. In society we have relativized the absolute and yet we can’t live without absolutes, so we tend to do the opposite and treat as absolute what is merely of relative value – like money, power, status etc.

Q: You say in Against the Flow, that there is one point Richard Dawkins has made that you completely agree with. What is that point and what does it mean for Christians?

Dawkins is not a postmodernist, nor am I. We agree upon the fact that there is such a thing as truth that is independent of you and me. We agree that if someone makes a truth-claim, then you should be able to ask them what evidence they have for holding that viewpoint. Christians don’t have to be philosophers or academics, but they should be able to give reasons for the hope that they have (1 Peter 3:15). Yet this is not a one-sided thing, as the same must go for the naturalistic beliefs that most atheists hold.

Q: Why do you think our culture has accepted the idea that faith has little or no place in the public discourse?

A major reason for this is a misunderstanding of the word. The new atheists have helped to propagate the notion that faith is believing in something in the absence of evidence. This is an idiosyncratic and incorrect use of the word and is what is usually referred to as blind faith. My faith in Christ is evidence based – the main evidence being the resurrection in history and my own experience. It is also helpful to remember that faith is indispensable to science. No one would do any science if they did not believe = have faith in the fact that = science can be done.

Q: What is the proper place of Christianity in today’s postmodern society?

Although our culture is informed by postmodernism, most people believe in truth in one form or another and certainly in areas they consider important. There are several worldviews in our western culture today – naturalism and Christianity being two of them – and what I object to is atheistic naturalism being regarded de facto as the default world view. That is not the case – all worldviews ought to be free to enter discussion in the public space.

Q: Do you see the stand for righteousness in a wicked culture as being in competition with Christian compassion?

I wouldn’t see the two as being in competition with each other, as the key is how we convey our faith to others. We must always communicate righteousness in a way that also conveys our compassion. This isn’t always easy, which is why we have to ask God to help us in our conversations.

Q: You have debated well-known atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. What was one of your most challenging debate moments? Most rewarding?

The most challenging thing is probably after a debate, when you process what was said and what might have been said. The most rewarding part is hearing from those who have been helped by them, such as those who have sub sequently become Christians or those whose faith has either been strengthened or revived by seeing the discussions. One of the motivations for doing them is that people are influenced by what public intellectuals say. It is not surprising that if Stephen Hawking says there is no God, people think “who am I to question him?”

Q: What is the single most important lesson for the Christian from the life of Daniel?

It is intended to be a clarion call to our generation to be courageous and to not to lose our nerve and allow the expression of our faith to be diluted or squeezed out of the public space, thus rending us spineless or ineffective. Hopefully it will help strengthen our resolve to swim against the flow, not only to put our heads above the parapet, but also to make sure in advance that our minds and hearts are prepared, so that we do not get blown away in the first salvo!

Learn more about John C. Lennox and Against the Flow at www.johnlennox.org or on Twitter (ProfJohnLennox).

I was given a copy of Against the Flow in exchange for my candid review.

A New Series from Colleen Coble: ‘The Inn at Ocean’s Edge’


Deb’s Dozen – Claire, Luke, Megan, and Kate. Murder combined with Mystery. It’s all relative.

Claire Dellamare comes to the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, ME, and almost immediately suffers a panic attack. She feels something terrible happened to her here or will be happening. After her dad, Harry, also there for the meeting to discuss a merger with another firm, calms her down and gets her to her room, she feels better.

Taking a walk to further calm herself, Claire ventures down by the ocean’s edge where she sees two people penning up a baby orca. Furious, she storms down telling them they can’t do that only to meet Luke Ellwell and his sister, Megan, who have rescued the baby and plan to nurse it back to health. Chagrined, Claire apologizes and heads back to the Hotel—but never arrives!

Meanwhile, Kate Mason is planning a surprise for her mom’s birthday. She and her friend, Shelley, remodel her mom’s closet. As they’re unloading the existing closet, Kate finds a box with her things in it she’d forgotten she had—including a well-loved doll. Hoping for approval and maybe a hug from her mother, Kate is once again disappointed. They have a big argument and her mom storms out. What is Kate to do? Why won’t her mom let her contact her dad?

This is Colleen Coble at her best. Lots of suspense, twists, turns, murder, and mystery all wrapped up with surprises and romance. I read the book at one sitting—couldn’t put the novel down. If the rest of the series is as good as The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, I’m going to be reading a lot more Colleen Coble books in the future. So glad to have received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson for my candid review. You will not want to start this book in the evening or you’ll be up all night. Five out of Five Stars!

Read on to find out about the Giveaway and Party coming up!

The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there—and only Luke Elwell believes her. Colleen Coble’s new book, The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, is a must-read for mystery and suspense readers. As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried. And some passions are worth killing for.

Celebrate the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire
  • A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
  • A copy of A Heart’s Obsession
  • A copy of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen’s website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean’s Edge! RSVP here!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

Promises to Keep – Miles to Go Before I Sleep


Deb’s Dozen: Lost Amish Boy, Lost Englisch Girl – Guilt Can Hurt; Love Can Heal

Lydia Wyse, an editor for a publishing company in Seattle, comes home to West Kootenai, Montana, to attend her mother’s funeral and care for her father. Driving into the community, she is struck by the beauty and gets out of her car to photograph a lovely Amish farm. Gideon Hooley, working with Blue, a skittish stallion, in the field next to the house comes over to scold her for driving up fast, pulling over suddenly, and scaring his horse.

Lydia apologizes, although seething inside at his rudeness, then asks for directions to the Wyse farm. Answering Gideon in Pennsylvania Dutch, she reveals that she is the daughter of the Wyse’s come home to bury her “mem.” Gideon realizes that he’s been abrupt and inhospitable and returns the lens cap to her camera to the farm later that afternoon. He is interested in Lydia, but she is Englisch and verboten.

Lydia is drawn back to the Amish ways after her dad gives her Mem’s most prized possession, a Promise box of prayers and scriptures and letters to Lydia never sent. She wonders whether her call home is a true one or whether she’s just intrigued by her publisher’s view that Lydia should write a book about her Amish upbringing and way of life.

Lydia had left the Amish after her truth about her birth was told to her when she turned sixteen. Gideon had returned to West Kootenai to find the truth of when he had gotten lost in the woods as a child. Both have a journey to take – both have difficulties and misunderstandings to overcome.

Tricia Goyer’s The Promise Box is a lovely tale of redemption and love. You will enjoy reading and learning about the Amish culture and their lives with Lydia and Gideon. One of the books in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series, The Promise Box is a great book to curl up and read with a cup of tea beside your chair. Four stars.

Zondervan Books gave me a copy of this book for my candid review.