The Nebuchadnezzarian-effect and its reality through the 'Sinner-in-Chief' in Zim

The first time I got to hear of the story of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was back in my early years into primary education in the early 1990s whilst doing the lessons in Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E) thanks to the Zimbabwean school curriculum at the time. Only heaven knows if that subject is still sufficiently taught in our schools if any at all, especially that very story of the king. Of course, the story of King Nebuchadnezzar is found in the book of Daniel in the Christian bible just to refresh the memory of some readers of this article, or for easy reference sake to those who never previously read the story.

As a matter of fact I am not a theologian, nor a bible scholar. Hence, this article is neither a review of nor a commentary on the book of Daniel. In the spiritual realm or world, I would say as a mortal being am perfectly suited as well by the title of "Sinner-in-Chief"! However, most theologians or Christians do agree that the book of Daniel is such a complex book for study, but with very accurate prophetic and inspired scripture reading in the Christian bible. I may be quick to mention that I intend discussing for inferences basically two issues for my illustration namely the two cities (Babylon and Jerusalem) and Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue.

On the flip side, although I believe in the spirit of prophecy, but in the deepest of my own Christian faith convictions I have strong and unyielding reservations against the prognostications of psychics and magicians in our present times masquerading as "true prophets" of God. A false prophet does not necessarily foretells inaccurate events or interpret past events wrongly, someone even once said they tell "true-lies". Let's keep in mind though that "lies are lies because truth is truth". There are indeed clear or enough biblical warnings about such false prophets and a way of telling them apart. Actually, no amount of evidence from precise foretelling of even the most accurate seconds-breakdown results of my favourite sporting events has yet convinced my inner spiritual soul otherwise. No, thank you!

Having said that, I had to search many centuries ago through my mental flight for a precise point of biblical reference that equally befits the Zimbabwe's situation wherein my attention was attracted by the true prophet and inspiration of the book of Daniel. I know that many people before have likened the Zimbabwean situation to a journey to the Promised Land. It is still correct and I also subscribe to such parallel interpretations as long we have a common understanding that it was purely their own choice as the children of Israel, which invoked God's wrath against all of the generation that left Egypt including Moses except the spies Joshua and Caleb, to take 40years in a guaranteed 250 miles (about 400km) short journey they could have taken a minimum of 10 literal days and at most a month's time! And, their choice was ridiculously equivalent to travelling 10km in a year! On the other hand, the familiarity with the story of Nebuchadnezzar has not weakened its old but new meaning. In the very basic understanding, the inspired book is a tale of two cities. There is Jerusalem which represents a rule of law (righteousness) and Babylon which represents lawlessness (wickedness).

Mind you, lawlessness is not necessarily because of the absence of good or moral laws. However, in this book of Scripture we meet one of the most powerful politician-cum-prophet called Daniel (Belteshazzar) who is a captive from Jerusalem now living in Babylon. Furthermore, Biblical explanations say Jerusalem means "peaceful or complete" yet Babylon means "confusion". My primary interest is in a Daniel who was such an honest, principled and genuine politician in the "dirty, confused" Babylonian politics, also being a foreigner in Babylon but still spoke nothing except the truth to the highest position of political power and authority similar to a Prime Minister in our present day.

So were Daniel's friends, better known as the three Hebrew "boys". A case in point indeed of birds of the same feather flocking together. All of them imported good moral compasses from what is factually the desolate and destructed Jerusalem to guide them even in the "dirty" political environment of Babylon! They were also such influential public officials who stood firm to true principles including through the "fiery furnace", ultimately destined into the promotions their shrewd and jealous political opponents could only admire. Therefore, politicians are without excuse as it is highly probable to remain very principled and true to your promises even in the midst of a sea of evil such as corruption, or any other forms of "wickedness" associated with political influences or environments.

In real terms, this is more of a simple practical illustration of existence in every sphere of our influence than a spiritual matter if you may ask me. I would say it is not necessarily in the interest of God's sake for some members of the Christian community to proclaim non-participation in areas that demand of a positive socio-economic and political change simply because it is in a "dirty landscape". One must never miss the opportunity presented by God Himself to "salt" or preserve an environment whose taste has been lost to the specific forms of "wickedness"! This same Daniel discussed herein was protected in the lion's den but not from the den. Also, his friends were preserved in the fiery furnace and not from it. That was the real cost of a quest to give good taste to all tasteless Babylonian environments of significant importance.

It is not for a Christian believer to avoid being in the "land of wickedness", just like the ‘four' innocent Hebrew boys had to find themselves in Babylon of all the kingdoms. But, it's about knowing clearly what not to compromise and refusing to budge beyond what genuine conscience can permit. I fail to understand the paradoxical scriptural interpretation of such other believers who seem still not to "know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Dan 4:25). The word "whomever" plainly includes the very same "Christians" themselves who claim to believe in the God of Daniel who is still the same even today! I believe if God wants you involved in a full blown "dirty" political landscape, so let it be! The reality is that Christians will always exist in all sorts of political environments until Jesus comes! The consistence to Godly principles that anyone can claim cannot be proven or tested in a vacuum, and outside of a landscape which is not to the exact opposite of such broad guiding principles as found in the Christian bible.

The Neb-effect has negatively impacted the Zimbabwean landscape as a predominantly Christian nation for many years and in the process has even robbed the country of good aspiring leadership especially in politics. Political systems are just but a means to the end (leadership) and not the very end in itself. Therefore, the parallels are that the country of Zimbabwe has largely just become a tale of two nations: the "US" (Christians) and "THEM" (politicians). The "US" nation is concerned only with preserving a "desolate" land of Jerusalem (holier-than-thou), which God in his wisdom has somehow allowed into the captivity of "them" nation of politicians simply viewed as the "dirty, wicked" people. Even politicians themselves know that they are not beyond redemption, or reproof for lack of another better word. Even King Nebuchadnezzar was thoroughly converted into a belief of the only true God finally, and we have every reason to believe he will be among the chosen few to inherit the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

May I caution against a misunderstanding which may suggest l'm saying Christians should "not" seek ye first the Kingdom of heaven or pursue righteousness (l am a Christian myself). The point is that there comes a time we should allow the Lord to use "us" to effect principled and tasteful change, directly so, even in political spheres of influence. Christians must do all they can to make a difference in society. This is in no way similar to seeking government power to influence and promote a religious agenda! It is not necessary and with disastrous consequences. Daniel and his Hebrew friends did not do such a thing. Jesus didn't. Actually, doing so is very wrong I definitely agree.

We may remember that the introduction to the Neb-effect is when Nebuchadnezzar had an impressive dream. In a way, the king "saw" it all coming that his all-powerful and wealthiest kingdom was going to totally collapse against all odds, and shamefully so much to his very own humiliation. He was also the first to see in another dream his own "moments of madness" which were to last for seven years coming upon himself where he exhibited animal-like ( or beast-like) behaviour including feeding on grass! Maybe that's when really the wise saying "when bulls fight, the ‘grass' suffers" originates! I would like to believe that had Daniel not even been provided by God to confirm such a turn of events to the king they were still going to come to pass as long the king did not radically change his ways of life and leadership that had overstepped the ‘mandate and authority' from God! I know some people are already trying to do the math for the periods from 1980 to 1987 (Unity Accord) which we are told were a "moment of madness", don't bother it just also adds to 7 years as well! Please still take note, this is simple about drawing parallels from the Neb-effect!

There is also the other point of discussion based on the golden image. This was an occasion of "idol" worship, which involves blindly giving undeserved praise to something meaningless which is simple made by humans in their own imaginations. Prophetic interpretations give so many symbols of idolatry in our times that may include positions, money, cars, houses and so forth. I may as well add that even in the world of politics we may also mention giving praises to "government policies" that have no life in them, they are simple a human innovation but clearly meaningless in transforming the real situation of the national economy. In a typical Neb-effect occasion on the dedication ceremony of the golden statue, we have also seen executive government officials and most senior public servants being gathered from various parts of the country to idol worship a clearly meaningless policy and subsequently praising a collapsed, dead economy created by a "king" of our times! It is very true to say they "saw" it coming, not to deny the fact there were also principled people with sound wisdom to point the real evil (which is not sanctions) and call it by its name through precise economic and political interpretations or implications without any flattery!

It only takes principled leadership of the standard of Daniel and his friends to speak truth to positions of authority, and refuse bowing down to (accepting) what is before "them" in the form of a national economy as worthy of any of their praises. It cannot be blasphemous to say if Christians are to remain completely silent or inactive when there is a "dead, meaningless" economy presented before their faces then they are no better than anyone worshipping an idol. Prayer doesn't and must not replace duty, even Jesus would first pray but go on to do the actual action including getting his very own physical hands "dirty". Such believers in the community of Christian faith keepers are not really "Christ-like" but are complicit to an evil idol system and religiously obey the instructions of even its "invisible hands".

I maintain that public and political figures like Daniel are still the blueprint for the times we live in. Zimbabwe also deserves the genuine Dan-effect. Notwithstanding the fact that he was also a true prophet of God, a man of God who always put his only God above everything, he did practically influence the politics of his time and of the future that stretches through the first coming of Jesus Christ to the present day. Let's also take a brief moment to read the handwriting on the wall. We only need to strike a balance, sometimes known as "sanctified caution" between waiting for the Lord and an understanding it could be the Lord waiting for you to first act on specific real circumstances and situations. Daniel proves beyond reasonable doubt that active involvement in politics doesn't change anyone's principles about their Lord, and moreso their spiritual standing before their God. The Bible only gives broad principles enough to be used in any political and social environment.

This article is from Fbr. MTHOKOZISI NDIWENI who is the Firebrand-in-Chief of ZIM-ID Firebrand Youth. He writes here in his own personal capacity but with sufficient oversight role to the portfolio of Religion, Spiritual beliefs and Chaplaincy in the Zimbabwe's Independent Democrats (ZIM-ID). He can be contacted on zim.id263@gmail.com or ndixam@gmail.com.