Standing For What You Believe

Interview with a guy who stood for the right thing
By: Debra Weiss, RTF Staff Writer

Shadrach, a young man captive in a foreign country, took a bold stance—and brought revival to an entire nation. But he didn’t do it alone. He had the help and support of his friends.

Sitting at a corner booth in a nearby McDonald’s, Shadrach barely looks old enough to hold a learner’s permit. Yet his blue eyes speak volumes about his passion for Christ.

He’s dressed casually and just come from school. He has a goofy grin and an easygoing manner.

Before we begin the interview, Shadrach stops midway through his Big Mac to make one thing clear, “We weren’t looking to be heroes or big shots. We just wanted to serve our King.”

For the full story, read the interview below.

Debra: Thanks for being here today at Real Teen Faith. I under you were captive in a strange land with different customs yet you and your friends were set over some important affairs. Why do you think that was?

Shadrach dips a fry in his ketchup, “Part of being a Christian is pursuing excellency—doing my very best even in situations that look pretty grim. We made a pact—Meshach, Abednego, and I.

“People are always waiting to serve God until…until the time gets right, until they’re in an ideal place. We just decided to serve him where we were.

And the pact led to the incident…

“I wouldn’t really call it an incident. It was more about God’s perfect timing. See, the king set up a huge, seven foot golden idol. At the sound of the flute, trumpet and other instruments, the entire nation was to bow down and worship this idol. Anyone who didn’t would be thrown into a fiery furnace.”

Debra: Did you bow down or ever consider bowing down?

Shadrach: “And betray our God? No. It didn’t fit with who we were as Christians. When everyone else bowed down, me and my friends stood.”

Debra: What were the consequences of standing when everyone else bowed down?

Shadrach: “Well, some of the king’s men saw us and reported it to the king. We were called in front of the king. And the king asked why we didn’t bow down. He was pretty steamed. He demanded to know who would deliver us from the furnace.”

Debra: Whoa! What did you and your friends tell him?

Shadrach: “The truth. We told him we weren’t afraid and we would not bow down to his false gods. God could deliver us from the king if He chose. But even if God didn’t save us, we weren’t gonna bow. Yet my friends and I had this amazing peace that God was still in control—even if we didn’t live another day.”

Debra: That’s bold. What happened next?

Shadrach gestures enthusiastically as he continues to talk, “I’d never seen someone so angry. The king’s eyes bulged and the blue vein on his forehead puffed out as he commanded the servants to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual. Then he had us put in shackles and dressed in thick coats, hats, scarves, as though we were going out to build a snow fort on a winter day.

“When the servants opened the furnace to throw us in, [we learned later that] some of them were scorched and died.”

Debra: What happened inside the furnace?

Shadrach: “I can’t explain it. It was like there was just this peace. My friends and I weren’t looking to be heroes. We were just three regular guys serving our King, you know.

“But in the fire there was a fourth person, like an angel. At first my friends and I were kinda scared but he said, ‘Peace be unto you’.

“And we knew then—God was right there with us. He’d actually been with us through the whole ordeal.”

Debra: But you didn’t say in the furnace for very long…

“No,” Shadrach leans across the table as though he’s about to reveal the name of his secret crush, “rumor has it, the king peered in the window of the furnace and saw us, walking around unbound with the angel and flipped out. He called for his servants and they pulled us from the flames.”

Debra: Were you rushed to the ICU?

Shadrach looks as though the question amuses him, “No. There wasn’t a single hair between the three of us that had been singed. We didn’t smell like smoke. You couldn’t tell that we’d just been in a furnace that was heated to thousands of degrees.

“But that wasn’t the amazing part–the king just breaks down there and starts confessing our God is God over Israel, our God is the One True God.

“I’ve never seen a revival travel through an entire nation so quickly. Thousands of people were rejecting the false gods and coming to worship the True God after hearing our testimony. People were talking about what had happened for days afterwards, all because we were willing to stand for right.”

Debra: What would you say to other Christian teens that see something wrong in their worlds and want to take a stand?

The question stops Shadrach. He crumples his burger wrapper and thinks for a moment before launching into his next thought, “I’d say don’t be afraid to take that stand alone, but seek out the support of other Christians, too. One of the reasons for the church is so we can give and get strength and support.

“Be part of an accountability group. Have other people in your life who are going to stand in your way and ask you if you’re truly on the right path—God’s path—or if you’re pursuing your own desires.”

Debra: So, what’s next for you and your friends? A best-selling book about the experience?

Shadrach: “Actually, it’s already out. It’s been translated into many, many different languages and has sold more copies than any other book in the market.

“But it [the book] isn’t about us; it never was and never will be. It’s about God’s amazing love for each of us. He wanted to have a relationship with us so much He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us, so that we wouldn’t have to go the ultimate fiery furnace, hell.

“Accepting Jesus is the only way to go to Heaven. When you become a Christian, you’re entire life changes in this awesome way because you have Someone who’s always near that’s never gonna leave you. It’s amazing.”

Real Article: A student at Palmer Lake High School (Monument, CO) must apologize for mentioning Jesus in her graduation speech. Erica Corder, one of 15 valedictorians spoke in a 30-second message and talked about her faith in 2006. She was penalized when she was told she would not receive her diploma. That ruling is being appealed in court this week. Read this real-life story of a teen standing for what she believes.