Pagan names and pagan food?

Sometimes cultural decisions either can be or seem to be tricky. Pastor Calvin Summers of Glenfawn Baptist Church pointed out how that the four Hebrew children captured by the Babylonians accepted the king’s names (Daniel 1:7), but rejected the king’s meat (Daniel 1:8ff). That is interesting to ponder.

There is no indication in the context that they refused (to be called by) the names, as they did refuse the meat. That doesn’t mean they preferred or liked the names, but suggests they acquiesced to that which was external and outside their control. We are not responsible for what someone else does (including what they call us), but we are responsible for our own choices (including what we eat).

I think there is a lesson here to ponder.