Source: BetterMan.org Devotional
“Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” — Daniel 1:6–7
The first act of Babylonian discipleship is not violence—it’s renaming. Daniel and his friends are given new names designed to sever them from their spiritual heritage and embed them in a new story. Babylon understands something we often forget: identity precedes behavior. Change how a man sees himself, and you will eventually change how he lives.
This is not just ancient history; it is modern strategy. The culture rarely begins by commanding obedience. It begins by offering a new identity, one that sounds plausible, affirming, even freeing. Over time, those names quietly shape desires, loyalties, and decisions.
A man who knows his name can survive any environment. A man who forgets it will be reshaped by whatever culture he inhabits.
What names have you accepted that God never gave you?
The BFC Field Test (Mark's Perspective)
I can relate to this deeply. A constant memory of grade school, middle school, and high school is walking in shame, convinced my peers saw me as a "loser" with a capital L. Because I didn't have an upbringing in a Bible-teaching church, I accepted that label—there was no evidence to suggest it wasn't true.
At Brothers for Christ, we have a calling to support a Pastor and a church in Uganda named Family Voice Church. It is a place where a voice is given to the voiceless through Christ’s renewing of hearts. Whether through the rescue of orphans, the discipleship of children and fathers, or marriage counseling, we are helping men and families reclaim the names God actually gave them.
Reflection & Action
Write down the false labels you carry. Replace each with a biblical truth. Speak them aloud today.