Compromise

Y’all I can’t with the compromising anymore . . .

This isn’t one of those posts that is going to make people stand up and cheer. And maybe I should check myself and not write it, but I’m having a moment so here’s goes nothing. All I ask is that you read this in its entirety, beginning to end, to get the whole picture of what I’m trying to communicate.

I keep seeing leaders, famous, infamous, and not that well known, within the church crashing and burning, and it just trickles down into the church. So many Christians are doing a complete about face on solid theology, families are splitting up, ministers aren’t just leaving the pulpit, they’re leaving Christianity altogether. I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for them personally. I’m heartbroken for their families. But I’m also heartbroken for the church.

And I’m left asking, “What is happening?” . . . “How is this happening?” . . . “Why is this happening?”

And the word that just keeps coming back to me is “compromise”. Not one big overt compromise, but one little compromise after another.

We have an epidemic of “Has God indeed said?” in our churches (hello Genesis 3 . . . we want to blame Eve, but we’ve been repeating this pattern ever since).

We are inundated with the need to justify and explain away the compromises in our core beliefs . . . beliefs that aren’t opinions or judgments passed by man . . . beliefs that are based soundly on scripture . . . I’m talking about scripture, inspired by God (FYI: all of it is from beginning to end), that says what it means and means what it says without apology. Here’s the thing, some of it, both old and new testament, can be hard to swallow . . . some of it is gives us full pause because again, “Has God indeed said?” keeps popping into our heads. But y’all if it’s there, it’s there because it matters . . . because God created us, and He knows what’s best for us . . . it’s there because He knows how to grow us, heal us, and protect us.

We are called to live above board . . . to be the light . . . and yet . . . the American church seems to be floundering, and progressive Christianity is causing massive amounts of damage. And I am not saying for a second that we don’t reach out in grace and love and surround those who are struggling and hurting, but also, the issues start way before the big problems become evident. The maintenance isn’t happening, and we’re tearing our lives and the church apart, one small compromise at a time.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been studying the book of Revelation, and the church of Laodicea is fresh on my mind . . . but y’all there’s way too much of this happening. There’s way too much lukewarm . . . there’s way too much wavering and wobbling and unwillingness to stand in the face of sin (see Revelation 3:14-22).

And I get it . . . it’s hard!

But we are compromising right and left . . .

On kindness and graciousness and goodness and love . . . we’re compromising. And make no mistake, if you think posting/saying/engaging in/laughing at ugly, hateful, cutting, snarky things toward or against others, because of or due to their beliefs, politically, personally, or otherwise, is okay, YOU. ARE. COMPROMISING. And you are damaging the witness for the kingdom of God.

On obedience and order and leadership within the church . . . we’re compromising . . . we’d much rather complain and throw a fit and pout when we don’t like how things are going. FYI: you’re not three, if there’s an issue be an adult and go to your church leadership. And then accept the answer you’re given. (Preaching to myself here.)

On what a solid marriage looks like . . . and yes, I mean the husband is the leader and head of the household . . . we’re compromising. But that has been so twisted for so long that we don’t even know what submission really means . . . let me give you a clue . . . no human being, man or woman, should be dominating a marriage. It is a partnership. Having said that, the word of God clearly states that the husband is the leader of the home, and he is to love his wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:22-31 . . . this is a whole post in and of itself . . . just go read the entire passage . . . it’s worth your time).

On sexual morality and immorality . . . we’re compromising. We’re excusing behaviors and actions because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but we are failing to bring the light to others in a way that is also full of grace and mercy. That is not love and grace and mercy . . . that is not helpful or healing . . . that is 100% compromise.

On our personal relationships and walk with Jesus . . . we’re compromising.

On sin in general . . . we’re compromising.

Hence the crashing and burning.

And hear me in this. I’m not here to shout hellfire and brimstone. I don’t think we serve a God that’s out to get us. His grace and mercy are so abundant and so good. But He loves us too much to let us keep on living in a way that is harmful, and sin is destructive and harmful.

Just a little taste here.

A little justification there.

Unforgiveness, meanness, hatred, anger . . .

We want to ride the fence, so to speak.

“It’s just a joke.”

“If they wouldn’t do _____, I wouldn’t have to say anything.” <insert shoulder shrug> . . . Oh yeah, I know, I’ve done it too.

“I have the right to be angry.”

“I’m not praying for them. They don’t deserve it.”

“If you understood the situation, you’d understand that I have to . . .”

COMPROMISE!

We’ve got to bring it to a full stop. We’ve got to start standing on the word. And once again I’m drawn back to the book of Isaiah:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21

Growing up we used to sing the song:

“The B-I-B-L-E . . .Yes, that’s the book for me . . . I stand alone on the word of God . . . The B-I-B-L-E . . .”

Sometimes not compromising means we’re going to stand alone. It means others are going to look at us and think we’re judgmental and uptight, and we have to be okay with that. Because in the end, we’re not answering to man. We’re answering to God.

And with that, ladies and gentlemen, my moment is over . . . maybe . . .

Copyright 2021, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved 

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