As we have seen in our series, “Jesus’ letters to the churches”, beginning at Pergamos, the church starts to take steps down the slippery road of compromise and because unfortunately, this journey continues today, we the church need to take a closer look at this subject.
There are times when compromise is good. Compromise is a basic skill needed in marriage, and in other situations in which keeping the peace is more desirable than getting one’s own way. In certain other matters however, compromise is not good.
The Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands: “Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left” (Deut 5:32). God is holy, and His ways are right. In matters that God has clearly addressed, we should never negotiate, bargain, or compromise.
Jesus rebuked the church of Thyatira for their theological and moral compromise: “I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (Rev 2:20). There are certain lines that should not be crossed, and there are times when compromise becomes evil.
As we go through this world, we will hear many calls to compromise. The “fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25), the pull to follow “hollow and deceptive philosophy” (Colossians 2:8), and “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) all tempt us to compromise in areas we should not. Often, the temptation to compromise is heightened by the fear of being rejected or criticized.
What makes compromise so dangerous is the subtle way it approaches us. Compromise, by definition, doesn’t involve a wholesale surrender to worldly ways or ideals; rather, it accommodates them. Most of us would reject the idea of deserting Jesus and embracing an idol, but compromise never asks us to do that. Compromise says that we can have the idol and keep Jesus, too.
It is vital to know when compromise is appropriate and when it is not. In general, we could say that we can compromise on preferences but not on principles. For example, what should we eat for dinner tonight? (preference)
But there should be no compromise on principles and the standards that stem from them. Here are some examples of things about which we should not compromise:
In addition, we must be careful to live out our biblical beliefs. It is pointless to know and speak up for truth if we do not also act on that truth in the way we live our lives (James 2:14–17, 26). Not compromising includes not being hypocritical. When our intention is to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God and obey Him in all things, we are less likely to compromise.
Thankfully, resisting compromise is not up to our own strength or efforts. Rather, God has equipped us (2 Peter 1:3), and He is with us. Philippians 2:12–13 encourages, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Also, God has given us other believers (the church) to encourage us and walk alongside us, and we do the same for them (Hebrews 10:24–25; Galatians 6:1–5).
When we are focused on God and living in active relationship with Him and His people, we come to understand His goodness and that true life is in Him (Psalm 34:8; John 10:10). We long to follow Him in all our ways and to share the good news of salvation with others. The better we know God, the better we can resist the temptation to compromise His truth.