By David Heath
Mayo Mountain Church
We hear the word “compromise” used a lot today. In the halls of Congress they tell us, “compromise is a good thing, the American people demand it.” I think we all have seen where that has gotten us.
As Christians, what happens when we compromise our beliefs? When you compromise the truth for a lie, what happens to the truth?
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the biblical definition of marriage. Where does that leave the church? Five justices of the Supreme Court took it upon themselves to change traditional marriage between a man and a woman that had been ordained by God in the Garden of Eden. Now we are told that we have to compromise our belief because the courts tell us, “This is the new law of the land.”
Which laws do we have to follow, God’s or five Supreme Court justices’ that pull this law out of thin air? What does the bible say about compromise?
Psalm 119:1-4: Joyful are people of integrity, Who follow the instruction of the Lord. (2) Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him in their hearts. (3) They do not compromise with evil, and walk in his paths. (4) You have charge us to keep your commandments carefully. (NLT)
When the church compromises the truth of God’s word, it is no longer a church. It may look like a church on the outside, the building may still be called a church building, but if there is no truth to be found there, it is no longer any benefit to God.
Revelation 3:15: I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. 16 but since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! (NLT)
The church has an opportunity to be a light in a dark time in our society; it can and should be a beacon for truth.
John 8:31-32: Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching, 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. (NLT ) It is like we woke up one morning and everything that once was wrong is now right and everything that was once right is now wrong.
Isaiah 5:20: What sorrow for those who say That evil is good and good is evil, That dark is light and light is dark. That bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. ( NLT)
People need the truth today and the place they should be able to find the truth is the church. They will not find it in a place where political corruption prevails and not in a place where they are compromising the truth, trying to fit into today’s culture.
When the early church came under persecution, it did not pray for the government to change or the persecution to stop, but prayed for “boldness.” (Acts 4:29) As Christians, we have to understand this world hated Christ and it will also hate you if you don’t compromise your faith. (John 15:18)
I believe Christ is preparing the church for persecution. Christians will not conform to political corruption or pressure from the government to disregard their faith. Four of the descending justices of the Supreme Court said “in the next few years Christians would face persecution.” I also believe this is going to be a great opportunity for the Church to be “that beacon for the truth;” people are searching for the truth and they will be drawn to it.
Maybe it will take persecution to wake the church up. Christ is the head of the church and He said that “the gates of hell would not prevail against it.” The true church will stand, but we will have to stand on the truth.
Christ is truth, He is life, and He gives us freedom from our brokenness and our sins. The true body of Christ does not hate anyone; our mission is to share Christ’s love with everyone we come in contact with. We are the “watchman on the wall” and we have to tell folks the truth. If the enemy is coming, we have to tell them. If they are living in sin, “they need to know the truth so they can be set free.”
Satan’s mission on this earth is to “kill, steal, and to rob.” Christ came to save those that are lost. We have to make a decision in our lives as to who we are going to serve. “There is no middle ground,” either you are for God or you are against him.”
Joshua 24:14-15: So fear The Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshipped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve The Lord alone. 15. But if you refuse to serve The Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve The Lord.” (NLT)
We all have to make the choice of what and who we will follow. I pray that will be Christ.
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Keep looking up, He is coming soon! Amen.
