
The Bible has a lot to say about compromise. While there are times when compromise is good and right, such as in marriage, there are also times when compromise is not good. The Bible warns against compromising God's commands and concessions with Scripture to ease tensions with non-believers. It is important to know when compromise is appropriate and when it is not. In general, compromise on preferences but not on principles is advised. Christians are advised to never compromise with sin, Satan, or Scripture.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Avoid spiritual compromise | God's truth |
Avoid compromise with the world | God's truth |
Avoid compromise with sin | Holiness |
Avoid compromise with Satan | Convictions |
Avoid compromise with Scripture | Faith |
What You'll Learn
Never compromise with sin
The Bible is clear that we should never negotiate or bargain with God when it comes to His commands. Deuteronomy 5:32 says, "Be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left".
So, how do we avoid compromising with sin?
Firstly, we must recognise that sin is subtle and deceptive. It doesn't present itself in an obvious, scary way. Instead, it lures us in with seemingly good causes and lures us into its trap. It presents itself as harmless, perhaps even beneficial, but it is a slippery slope that can lead to disastrous consequences.
Secondly, we must be aware of the areas in our lives where we are most vulnerable to sin. Wrong relationships, whether marriage, social, spiritual, political, or business, can lead us astray. We must be careful not to form close friendships with unbelievers, as bad company corrupts good morals. Our closest friends should be those who share our values and goals in Christ.
Thirdly, we must resist the temptation to compromise our convictions, even by a little. The devil is looking for a small crack in our defences, a tiny accommodation that can lead to the suppression of our righteousness and the destruction of our faith. We must stand firm and not give in to worldly pressures.
Finally, we must cling to Christ and the Word of God. Jesus conquered the enemy, and through Him, we can resist temptation and stand firm against sin. We must know and uphold God's Word, for it is impossible to have a genuine relationship with God without adhering to it.
In conclusion, compromising with sin is a dangerous path that can lead to disastrous consequences. We must be vigilant, aware of our vulnerabilities, and firmly rooted in our faith to avoid being lured away from God.
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Never compromise with Satan
The Bible offers many lessons on why we should never compromise with Satan.
Firstly, we must understand that the Christian life is a war, and we are soldiers. Our greatest enemy, Satan, is not looking to make friends but to capture prisoners. His goal is destruction, and he is gaining ground, even among the Church. Satan is skilled at luring us with spiritual compromises and enticing schemes, and we must be vigilant and prepared for his attacks.
The Bible warns us of the dangers of compromise in Exodus 32, where Aaron, despite having had profound spiritual experiences, quickly yields to the people's request and fashions a golden calf for Israel to worship. This is a clear example of spiritual compromise, where Aaron and the people of Israel tweak the worship of the true God to fit their liking. They wanted a more user-friendly god, one they could manipulate and one that was less scary and unseen. This is a dangerous path to go down, as it involves remaking God to be more accommodating to our desires.
We see another example of compromise in 2 Chronicles 17-20, where Jehoshaphat, a godly king, enters into a wrongful alliance with Ahab, one of the most despicable kings ever to coil on the throne of Israel. Jehoshaphat's desire to reunite the southern and northern kingdoms and his willingness to form social relationships with unbelievers for a good cause led him into a dangerous compromise. This compromise almost cost Jehoshaphat his life and had devastating consequences for his descendants and the whole southern kingdom.
The Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands. We must be careful not to negotiate, bargain, or compromise on matters that God has clearly addressed. We can compromise on preferences, such as the colour of the church carpet or the type of vehicle we drive, but not on our values and standards.
So, how do we avoid compromising with Satan?
Firstly, we must recognise that Satan works subtly. He won't come right out and ask us to do something blatantly sinful. Instead, he will present it in a way that seems wholesome and even right. He will lure us with seemingly good causes and entice us with worldly incentives. Therefore, we must be vigilant and aware of his tactics.
Secondly, we must be careful about the relationships we form. Wrong relationships can suck us in deeper and deeper into compromise. The Bible warns against wrong marriage relationships, wrong social relationships, wrong spiritual relationships, wrong political relationships, and wrong business relationships with unbelievers. While it is not wrong to form social relationships with unbelievers for the purpose of leading them to faith in Christ, we must be clear on our purpose and not compromise our standards.
Finally, we must always flee temptation and cling to Christ. Jesus conquered the enemy, so we can be free to do the same. He is the only one with the power to defeat the spiritual forces of evil. We must put our trust in Him and not give Satan any ground, not even an inch, as he will take a mile if we let him.
In conclusion, compromising with Satan is a dangerous path that can lead to devastating consequences. We must be aware of his subtle tactics, choose our relationships wisely, and always cling to Christ as our source of strength and protection.
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Never compromise with Scripture
Scripture is the Word of God, and as such, it is not open to negotiation or compromise. It is not optional for Christians, and we do not get a vote on whether we like what it says. We must uphold every chapter, and any attempt to change, suppress, or misuse Scripture creates a false god and opens the door to idolatry.
The Bible is clear that God does not condone compromising His commands. In Deuteronomy 5:32, we are told: "Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left". Similarly, Psalm 119:3 tells us that those who "do not compromise with evil" are blessed.
The story of Aaron in Exodus 32 illustrates the dangers of spiritual compromise. Despite witnessing God's power and glory firsthand, Aaron quickly yields to the people's request and crafts a golden calf for them to worship. This act of idolatry is a form of spiritual compromise, as the Israelites wanted a "god" that was more in line with their liking and less scary than the true God they had encountered.
Another example of compromise in the Bible is found in 2 Chronicles 17-20, where King Jehoshaphat forms an alliance with the wicked King Ahab. Jehoshaphat's desire for unity and his willingness to compromise lead him into a dangerous situation that almost costs him his life.
Compromise with Scripture often stems from our desire for an "easier," "better," or "more satisfying" way. We may think we know better than God and try to find loopholes or exceptions to His commands. However, compromising with God's Word will only lead to sadness and distance from Him, as Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.
To resist the temptation to compromise, we must know and abide by God's Word. We must also recognise that compromise is often subtle and can happen even to the most godly believers. It can sneak up on us through wrong relationships, social influences, or a desire to please others. Strong spiritual leaders who do not compromise the truth and pray selflessly are crucial in helping God's people avoid spiritual compromise.
In conclusion, when it comes to Scripture, there is no room for compromise. We must stand firm on the Word of God and be willing to obey and live by it, even when it goes against our preferences or the ways of the world.
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Never compromise with evil
The Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands. There are certain lines that should not be crossed, and there are times when compromise becomes evil.
The Bible offers several examples of spiritual compromise, and the disastrous consequences that follow. One such example is that of Aaron, who, despite having had several profound spiritual experiences, fashioned a golden calf for Israel to worship. Another example is that of Jehoshaphat, a godly king who fell into wrongful alliance with the wicked King Ahab, which almost cost him his life.
To avoid spiritual compromise, God’s people need strong leaders who do not compromise the truth, who pray selflessly, and who exercise necessary spiritual discipline. It is important to remember that compromise with the world brings disastrous consequences to God’s people. It may take time, but sin always has its consequences.
There are three key areas in which Christians should never compromise:
- Sin: Any agreement with sin is like voluntarily jumping into a canoe without paddles. At first, you may think you’re fine, but eventually, you will be carried into deeper, rougher waters. The moment we become covenant makers with wickedness, we become covenant breakers with holiness.
- Satan: The Christian life is a war, and our greatest enemy is skillfully luring us with spiritual compromises. The devil’s arguments often sound good, but they are like a ticking time bomb, set to detonate within anyone who swallows his lies.
- Scripture: A growing sinkhole for Christianity is our willingness to compromise when it comes to Scripture. But the Bible is not optional for the Christian faith. We don’t get to vote on whether or not we like what it says. As Christ-followers, we carry the task of upholding every chapter.
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Never compromise with the world
The Bible offers several lessons on why we should never compromise with the world.
Firstly, we must never compromise with sin. Sin does not play nicely and the temptation to sin is often too strong for us to remain unaffected. If we compromise even a little, sin will eventually carry us under. The moment we become covenant makers with wickedness, we break our covenant with holiness. James 4:4 says, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Secondly, we must never compromise with Satan. The Christian life is a war, and we are soldiers who need the armour of God to stand against the devil's enticing schemes. Satan is not looking to make friends; his goal is to capture prisoners of war and bring about destruction. Unfortunately, it seems he is gaining ground, even among the Church. The devil's arguments often sound good, but they are like a ticking time bomb, set to detonate within anyone who swallows his lies.
Thirdly, we must never compromise with Scripture. A growing sinkhole for Christianity is our willingness to compromise when it comes to Scripture. But the Bible is not optional for the Christian faith. We don't get to vote on whether or not we like what it says. As Christ-followers, we carry the task of upholding every chapter. It is impossible to have a genuine relationship with God without adhering to the Word of God.
We must also never compromise with the world through wrong relationships. Compromise with the world is a danger for even the most godly of believers. Compromise with the world is dangerous because of its subtlety. Satan is tricky and lures believers in with ostensibly good causes. We must be careful not to form primary friendships with unbelievers. Our closest friends must be those who share our values and goals in Christ.
Finally, we must never compromise with the world through wrong political relationships. While it may be helpful to link up politically with unbelievers to achieve common goals, we need to think it through very carefully and keep our goals and methods in view. Wrong political relationships can suck us into compromise with the world.
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Frequently asked questions
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” (Deuteronomy 5:32).
In general, we could say that we can compromise on preferences but not on principles. For example, we can compromise on the colour of the church carpet or the type of vehicle your family should drive. However, there should be no compromise over values and the standards that stem from those values.
Compromise with the world is a danger for even the most godly of believers. Compromise with the world brings disastrous consequences to God’s people. Compromise with the world is also dangerous because of its subtlety. It sucks you in through wrong relationships, such as wrong marriage relationships, wrong social relationships, wrong spiritual relationships, wrong political relationships, and wrong business relationships.