When one read the Book of Jude, it\u2019s obvious the main points that he was attempting to get over, was a battle cry for the early Church not to compromise, but to fight the good fight of faith to preserve Christian orthodoxy, while satanic forces launch an all out attack with its powerful forces to bring the true church to its knees. His war cry was for the Church to become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and stand \u2018firm\u2019 in defense of biblical truth.<\/p>\n
As a member of \u2018Reformed Theology\u2019, it is interesting to speculate what the church would be like today if Martin Luther had compromised, during the Protestant Reformation. Scholars note that the pressure was heavy on Luther to temper his teachings on the five solas, (Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and glory to God alone), which make up the Doctrine of Salvation. Believe it or not, many of Martin\u2019s friends urged him to soften his message, for the sake of harmony in the church. It is said that Luther prayed fervently and earnestly, that the effect of his teaching would not be divisive.<\/p>\n
Noted British preacher, G. Campbell Morgan, once said, “It is a remarkable thing that the church of Christ persecuted has been the church of Christ pure. On the other hand, the church of Christ patronized has been the church of Christ impure.”<\/p>\n
Statistics show that many Americans, who proclaim to be disciples of Christ, only want enough of His glory to make it to heaven. They\u2019ve been caught up in erroneous teachings, in these last days, in areas of Deification of man \u2013 putting man first in their lives: Jesus came to make YOU bigger and better. Challenging the authority of God\u2019s Word \u2013 God didn\u2019t really mean that \u2026 there\u2019s no literal Hell \u2026 the Bible is a collection of religious traditions. Legalism \u2013 one\u2019s own view of holiness \u2026 Hyper grace \u2013 their own standard of what\u2019s acceptable; and Universal Reconciliation \u2013 at the end, EVERYONE eventually goes to heaven, because of Jesus at the Cross!<\/p>\n
Sad to say, this is where we are today as a society and culture: and we\u2019ve somehow stuck Christianity in the midst of all this. Many people want to go to church \u2014 when they get around to it. They believe that they\u2019re already going to heaven, but they still want to live in sin. Somehow, they feel that they can party and sin and commit immorality, lie when necessary, cheat if the circumstance dictates it, steal when the window of opportunity presents itself, and even display hate and seek revenge when someone crosses them.
\nNo \u2026 none of us are perfect, and yes, we do fall short of God\u2019s mark for mankind, but the Word of God says, in 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”<\/p>\n
For most Christians, compromised started when small \u2018weights\u2019 began to pull us away from our first love, which is Jesus Christ. Scripture reveals to us, that, if there\u2019s a breakdown in our relationship with God, it is only a matter of time before compromises start working their way into our lives, which causes us to start lowering our standards, that have already been established by the Word of God.<\/p>\n
So, how do we compromise the Word of God?<\/p>\n
When we fail to accept God\u2019s Word, as expressed in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, \u201cFor the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.\u201d The ignorance of God\u2019s Word causes us to live too close to the world\u2019s standards, according to 1 Peter I 13-15, \u201cSo prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God\u2019s obedient children. Don\u2019t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn\u2019t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 We compromise, when we place the desires of our hearts, and of family and friends, ahead of God\u2019s Word. Apostle Peter said to the husband and wife team of Ananias, with Sapphira, in Acts 5:4, \u201cWhile it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.\u201d And in 1 Corinthians 10:13, \u201cThe temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.\u201d Saints, we will NEVER have to give in to temptations.<\/p>\n
\u2022 When we fear being \u201clabeled by our friends: There are times that we, as believers, worry more about what our so-called worldly friends think of us, more than our [Father] God. We don\u2019t want our close friends to see us a \u2018self-righteous, so there\u2019s a tendency to compromise to fit in. Scripture clearly teaches that we are to blend in, but be the ones to bring about influence and change. According to Acts 17, the Apostle visited Athens and he engaged the culture that he understood well, being of Greek and Jewish descent. He quotes Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and poets, and then built a bridge between he and the people, to introduce the gospel. The Bible states in Acts 17:22-23, \u201cSo Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: \u201cMen of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: \u2018To an Unknown God.\u2019 This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I\u2019m telling you about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 When we try to stay relevant in today\u2019s culture. Recently, I\u2019m sure that many of you have heard that Snoop Dogg has produced the number one best selling Gospel CD on the Gospel Billboard Chart, with several known gospel artist. On recent media outlets, they\u2019ve shown that Snoop character hasn\u2019t changed from his old nature.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, nowhere in sacred Scripture do we see nor hear of God\u2019s people engage in our culture with profanity and crude language; and yet, week-in and week-out, we see celebrities who invoked the name of Christ in their interviews, as though, they have a relationship with him, but, when in roles, they swear and curse the same as those, who have never professed Christ.<\/p>\n
A well-known Pastor in the Seattle Washington area was voted out of office by his governing Presbyter, because he constantly use profanity to explain Scriptures to the congregation. I\u2019ve been in automobiles, riding with Christians when their Christian friends called them on their car phones, and halfway into the conversation, you could hear curse words, and you could tell it was part of their normal conversation, when explaining events or situations, that \u2018irked\u2019 them. On the other hand, I\u2019ve been in serious conversations with those who don\u2019t profess Christ as Lord, and were livid about something they saw or heard, and yet, they are very apologetic after saying a few, what society has deemed, \u2018BAD\u2019 words.<\/p>\n
In conclusion: one of the most noted Theologians and Church Reformers of the 21 Century [Dr. R C Sproul] says it best, \u201cUndiscerning believers who partner in a common spiritual cause with unbiblical forms of Christianity or other false religions open the door wide to satanic corruption. The appearance of unity, no matter how enticing, is not worth sacrificing the clarity of the gospel. Furthermore, embracing those heretical systems falsely reassures their followers that all is well between them and God, when actually they are headed for eternal damnation. Partnering in a spiritual enterprise with unbelievers helps Satan muddy the doctrinal waters, and it cripples our ability to preach the need for repentance. Scripture is clear about how we are to respond when the very foundations of the Christian faith are under attack: our duty is to contend, not compromise.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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