The ease of compromise is real. When faced with a situation in which a choice has to be made, it is easy to compromise what we believe and teach. The Bible tells us “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). They had a choice to make between the God of heaven who had supplied them with the defeat of all their enemies, or they could chose between the god of the people whom they had destroyed. Today we have the same choices. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Let us look at four areas wherein we can compromise what we believe and teach.
- Who will we worship? During Joshua’s day they had a choice to make about whom they will worship; we have the same choices today. There are many ways in which we have choices to make about our worship. Some may worship entertainment. This would be entertainment that keeps us away from worship of God. This could take place on Saturday night or it could take place upon the first day of the week. Any thing that we choose to place before God is really a compromise of what the Bible teaches.
- Where will we worship? There is a call for us to come together to worship God. Hebrews 10:24 states, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” In dealing with the abuse of the Lord’s Supper, Paul, by inspiration stated that the church is to come together (1 Corinthians 10:17-18, 20, 33). We can worship God in the great outdoors. We can worship God within our houses; but there is a time when the church is to come together as a group to offer up worship to God. We can tell ourselves that where we worship God is not important, but that is a compromise of what the Bible teaches.
- When will we worship God? As we study the New Testament church we find that there was a set time for them to come together to worship. Paul abode in Troas in order to worship with the saints at the appropriate time. In Acts 20:7 we find, “when the disciples came together to break bread.” The “breaking of bread” is part of the worship. They were coming together at a set time and had been coming together at this set time. Paul knew when this time was and waited to worship with them. When we are teaching someone the Gospel, we teach that they must attend worship at the appropriate time and place. We cannot compromise what the Bible teaches on this subject either.
- Which item of worship can we compromise? If the Bible tells us to sing, can we leave this item off? The Bible teaches us that singing is teaching and admonishing one another (Colossians 3:16). We can compromise the truth by not teaching the truth in our songs! We can compromise the truth not singing at all for all are to sing! We can compromise the truth by not showing up for worship! We have choices to make in our worship will we stand for the truth, what the Bible says, or will we make compromises?
- For whom will we work? Will we make compromises in this area as well? Yes we can work to support our families the Bible teaches this (1 Timothy 5:8). But we also must work for the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:9). If we are working to support our families we are working for the Lord! But let us never forget that even in our daily labors we can compromise what we teach and believe when confronted with a choice.
There are consequences for every choice that we make. Some are in the here and now; some will be in the judgment. Really the choice is which do we fear the most? Man or God? Eternity is never ending. This life will end and the choice will determine where we will be for eternity. Let us not compromise the truth for the here and now. Let us make our choices in view of eternity.
Love, Keith
