What are you willing to compromise in your faith for the sake of the world?
What is one of the biggest problems facing the church today? I believe that it is compromise. The church is trying to appease the world today by making itself acceptable and current.
Every time we shrink back, we compromise. Every time we don't stand up, we compromise. Every time we see a brother in sin and do nothing, we compromise. Every time we take our tithe money and spend it on worldly things, we compromise. Every time we say we're too busy and we can help, we compromise. The Scriptures say in Galatians 6:1-2, when we see a brother in sin, we who are spiritual are supposed to help him--not say, "we're too busy; don't want to get involved; none of my business; let the pastor do it"-- or just talk about it to other people. We're supposed to go to him and help him out of his sin.
Compromise is like going to sleep. We close our eyes and we slowly drift off into darkness, wake up the next day, and we think everything is all right. Why are we so afraid to have a opinion? The world has an opinion and they have the right to their opinion but we also have the right to our opinion. The world just wants us to close our eyes and go to sleep and compromise everything we believe--to be more like them and less like Jesus.
Why do we worry so much about what the world thinks? Why do we want too even look like them? We are believers in Jesus Christ and we need to stand up for Him. When I was studying to be a biblical counselor, the gentleman who was teaching the class said that the biggest threat to the church today was compromise. This was back in the 70s. I thought this was a little crazy--why would the church compromise its beliefs? But as it turns out today, he was absolutely right. Think about the different beliefs of churches that call themselves Christian. Culture is pressing in on the church to conform its way of thinking to the world, and many churches, in an effort to be culturally-relevant have compromised their beliefs to appeal to the world (though they would probably say they have not). How can we become culturally-relevant for the sake of winning some for Christ? What would that mean? The Apostle Paul did not embrace sin as a way of winning the lost; he stood firmly and vocally against sin. Just as Jesus, he was willing to demonstrate the gospel message by relating with those he was trying to reach. In other words, when he was with the Jews, he related as a Jew; when he was with Gentles, he related as a Gentile (without breaking the Law). We must be willing to bring Christ into our culture and to stand up for His teachings and the gospel to show them the way out. Compromise lets them believe that their lifestyle and behaviors are acceptable to Christ, when in reality they are not.
Being a Christian is not easy. Trials will come our way. What side of the fence are you going to stand on--the Kingdom of God or the world? "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).
Jesus teaches that the world will hate His disciples, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:21-22). Do you think that's true today?
The Apostle Paul is encouraging newly converted Gentile believers to, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) in the midst of their pressing-in culture.
The Apostle James challenges us, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (Jas 1:22).
I don't say these things to offend you, but to encourage you. Be men and women of courage, be strong and stand up for Jesus. We like to think about WWJD (What would Jesus do?). He says to stand firm in your faith. He was willing to die for that position. Jesus stood up for us; we need to stand up for Him. We need to be relevant to Jesus, not the world and lovingly stand up for the gospel. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Mt 10:32-33).
Well, now you know what I think; tell me what you think.
Click on the comments, read what other people think, and leave a comment of your own.
STANDINGFORHIM
What is one of the biggest problems facing the church today? I believe that it is compromise. The church is trying to appease the world today by making itself acceptable and current.
Every time we shrink back, we compromise. Every time we don't stand up, we compromise. Every time we see a brother in sin and do nothing, we compromise. Every time we take our tithe money and spend it on worldly things, we compromise. Every time we say we're too busy and we can help, we compromise. The Scriptures say in Galatians 6:1-2, when we see a brother in sin, we who are spiritual are supposed to help him--not say, "we're too busy; don't want to get involved; none of my business; let the pastor do it"-- or just talk about it to other people. We're supposed to go to him and help him out of his sin.
Compromise is like going to sleep. We close our eyes and we slowly drift off into darkness, wake up the next day, and we think everything is all right. Why are we so afraid to have a opinion? The world has an opinion and they have the right to their opinion but we also have the right to our opinion. The world just wants us to close our eyes and go to sleep and compromise everything we believe--to be more like them and less like Jesus.
Why do we worry so much about what the world thinks? Why do we want too even look like them? We are believers in Jesus Christ and we need to stand up for Him. When I was studying to be a biblical counselor, the gentleman who was teaching the class said that the biggest threat to the church today was compromise. This was back in the 70s. I thought this was a little crazy--why would the church compromise its beliefs? But as it turns out today, he was absolutely right. Think about the different beliefs of churches that call themselves Christian. Culture is pressing in on the church to conform its way of thinking to the world, and many churches, in an effort to be culturally-relevant have compromised their beliefs to appeal to the world (though they would probably say they have not). How can we become culturally-relevant for the sake of winning some for Christ? What would that mean? The Apostle Paul did not embrace sin as a way of winning the lost; he stood firmly and vocally against sin. Just as Jesus, he was willing to demonstrate the gospel message by relating with those he was trying to reach. In other words, when he was with the Jews, he related as a Jew; when he was with Gentles, he related as a Gentile (without breaking the Law). We must be willing to bring Christ into our culture and to stand up for His teachings and the gospel to show them the way out. Compromise lets them believe that their lifestyle and behaviors are acceptable to Christ, when in reality they are not.
Being a Christian is not easy. Trials will come our way. What side of the fence are you going to stand on--the Kingdom of God or the world? "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).
Jesus teaches that the world will hate His disciples, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:21-22). Do you think that's true today?
The Apostle Paul is encouraging newly converted Gentile believers to, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) in the midst of their pressing-in culture.
The Apostle James challenges us, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (Jas 1:22).
I don't say these things to offend you, but to encourage you. Be men and women of courage, be strong and stand up for Jesus. We like to think about WWJD (What would Jesus do?). He says to stand firm in your faith. He was willing to die for that position. Jesus stood up for us; we need to stand up for Him. We need to be relevant to Jesus, not the world and lovingly stand up for the gospel. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Mt 10:32-33).
Well, now you know what I think; tell me what you think.
Click on the comments, read what other people think, and leave a comment of your own.
STANDINGFORHIM
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