STANDING FAST

            In the world of politics and contracts, negotiators view compromise as a virtue. Politicians pat themselves on the back when they reach a compromise. In the realm of values, especially Biblical values, compromise is not only weakness, it is sin. The believer is to "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong," (1 Cor. 16:13). Standing, not compromise is the Biblical standard. Compromise involves making concessions. When we concede Biblical obedience, those concessions are always detrimental. The result is ruin. Compromise ultimately leads to the degeneration of values.

            Compromise is disobedience to God's will and Word. As absolute truth, the Bible reveals God's will, work and Person. One who seeks to please the Lord derives his or her values from God's Word. These values are contrary to the values of our culture. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts," (Isa. 55:8, 9). When the believer makes concessions with the world, he misrepresents, as well as rejects, God's values.

            Compromise often occurs out of good motives. David had a pure motive in his desire to get the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He compromised, however, by moving the Ark the same way the Philistines did, rather than in God's prescribed way. Though David was sincere in his motives, God was displeased.

            Few causes are closer to the heart of a Christian than winning the lost. The obedient believer will be a witness for Christ, and will willingly and happily support and promote missions. But evangelism is often the excuse for compromise. Some years ago area churches wanted to bring in an evangelist for an area wide crusade. The committee sought the support of Bible believing churches as well as churches that reject Biblical authority. Fellowship Baptist Church and other fundamental churches could not support that cause. The naive pastor of a nearby Bible believing church tried persuading me to support the cause. When I asked him how he could violate the Biblical teaching of separation, he answered, "We want to get our share of the converts." Evangelism is a great cause, but no cause is worth compromising Biblical truth. We seek to evangelize without compromising any Biblical values.

            We must be on guard in our battle against the social sins of our day. The murder of the unborn, the popular acceptance of homosexuality and lesbianism, and the favorable status of the "alternative family" are marks of a society gone awry. As we seek to influence our culture to a moral foundation, we must not compromise Biblical values by locking arms with those who are for morality but who violate other Biblical mandates. When pulling together means pulling away from God, an obedient Christian is willing to stand alone.

            A compromising believer or church confuses everyone. Compromise not only sends a mixed message, it is a mixed message. Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Compromise causes the salt to lose its saltiness and hides the light under a bushel.

            When Americans besieged Boston in the Revolutionary War, they flew an early flag that was supposed to show their intentions. Thirteen stripes told the British that the thirteen colonies were independent. However, the flag also carried the British Union Jack. The Declaration of Independence was almost a year old before General Washington forever removed the Union Jack and the confusion from our flag.

            May our message always be clear, unclouded by the compromise of truth. May we always follow Paul instruction to "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. 1:13 .