Compromise

Compromise

INTRODUCTION Material drawn from an editorial in the Moody Monthly by Dr. James M. Gray, 1929, and other sources. The word "compromise" does not appear in the Holy Scriptures, though it is a common word in our evangelical vocabulary today.

Dr. C. L Scofield outlines the section in Exodus 5:3; Exodus 7:16; Exodus 8:25-28; Exodus 10:11; Exodus 10:24-27, as the four compromises offered by Pharaoh to Moses and Israel.

Compromise is a common word in politics and in the settling of a labour dispute. In a labour strike where the men want an increase in pay of one dollar per day and management offers only twenty cents, an arbitrator begins to bargain with both sides seeking a compromise at probably a sixty-cent raise.

Both sides compromised and it is considered "good business" to accept it.

Neither side may be too happy with the result but they feel that it is the best that they can do under the circumstances and accept it as an honourable solution. Can we use this principle in religion? In our relationships with God? the world? sin? etc. Compromise according to the dictionary means, "A settlement of a dispute in which each concedes. "

Compromise involves conceding, concessions, sacrifice of principles; as Christians may we do this? No, ten thousand times NO.

Compromise involves the partial surrender of one’s position in concession to another party, (in our case the enemy, Satan and his cohorts).

Illustrations of compromise:

There are many illustrations of compromise today:

God’s command was clear-- Exodus 5:3, "Let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God. "

Exodus 7:16, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness." God’s commands are specific; God intended it to be obeyed to the full extent, in every detail.

Pharaoh’s compromise was but a partial fulfillment of the will of the Lord God.

God’s command specifically required that Israel be separated from Egypt by a three-day journey.

Why three days? Likely it was to be a picture of living on resurrection ground, separated from death and the world by three days, as Christ was.

Today God is issuing the same order of separation; Luke 5:4, "Launch out into the deep. " Go as far from the world and the place of sin as possible. Have you heard the story of the boy who fell out of bed and explained it this way, "I stayed too near where I got in. "

Similarly in the Kingdom people stay too near where they enter, compromise, and lose out spiritually with the Lord.

Beware of compromise: Launch out into the deep of divine strength; the deep of God’s infinite love; into the deep of His faithfulness. For Israel to have sacrificed in Egypt would have been an abomination to the Egyptians and would have resulted in riots and stoning for Israel; to sacrifice sheep and goats before the Egyptians would have been anathema for these were sacred animals to the Egyptians. The story is told of a Roman ambassador who was torn to pieces for accidentally killing a sacred animal in Egypt.

Moses will accept no compromise; he demands 100% obedience; true worship requires separation; separation from that which is wicked, profane and ungodly.

Politically the Israelites were slaves in Egypt but in matters of religion they must be free; completely free.

If Israel had sacrificed in Egypt, men would say, "I see no difference between us; our religions are the same; our aims and objectives are identical." The average man today feels that all religion is good as long as one is sincere; it is only by an uncompromising life that we can prove otherwise.

Men today prefer a compromise; a bit of religion, a little bit of the world and sin; the devil also wants a compromised, watered-down religion.

Launch out into the deep and away from a compromising, mediocre Christianity.

Instead of three days into the wilderness, go just over the border; just a mile or so outside of Egypt.

It sounds good! Separated, no more Egyptians. Did Moses accept it? Certainly not!

Pharaoh was afraid that once outside the land they might try to escape to Canaan and wanted to keep an eye on them and bring them back if necessary.

Moses rejects it for the line of separation is too close; too limited; too near Egypt and the world; too near the leeks and flesh pots.

After conversion launch right out; don’t compromise; be baptized and maintain a bold testimony; burn all the bridges behind you so that you can’t return to world. When you get converted burn the cigarettes, smash the liquor bottles, destroy gambling paraphernalia; make a loud profession for Christ and stand by it.

Make the cleavage between you and the former life as great as possible.

Don’t be like the boy who took a bathing suit in case he was tempted to go swimming in forbidden waters.

Romans 13:14, ?Make not provision for the flesh." To follow Christ and then return to the world is a terrible thing; Satan is well pleased with "borderline Christians."

If you are such, quickly rebuke Satan, quit compromising and launch way out into the deep. What is God’s reaction to these borderline individuals? He says they are neither cold nor hot (Revelation 3:15-16) and He will spue them out of His mouth.

Exodus 10:8-11, "Let only the men go. " Pharaoh and Satan knew that if the men went the full three days into the wilderness to sacrifice that they would soon return to their wives and families and slavery. The devil will let you go to Church if you go back home and serve him in the same manner afterwards-ie. giving God one hour a week and self and Satan 167 hours. This is a subtle compromise; parents serving the Lord but not including their children; they are our precious gift to give back to the Creator.

Men in the wilderness and children in Egypt-What an anomaly! Can one serve both? No. A friend of mine in Swift Current, Canada, has claimed the promise of Acts 16:31, "and thy house" for all his children and grandchildren and God has faithfully, abundantly caused them all to serve God as one happy united family.

Beware of the compromise of sending a delegate to Church or prayer meeting; take the whole family; Moses said everyone must go, male, female, old and young.

Exodus 10:24-27, “Let the people go but not cattle." Would Moses accept this wonderful offer? Everybody could go, even to make the three-day journey to the very spot where God wanted them to go and worship. No.

Moses rejected it for it represented incomplete obedience; incomplete obedience means compromise. How could they sacrifice without animals? Impossible!

How can we worship without presenting our possessions to give Him as He requires? A man being baptized discovered that he had left his wallet in his trousers, took it out and gave it to a friend saying, "Please hold this-it has nothing to do with the baptism." The minister rightly replied, "I either baptize you with the wallet or not at all." (Story from Erasto Aranus)

Here is one point where we cannot permit compromise; God told them to go and worship with sacrifices but didn’t specify which animals or how many.

God demands us unconditionally-all that we have; our wives, children and possessions.

There can be no compromise; we cannot bargain with God; He is Lord of ALL or not Lord at all.

Jesus is worthy of all-let not one hoof remain behind; everything to Him we give.

Gladly my all to Him I give-my mind, strength, heart, soul, body, and possessions.

CONCLUSION Note the subtleness of Satan’s compromises:

Moses refused to accept the four compromises and held out for 100% obedience which was finally granted after the death of the firstborn on that first Passover night. When Paul was converted he made a clean break with his past life.

James 1:27 speaks of "Pure religion and undefiled," pure, not mixed, not watered down, no compromise.

Separation from the world is an indispensable quality in true service for Christ. A salvation that left Israel in Egypt would have been a failure. May a Christian compromise? No.

Why? Because compromising is sacrificing principles.

REVIEW QUESTIONS