In today’s world, it’s easy to get swept up in the tide of changing values. But how can you stand strong when everyone else seems to be compromising? Join us as we uncover the keys to staying true to your beliefs, no matter what pressures come your way.

<p>In today’s world, it’s easy to get swept up in the tide of changing values. But how can you stand strong when everyone else seems to be compromising? Join us as we uncover the keys to staying true to your beliefs, no matter what pressures come your way.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

HopeLives365

Mark Finley

The Slippery Slope of Compromise

The things you fail to conquer now, you'll be tested on again.

Once an individual begins to compromise their integrity, it's much easier to take the next step downward and further downward in compromise.

You know, it's a dangerous thing to ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit upon our conscience, repeatedly yielding to the temptations of Satan in the face of the clear teachings of scripture is fatal.

Compromise is a spiritual disease that is sweeping across Christendom and affecting Adventists as well.

Now, it's important to discover the roots of spiritual compromise and to understand what it is so we can reject it.

Pastor and author Paul Chapman powerfully states it this way every generation must fight its own battles over compromise.

If we're to successfully steward the truth and pass it on to the next generation, we have no choice but to understand compromise, recognize it and reject it.

You know, if you speak a compromise in practically human terms, we might say compromise isn't that bad.

For example, if I say to my wife, what restaurant would you like to go to?

And she says, oh, maybe I'd like to go out to get a vegan pizza.

Or maybe I'd like to go out to get some Mexican.

Or Maybe I'd like to go out to get a vegan pizza.

Or maybe I'd like to go out to a salad bar.

And I say, you know, maybe I'm leaning 1 direction.

Or maybe my wife says, honey, when would you like to clean the garage?

I can't do it today, but I'll certainly do it tomorrow.

Or what if we ask, where do you want to go on vacation?

And so compromises in those practical terms simply show respect for another person.

They show that we're not rigid and hard-nosed and we don't enter into conflict.

But compromise in the spiritual sense is quite different.

As Chapman says is this, Another definition of compromise is to make a dishonorable or shameful confession.

This form of compromise is always wrong, especially when it comes to things of God.

He is the only 1 who should always get his way.

God is the only 1 who should always get his way.

Compromising the principles of God's word doesn't happen all at once.

There's that gradual, slow step downward.

It says the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Now that's true as we approach the major tasks of life.

If you have some big task, you got to begin.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Compromise often doesn't happen all at once.

It is that slow progression of concessions toward evil that lead us on that path downward.

1 of the clearest examples in the Bible of compromise is Pilate in the last days of Christ's life.

Now, the story of Pilate is really instructive because the mob is coming for us too, according to Revelation.

We too will face civil penalties and ultimately death.

Luke chapter 23 tells us the story of Pilate and compromise.

You remember the crowd is clamoring for the blood of Jesus.

They bring Jesus to Pilate and they begin to condemn him.

And they say, we found this fellow, Luke 23, verse 2, perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ the King.

Pilate interviews Jesus, and at the end of that interview, he sees in Christ demeanor, demeanor, godliness.

He sees in Christ's very attitude, not 1 of a criminal, but 1 who is innocent.

And Pilate says, I find no fault in this man.

Now, if you find no fault in him, what should you do?

But to satisfy the crowd, Pilate says, I find no fault with him.

Herod interrogates Christ and Herod finds no fault in him.

Lesson number 1, the things you fail to conquer now, you'll be tested on again.

Those sins that the Holy Spirit convicts you of today that you compromise.

God's going to bring you around them around you again and again.

He had compromised once and it made him easier to compromise the second time.

And we read about the story here in verse 14 and 15.

The scripture says that Pilate says again, you brought this man to me as 1 who misleads the people.

And indeed, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things which you accuse him.

Nor neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him.

And indeed, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

Why are you going to chastise Christ if you have already said that he is an innocent man?

If you find no fault in him, why chastise him?

Why subject an innocent man to the cruel, barbaric flagellation of strong-armed Roman soldiers just to appease the crowd?

Pilate thought if he showed a little blood, If he could show the bloody back of Christ, they would be satisfied.

But the beating only made the crowd more anxious for Christ's death.

It only made the crowd more incensed and eager to see Jesus die.

After beating, after the beating, Pilate gave them what he thought was an easy choice.

Will it be Jesus or the hardened criminal Barabbas?

It's almost amazing when you think about it.

Why he said to them the third time, what evil has he done?

He chastises him, he gives him the, he shows him the blood.

1 of the saddest verses in the Bible is verse 24.

So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.

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The Slippery Slope of Compromise

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