The False Illusion of Truth & Compromise

“Compromise is the cancer of the church, and we must rid Christ’s body of it. While Christians can compromise on preferences, they cannot compromise on principles. We can’t be one way on Sunday and another on Monday. This is a major problem among Christians in America today. We don’t take a stand. We don’t keep our standards. We merely shift to satisfy society.” – Tony Evans

Compromise is one word that we can refer to as being similar to a two-edged sword. In certain quarters like business, marriage, and politics, this word will likely yield positive results. However, when it comes to Christianity and the church, compromise will only and always be negative.

The devil is subtle. He knows Christians far more than most of us know about ourselves. As a result, he knows that we will hardly compromise or fall into error knowingly. Because of this, he has found different ways to convince us that certain actions are not a big deal. We are gradually looking at certain biblical standards as outdated or irrelevant.

Gradually, the church is allowing the world to creep in and we are diluting the Word that we should defend with our lives. The false illusion of truth and compromise have become more pronounced in the church today than it has ever been. This post will discuss a few ways we have allowed ourselves to compromise and present a false illusion of truth. Before then, let’s check out some statistics.

Statistics Showing the State of US Churches

Recently, Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research carried out a survey to find out the state of US churches. From this survey, it was evident that there was little or no teaching of apologetics, and the teaching of the Word lacked depth and so much compromise. Many so-called Christians don’t know the basics of their faith, who they believe in, or why they are believers.

Below are some of the statistics from this survey:

• 56% of US evangelicals say that God accepts all religions including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
• 26% of US evangelicals believe that the Bible contains helpful accounts of several ancient myths, but it isn’t literally true.
• 37% of US evangelicals consider gender identity to be a matter of choice.
• 43% of US evangelicals believe that Jesus was a great teacher, however, He wasn’t God.

When you go through these numbers, you will agree that they are highly disturbing. The Christian faith has been watered down so much. Between 40% and 50% of Christians don’t consider the Bible to be accurate. With this information, it is not surprising how much compromise has crept into the church.

God’s word never changes. We change and what’s worse is we adjust the bar to suit our desires and give ourselves a false sense of comfort.

How the Church is Accepting the False Illusion of truth and Compromise

Here are some ways the church is accepting compromise in the modern world:

Words

Does what you say truly matter? The world agrees with people who speak without thinking. It has become normal to say, “I’m calling a spade as it is,” while hurting other people. This is a lie from hell. In several parts of the scripture, we are warned to watch what we say.

Many Christians are getting trapped by the world’s standard of using words. It has become normal to use swear words and speak negatively. What we forget is that the words we speak have effects on our lives. If you are going to be victorious, then you must begin to speak words in that line. You cannot afford to mix with people that speak anyhow. Soon, you’d begin to speak like them and start sharing similar experiences.

Politics

This is one area where the church has compromised very often. We have a responsibility to evangelize the gospel, yet we want to be liked. Because of this, we become diplomatic with the truth, never speak for righteousness, or avoid involvement altogether. Christians don’t want to get canceled so they prefer to stick to the world’s standards.

Psalms 1:1 (ESV) says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” 

If you are going to be righteous, then you cannot fall to the world’s standards. Expect people to hate and persecute you for your opinion. You shouldn’t be afraid to stand for Christ in the face of political persecution.

We have an unhealthy desire to be loved at all costs. Being a true Christian actually means you’ll be hated for your faith.

Media

Once upon a time, what we saw on TV was ethical and edifying. Today, we are exposed to all kinds of media with unethical and unedifying content. You will hardly find wholesome content these days. The world is okay with sin and it seems the church is not having an issue with it either.

It has become alright to consume entertainment that contains a lot of sin. But the scripture warns us to guard our hearts with all diligence. If you don’t protect your eyes and ears from what goes in, evil content will permeate your soul. It is only a matter of time before you start to act like the people of the world.

Is the Great Falling Away Happening Now?

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Apostle Paul predicted the “Great Falling Away.” These are the times that will precede the second coming of our Messiah and the gathering of the saints to Him. When you consider all the prophecies in the scripture and the pieces of evidence before our eyes, it is clear that we are experiencing the fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy.

As we begin to experience more perilous times and the arrival of the Anti-Christ, believers must beware more than ever. We cannot be deceived into getting lost in sin or accepting the world’s standards. As God’s remnant on the earth, we should stand strong in our faith. Get acquainted with the Word and let the Holy Spirit be your guide each day.

Where there is truth. Compromise cannot exist.

How can you avoid compromise?

Have you been wondering how you can avoid compromise as a Christian in today’s world? Here are a few tips to help you out:

Get back to the basics

By getting back to the basics, we mean finding your way back to the Old Time Religion. The basics of Christianity have always been the consistent study of the Word and prayer. As you spend time doing both, God fills you with Himself to a point that nothing else but His presence matters.

Have a community of believers who hold you accountable

The Bible didn’t say forsake not the assembly of the righteous for nothing. Asides from the corporate anointing that you enjoy from worshipping with other believers, another benefit you will enjoy is accountability. They can keep you in check so that you don’t stray from the expectations that God has for you. Don’t just depend on your church for this kind of accountability. Link up with believers outside the church as well. There are several options including GodKulture.

Prayer without ceasing

Consistent prayer is one of the ways to finetune your mind and stay focused on God. In the place of prayer, God refreshes our spirits, helping us to become more like Him. According to the scripture, the more we stay in the place of prayer, the more we are transformed into His nature. When you have God’s very nature, it is almost impossible to be overcome by compromise.

Protect and celebrate good doctrine

Good doctrine is the foundation of our faith. Anywhere you find it, ensure that you protect and celebrate it. This means that you should attend a church that preaches good doctrine. It also means that you should advocate for good doctrine in your sphere of influence. Don’t shy away from standing for the Word of God.

Be led by the Spirit of God

The Spirit of God is the only one that truly knows God. If you are going to figure out who God is and follow His Word, you have to be led by His Spirit. Through prayer and the Word, you get to connect with God’s Spirit more. Learn to hear His voice and obey His prompts. He will always speak, you should learn to always respond.

Pray for your leaders and pastors

In our world today, Christian leaders and pastors are constantly under pressure. From the pressure to hold on to the tenets of the faith to handling the pressures of the offices that they hold. They come under fire for any little mistake because people forget that they are mortal beings like every one of us. Realize that the best of men are still men, even at their best. Because of that, you must pray for grace and strength to withstand the pressures that they encounter daily.

Don’t cover your light

There’s a popular hymn that we used to sing some years back, “this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Each one of us is a light on earth and we have a responsibility to let this light shine. Shining is a choice that we must make. You have to be intentional about being a light in this dark world. Don’t cover your light or let anything prevent you from shining. Matthew 5:13-16 refers to us as light and salt to illuminate the earth and give it taste through our works. Remember this as you go about your daily dealings.