Small compromises, that is the question posed to my bible study group, “What are the consequences of small compromises? The short answer is that you become a small transmitting rubber tube (wait for part 4). However it begs the larger question, compromising on what? What are we compromising on when we compromise on our commitment to live for God and to obey Him in all things? Is it a compromise between right and wrong? Or a compromise between good and evil? Is there a difference? For that matter who determines what is right and wrong, good and evil?
The problem with the question is that it scratches at the surface, but that is how American Christians like it. Let us just scratch at the dirt that is on the surface, because to actually use a spade and unearth what lies beneath, might just convict us, we might not be as holy as we want to assume ourselves to be. If we scratch at the surface, we can go home at night, feeling smug and safe in our conviction that we are good, nice people. However, if we look deeper we might not like what we see.
Aren’t you glad I am not in your bible study group? I have never been one of those let’s play it safe type of guys; no, I am more of the, in for a penny, in for a pound kind of guy. So over the next couple of postings I am going to peel layers off of this onion so to speak and look at the question "What are the consequences of small compromises”?
The difference is, that we need to take a look at everything the question is inferring, that we know who decides what is right and wrong, good and evil, that we know what right and wrong is, that we know what good and evil is, and perhaps most importantly that we understand what a compromise is. I do not think that the modern American Christian understands any of what the question infers. Oh, I think we appreciate the question in the grand scale, as in – ‘Hitler was evil, Jesus was good’; but in our day-to-day lives, we miss the point of the question. Moreover, if we do not understand the question how can we answer it?
I am going to address briefly the first point in this posting, to be followed by an examination of the other points of consideration.
Who determines what is right and wrong, good and evil?
Now before you take the easy way out, stop and think about your answer. Because the answer you are about to say means that your own personal opinion does not matter, that like it or not good and evil are determined outside of yourself. That what you may think is personally acceptable is in fact evil; which says what about yourself?
This is not a question to fail to give serious thought to, this is not a question to say one thing to and do the opposite. Really think about your answer, only answer it when you are 100% positive of your answer. Because once you take that step there is no going back, once you accept that it is not you who decides right and wrong, good and evil, then you are accountable to someone for everything you say, think and do. How you not only answer that question but live it in your life determines life or death.
If you believe the following three passages are the truth then you have your answer.
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. “ Psalms 24:1-2
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. “John 1:1-5
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
Because Christians do not believe humans made themselves or occurred "naturally”, we do not believe we are free to do whatever suits us. Because God is the author of life, He and He alone determines the standards of behavior for those members of His creation. Right and wrong, Good and Evil, the issue is already decided, if you like it or not.
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