The Nature of Compromise (Part 1)

It's been said that "compromise is the sacrifice of one right or good in hopes of retaining another---but often resulting in the loss of BOTH!"  Unfortunately, too often this is true.  Compromise isn't always bad because it is a useful tool when trying to reach a settlement or in resolving a conflict between two parties.  But when we compromise on serious issues of faith and morality, now that's a different story.

Compromise Defined: There are several definitions for compromise.  The one I want to emphasize is--to settle by concessions on both sides or to surrender (one's principles).  It is this surrendering of one's principles that makes compromise so dangerous.  It's one thing to compromise when discussing where your family may vacation.  There will always be a "give and take" when trying to reach a decision of that nature.  But to compromise in one's faith or morality is totally different.  This type of compromise can dangerously affect your life!

Nature of Compromise

Compromise often starts out as something "small and insignificant."  But what happens is that it becomes a slow digression that ultimately leads to more and more serious compromises.  Compromise weakens our spirit man each time we let our guard down and compromise on an issue that our spirit tells us we shouldn't.  Make no mistake about it, every time we compromise we "lose."  Compromise is a subtle and deadly poison.  It takes a careful examination of our lives to rid ourselves of compromise.

What People Compromise

People can compromise on many issues.  You will find they compromise on their morals, principles they know are true, their church attendance, issues with children, their dress, language, conversation, integrity, and the list goes on.


A quick survey of statistics from the Barna Group is evidence that Christians are compromising many of their basic beliefs:

• Christians spend seven times more time on entertainment as they do on spiritual activities.
• Desiring to have a "close personal" relationship with God ranks 6th among the 21 life goals tested.
• Among "born again" adults interviewed none stated that the "single most important goal in their life is to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ."
• Two-thirds of teens know the basic teachings of the Christian faith, yet 2/3 reject the existence of Satan, 3/5 reject the existence of the Holy Spirit, and 1/2 believe that Jesus sinned.
• When in comes to "absolute moral truth" one 44% of born again adults and 9% of born again teens believe it exists.
• Activities that are deemed "morally acceptable" among the majority of Americans include gambling (61%), co-habitation (60%), sexual fantasies (59%).
• Other disturbing trends of "acceptable" behaviors: having an abortion (45%), sexual relationship outside of marriage (42%), pornography (38%), profanity (36%) drunkenness (35%), and homosexual sex (30%).

These statistics and others should be an alarm that compromise is prevalent not only in society as a whole, but in the church as well.  What are you compromising?  Are there areas where you may have let your guard down?  We must maintain a vigilance in keeping the faith and maintaining a moral compass that keeps us from compromising the important areas of our life.