The word compromise may be defined as a settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions. Compromise is one of those things that ‘good’ adults are ‘supposed’ to do. In a culture as divided as ours is, it feels as though compromise would go a long way to helping us solve our differences, unite, and work together for the common good. This is true in many, if not the majority, of situations that we find ourselves in.
However, there are some areas that we must uncompromisingly reject compromise. We don’t want the auto industry compromising the safety standards of the vehicles we drive. That’d result in a lot of loss of life. We don’t want the food we eat to be compromised, or the doctors we trust using compromised medical standards, and we don’t want our governing officials compromising with criminals and making us unsafe in our homes.
All these things are important, and yet there is an area of compromise even more important than these that we must be aware of. It is all too easy to compromise our faith. We allow the pressures of the world we live in to influence and rearrange our priorities so that we look more like our culture than we look like Christ.
Now, it is impossible to live in flawless holiness and separation from the world, and I don’t think Jesus is calling us all to live in as monks in mountain monasteries. We are supposed to be salt and light and influence this world for Christ. So if we are stuck here, how can our faith thrive in a culture where anti-Christian sentiment is so strong? How can we have uncompromising Christianity?
We’re going to learn some important lessons from the church at Pergamum, a 1st century church in Asia Minor that Christ called out for compromising their faith. I invite you to join with us this weekend as we study Jesus’ letter to this 3rd church in Revelation 2:12-17. Our socially distanced service is Saturday afternoon at 3:30, and our Sunday morning service is at 10:15, where you can join us online or in person. We also have excellent Sunday School classes at 9 for all ages.
Have a great weekend and I look forward to pursuing Christ, Community, and the Great Commission Together with you soon!
-Pastor Nathan Rice