Compromising Christians

by Harry Bethel

Recently I looked up a couple of words in a dictionary. The first one was "compromise" and the other was "expedient." One definition given for compromise was: "To weaken or give up one's principles, ideals, etc. as for reasons of expediency."

A definition given for expedient was: "Based on or offering what is of use or advantage rather that what is right or just." These two words accurately describe a prevailing spirit in the churches in America today.

There is a spirit of compromise that most of the brethren are in bondage to today. I hope that you are not one of them. This spirit is one that will lead you down the road to destruction. This is a spirit that shuts out the boldness that comes with the power of the Holy Spirit. One can then be overcome by a spirit of fear and recant his faith in a time of severe persecution.

If we are not faithful in the little things, then we will not be faithful in the big things. Jesus said, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" With so much compromise in the Church today there is little reason to believe that He will find faith on the earth -- at least not much.

God will allow Satan to give power to the Antichrist to overcome the saints (Revelation 13:7), but many Christians are deluded by false teaching that they will be raptured out before the Great Tribulation. Dear brother, those days, according to the signs, are on the horizon.

Jesus said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:7,8). Of course, we should not be compromisers even if the Great Tribulation is hundreds of years in the future.

It is bad enough that many are compromisers today, but to lie to God about it compounds sin. We sing "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

And, "Just a closer walk with Thee." And, "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." And, "Nothing between my soul and the Saviour, naught of this world's delusive dream; I have renounced all sinful pleasure, Jesus is mine; there's nothing between.

Singing lies to God is still lying. In Revelation 21:8 quoted above it says the fearful shall have their part in the lake of fire. But it also says "all liars" will too. Doubtless, like the lukewarm Christians in Laodicea, this makes Jesus want to vomit them out of His mouth.

Isn't it time that we stop playing Church? Has God given you even a small burden for the pathetic condition of even the best of Christendom in this country?

If so, I want to encourage you to sell-out to Jesus Christ if you haven't already. Forsake the things that are a compromise of truths and principles of God's Word. Obey Him in all that He reveals to you. Are you in debt? Owe no man anything. Sell all that is necessary to get out of debt. God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If all you have is food and clothing, be content with that. God will add the things that you need. Meet the three conditions in Luke 14 to be a disciple of Jesus.

We must remember that prayer is no substitute for obedience. Prayer is absolutely essential in the life of a Christian, but if we are not gong to obey God, we might as well not pray.

In the first century Peter said, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). How much more this is applicable in our day of virtually universal apostasy.

There is a dire need for Spirit-filled, God-called, God-prepared, God-sent, uncompromising leaders of God's people today. The enemy has come in like a flood. Where are the leaders who will feed the malnourished sheep the meat that they need to be strong enough to be overcomers?

Tozer wrote, "Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne.

When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many) he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom."