COMPROMISE

Hello beloved,

I come to you tonight in somewhat of a troubled spirit. You see, I’ve been battling all day whether or not I sometimes take things too far. One word has been haunting me today. I can’t seem to shake it. COMPROMISE. How far is too far? Beloved, we have to make up our minds where to draw the line, beforehand. And we should draw the line with the Word of God. Don’t budge an inch.

I hope you all know that these letters I write to you are always for the purpose of encouragement, correction and, ultimately, redemption. I only hope that you can apply these truths to your life. But don’t take my word for it. Be as the Bereans were. Go, and see if what I say lines up with God’s Word. I hope that you will correct me if you find me in error.

So, now that all of that is out of the way, I need to get something off of my chest. I am tired of seeing so much compromise in the modern day church. We look nothing like the church of the book of Acts. There were two people that came to my mind when I was meditating on this today: Esau and Micah. Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, while Micah for ten shekels and a shirt. And we have done the exact same thing. We allow the devil to do as he pleases in fear that we might be disliked if we stand up to him. Satan is on an offensive attack. So must we be. We must not be sold.

I need to share with you something that has transpired in my life recently. It is actually the very thing that has prompted me to write this. To give you a little background, I need to tell you that I am a screen print artist. My primary objective at work is to oversee all of the screen print separations that leave the Art Department and that all of the shirts print correctly. So, if artwork comes in from a third party, it is my responsibility to output the films and oversee the production of the shirt.

Well, in this profession, I have had to stand several times. The first was against alcoholic t-shirts(costing me my job), the second against a bar promoting alcohol, and the most recent was kind of tricky. While the first two were blatantly sinful, I looked at the third as not that big of a deal, at first. How wrong I was.

“JESUS WAS BLACK.” I was supposed to print a shirt that said “JESUS WAS BLACK” on it. Unfortunately, I did not, at first, see the blatant stab against Jesus Christ that this is. Not only is this a lie. Not only is this an attempt to see if I will compromise. Not only is this breaking the Third Commandment. This, beloved, is attempting to prostitute our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let me tell you Who Jesus is: He is Almighty! He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End! He is Faithful and True! He is the Good Shepherd! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Lamb of God. He is Life. He is the Lord of Glory. He is not your scheme to make a dollar. He is not mocked. His Name is not to be blasphemed. He is not your whore! He is God! So, are we going to stand when the enemy comes in like a flood to see how far he can push us?! Are we going to stand, that His Name is not blasphemed?! I can’t say it any better than to quote Psalm 24:7-10.

” Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”

So, are we going to stand? Or will we be like Esau and sell our birthright for a mess of pottage? I know that I have made up my mind. I’m gonna stand, no matter the consequence. Are there consequences? You better believe their are, but Jesus Christ is worthy. He was nailed to a cross so that we might be saved. In fact, we nailed Him to the cross. So, all He did for us…The least we can do is die for Him if necessary. It’s surrender, beloved. It’s denying yourselves, taking up your cross and following Him. And, trust me beloved, it gets no easier along the way. As soon as you stand up, and think that you have done something(which you have), you’ll come to another fork in the road. Will you take the easy way and just print the alcoholic t-shirt, avoiding any conflict? Or will you stand and say that “Light has no fellowship with darkness! Jesus Christ has done way too much for me that I should go and promote the kingdom of darkness. No, I’ve come to tear down the high places, not build them up!”

Well, I’ve gotta go beloved. I pray that you are put in paths such as these. Where you are given the opportunity to stand or compromise. Just remember, James 1:2-3 says “My brethren, count it all joy whenever you fall into diverse temptations. For the trying of your faith worketh patience.” It sure is tempting to go on the easy road. But, remember this too beloved, that road is wide and easy, yes, but it leadeth to destruction…

Be encouraged beloved. Stand.

In Christian love,
Adam Tennant