COMPROMISE

by Pastor Walter C. Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

November 3, 2014

There is constructive and destructive compromise. We need understanding and discernment to know the difference. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you through the difficulties of this process. Constructive compromise will point to a future positive outcome or goal. Destructive compromise will have no foreseeable goal or objective. Without a target we are just shooting blind and hoping for the best. This will usually end in failure. Compromise should always lead in the direction of an eventual improvement in a situation or circumstance. Often times compromise can mean you say one thing but end up doing something at least slightly or largely differently.

Well, what exactly does compromise mean? Webster's states, “to bind by mutual agreement; to adjust by mutual concessions.” Those are the positive definitions and the ones I choose to use. Sometimes it takes many steps to achieve final, permanent solutions or victory, instead of one large step. What is important is that you achieve victory without permanently compromising the original objective. When this can be proved and accomplished through the reality of experience, permanent change will happen. All this requires is patient, intelligent dialogue and negotiation; in most situations. Webster's definition of dialogue is “an exchange of ideas and opinions between two or more persons.” Negotiate means “to confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter.” this all seems rather simple, but is in fact very difficult and complex, and requires great skill in most cases.

So, we come to the word “compromise.” This word, in itself, stirs much debate. Agreement on its merits, if any, are debatable. Some argue that compromise is a solution and a step forward when reached after much dialogue and negotiation. Some others view it as surrender. I personally view a compromise solution as a step in the right direction. Time will illuminate the truth and after a period of time renegotiation dialogue will take place and further compromise will lead us into more truth. Success has to be shown and proven to people of little or no faith. To fail to dialogue, negotiate and arrive at a mutual compromise agreement through shared concessions is failure or stalemate. Stalemate means no progress and that means our enemy satan wins. This is not an acceptable alternative. Oftentimes change comes through learning sometimes by failure and trial and error. Although we always get up, dust ourselves off and try again.

Persevere

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

James 1:2-4

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:12

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Some other words used more frequently in the bible that illustrated and demonstrated God's compromises are reconciliation, atonement, propitiation, and so on. I am sure we all recognize these words. Who, other than God, is the author and perfecter of compromise? How many times did God compromise his original plan for the sake of the Jews and Gentiles? How many covenants were made with man before we arrived at the New Covenant of grace and truth brought by Jesus Christ? So, if Triune God can do it to move us forward don't we think we can use it also to help God move us forward? Any time we falter or stall in our forward progress to complete unity, we fail and the enemy satan wins. Procrastination and stalemate is defeat.

Isaiah 55:10-11

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

If satan can keep the body of Jesus Christ (the Church) divided or segregated into uncommunicative and uncooperative denominations, he wins. Then we will not experience unity in the Body or in our communities. The opportunity for compromise is lost in intolerance.

We all face and endure compromise on most days of our everyday life. We all have free will which requires us to make a choice. Usually this involves a decision between what the flesh wants and what the Holy Spirit is directing us toward. The tangible vs. the intangible. We not only make these decisions for ourselves, but also for others; usually our children. To move forward in life requires a flexible, give and receive posture to achieve our ultimate goal. This requires a very strong trust, faith and belief in Triune God. He will allow us to choose, and in this way we will learn many of life's lessons. Some the hard way, and some easy. We all just need to remember and never forget that there are consequences for every decision. In the final analysis everything comes down to tow things we need to do when making a decision: love God and love each other.

John 13:34-35

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Matt. 22:37-38

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.

I realize, as a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ and his teaching, that there are core precepts, principles, and values that can never be permanently compromised. Sometimes I believe conditions can be established that require goals to be met in a given time period, and if not, a return to the original plan is justified and accepted. We can never be established here in this world or in the Kingdom of heaven with a watered down theology.

I Timothy 4:16

¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

We just have to model the example that Jesus Christ gave us and pray to Triune God, leaving it in His hands. Hope, obedience and faith.

Hebrews 10:36-38

³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay.”

³⁸ And,

“But my righteous one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”

I Corinthians 13:6-7

⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Always remembering that faith requires active participation, fellowship and relationship with Triune God and our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. And always praying and staying in the Word.

John 1:14

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.