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Commentary on "Conformity, Compromise, and Crisis in Worship"
Day 3: Monday, August 15, 2011 - The Art (and Evil) of Compromise
Overview
“All through the Bible, we find examples of this evil—the evil of compromise. Not that every compromise is evil, of course not. In a certain sense, life itself is a kind of compromise. Instead, compromise becomes another manifestation of human evil and corruption when those who should know better fall away from the truth that God has given to them.” [Teacher’s Quarterly, Page 92]
Problems
If the Bible is so clear regarding the evils of compromise, why say that “life itself is a kind of compromise?” Compromise means giving up something I want in order to get something else I want. I am willing to do this because I know you are doing the same. The net result of compromise is always down. Both of us will be less than we could have been if we had made a principled decision. In compromise we tend to settle for the “least bad” option instead of the best option.
Have we not just experienced the folly of compromise? The U.S. federal government spent weeks arguing and posturing over a “debt ceiling.” In the end, everyone compromised, and nothing changed. Well, something did change. The country’s bond rating fell and we will be another 2.4 trillion dollars in debt (not counting the increased cost of that debt). Does anyone believe that the budget will be cut by any meaningful amount over the next 10 years?
This kind of thinking permeates religion. I’m glad the lesson calls this out. Again, the problem statement is excellent. Solomon’s story is a perfect example.
However, the lesson focuses on the behavioral results of compromise rather than the root cause. The root cause is the belief that I can keep God’s law. The stark realization that I cannot keep His law forces me to compromise in order to stay sane. This is humanity. Rather than asking if our root beliefs are faulty, we constantly redefine their application, all the while whittling away at the beliefs until there is nothing left and our house of cards comes crashing down.
Is it any wonder that people who come back to Adventism are shocked! Look at what legalism has wrought: divorce, abortion, child abuse, substance abuse, depression, sexual promiscuity, and on and on. This must be the case, because any attempt to keep the Law must fail.
This is also why some Adventists become "Uber-Adventists", leaving behind the compromised church in order to keep the Law their own way. In some ways, I admire these people. At least they are trying to live according to their convictions rather than throwing everything out.
Please believe me when I say that other behaviorist denominations suffer the same things.
By contrast, the gospel allows no compromise, none! It is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, period. Anything added to the gospel yields something that is no gospel at all. Those who try to add to the gospel are in danger of eternal damnation (see Galatians 1). For someone who has been born again, that is, who is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, there is no compromise. There is only walking by faith or by sight. Faith pleases God; sight does not. Grace teaches us to say No to ungodliness; the Law does not. Everything the child of God does by faith is done with an eye towards bringing people to Jesus. This is not guilt-induced witnessing or a fear-mongering appeal to End times. It is the inevitable result of the Spirit renewing one’s mind.
Ironically, at least to the behaviorist’s mind, this is the only way to see true improvement in one’s behavior. A focus on the Law is a focus on failure. A focus on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, is a focus on victory. A focus on Law must result in compromise. A focus on Jesus will slowly but surely remove compromise from a person’s toolbox. First life, then change.
Imagine a marriage that is ever strengthened by the indwelling Christ as each spouse learns to serve the other in love. Contrast that marriage with a law-based relationship where each spouse must constantly compromise in order to keep peace and inch forward.
Imagine a church where each member is strengthened by the indwelling Christ and serves the others in love. There is no need for compromise in such a body of believers. Will there be differences of opinion regarding the next step to take or how to take that step. Of course. But rather than stifling one faction while rewarding another, there will be no factions. The differences of opinion will be considered, tested against the clear teaching of God’s word, and decisions will be made. Here’s the important part: Sometimes those decisions will be wrong, but instead of recrimination there will be learning, and the body will be stronger for it.
The gospel is the basis for true worship. Any behaviorism that creeps in will only denigrate worship. By definition, a performance orientation cannot result in worship, because the worshipper will be asking, “How am I doing?” instead of bowing down in humble thanks to the God Who saved him.
Summary
- Compromise truly is an insidious danger. I appreciate the lesson making this point so clearly.
- I disagree that life, at least among brothers and sisters in Christ, is compromise. (I understand the reality of living in this world…)
- It is time for churches, all churches, to return to the gospel, for only in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is there power for life.
- Focusing on behavior, that is, Law, has no power for life.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 8, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
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