Compromise: The Road to Apostasy I. Introduction. A. Compromise is an early step toward apostasy. 1. Define: A settling of differences reached by mutual concessions(Webster). 2. The apostles would not compromise with the Judiazers: Acts 15:1-2. B. Often instigated and promoted through the desire to reject the sound teachings of the word of God. 1. The Isrealites situation: Isaiah 28:10, 13. a. "Here a little, there a little" is the attitude that promotes weakness in one's faith. b. Don't preach so strong, use more love, you will turn people off, preach smooth things. etc.: Isaiah 30:10. c. As one's faith weakens, so does resistance to that which can destroy one's soul. 2. There are many at present who do not want all of the truth, just enough to ease the conscience. 3. The spirit of compromise has plagued every generation of God's people(not just the Israelites). C. You mean there is no flexibility for God's people? 1. Not in matters of faith and doctrine. 2. There can be opinions--time of services, location of building, etc.(Indifferent matters that do not affect the teaching and obedience to God's word.) D. What about Romans 14:1? 1. Applies to individual(eating of meats, etc.). 2. Affect on one's conscience can regulate behavior. 3. Yet, cannot allow to bind practices on others. 4. The strong might forego what would cause the weak to stumble(eating meat). 5. However, no compromise of truth can be justified by this passage. 6. We are not concerned in this lesson about the type of situation Paul discussed: we are concerned about people who compromise the truth and the ways of God! E. We do live in a world where compromise is a way of life. 1. From politicians to entertainers to the man on the street, mankind has weakened in the principles of righteousness and traveled a path that leads from God. 2. There is much in life in which one can compromise. 2. When one begins to cross the line of godliness because the desire is to please others, their conscience, or whatever, that one is in trouble! II. Body. A. Compromise came early in the history of the human race. 1. Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life promoted a desire that led to the first compromise of the principles of righteousness. 2. Our first parents lived in a paradise, free of sin, free of sorrow, free of anxiety, and free of death. 3. Then--they were compromised to eat of the forbidden fruit(Genesis 3:6)--and, you know the rest of the story... 4. The power to say no will prevent one from compromising one's morals. 5. Desire for wisdom of world: basis for compromise. B. A man once compromised because he "loved the hire of wrong doing." 1. Many are attracted to the riches of this world, the power that it gives them over others and the ease it brings to the flesh. 2. Many souls have been sold to Satan because of wealth: it has a soothing effect upon man's responsibilities(Luke 12:19). 3. Of this one, it is said: II Peter 2:15. 4. To sell one's soul for the goods of this world is an unrighteous compromise of integrity. 5. Balaam reasoned himself into being a fool in God's sight. 6. The basis for this compromise: love of money. C. The lust of an unrighteous woman caused a great man to compromise what God had given him. 1. This man earlier resisted the temptations to betray the source of his strength. 2. But, the continued harassment and enticement of that association led him to betray the source of his power. 3. When Samson yielded, he found imprisonment, blindness and hard labor his reward.(Many lose their family over lust.) 4. For twenty years, he judged Israel: in a moment of agony and revenge, he committed suicide: Judges 16:30. 5. One step away from righteousness starts one on a path away from God! 6. Basis for compromise: lust of the flesh. D. Yielding to the flesh(compromising) can ensnare and lead away the most respected and faithful man(or woman). 1. As a great king walked on his roof one evening, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. a. This man should have been leading his army in battle. b. He was at the wrong place, at the wrong time(promotes compromising). c. David, the man of God, did not control his thoughts nor his actions, and committed adultery. d. How many souls have fallen into this evil trap? 2. The unrighteousness of David led to the death of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. 3. David's prayer: Psalm 51:1-4. 4. Basis for compromise: yielding to the flesh. E. Among the apostles of Christ there was one who compromised his standing with the Lord because of money. 1. Paul said it: I Timothy 6:10. 2. Judas may be like Balaam: but to sell the Lord? 3. The money received amounted to a paltry sum in our day: less than $100. 4. Basis for compromise: love of money. F. The love of the present world led Demas to forsake the righteous Paul: II Timothy 4:10. 1. One wonders if this is not the problem of many of those who quit the Lord. 2. The present world is an attractive and luring place. 3. Bring different(a Christian) is not always a pleasant experience. 4. Imagine what it was like in the early days of persecution. 5. The flesh, and all that has to do with the flesh, makes it easy for some to compromise. 6. Basis for compromise: love for this world. G. The danger of compromise is not confined to those who are weak. 1. Even the strong can be caught in a moment of weakness and be overcome. 2. Such happened to an apostle of Christ: twice. a. In the midst of the trials of Jesus, Peter denied the Lord--3 times! b. Later, he would discriminate against the Gentiles, compromising the teachings of Christ: Galatians 2:11. c. Basis for compromise: weakness of flesh. 3. Heed: Galatians 1:6-9. H. Compromise is no stranger to our day. 1. In the individual. a. When it comes to faith. (1 Believe the truth, the word of God? (2 Let the world and the ways of the world corrupt and erode? (3 Some are weak: Romans 14:1. (4 Remember: Romans 14:12. b. In regard to morals. (1 Paul said: I Timothy 5:22. (2 Easy to become as the world. (3 Remember Demas. (4 When the practice of righteousness loses its attractiveness to a Christian, that person is in danger! c. When it comes to lust. (1 Intense at times(youth). (2 Source of lust changes in life. (3 The Lord's warning: Matthew 5:28. (4 Always remember: I John 2:17. d. When it comes to marriage, divorce and remarriage. (1 A real concern at present. (2 Some "strong" preachers have surrendered to the ways of the world. (3 The truth of God's word: God's marriage law applied to all humans, not just Christians. Marriage is for a lifetime. Two people who have never been married, have a right to marry. After the death of a mate, one may remarry. The innocent party to a "putting away" may marry. The guilty in adultery has not been given the right to remarry. 2. In the body of Christ. a. Worship is compromised. (a Observance of days. (b Use of instrument. (c Solos, choirs, etc. (d God's law: Ephesians 5:19. b. The work of the church is compromised. (1 Broad humanitarianism has been practiced since World War II(some existed before then). (2 Entertainment and social events added. (3 Churches contributing to human organizations(as schools, colleges, human created welfare institutions, etc.) (4 Note: Ephesians 4:11-13. (5 If no authority for the practice, it is a compromise of the truth! c. The organization of the church is compromised: (1 Churches bound together to support "super" organizations. (2 Created positions unknown to the New Testament(youth ministers, associate ministers, pulpit ministers, etc). (3 The church of Christ has: Elders: Titus 1:5. Deacons: I Timothy 3:13. Evangelists: II Timothy 4:5. Teachers: Hebrews 5:12. Saints: Romans 1:7. I. In every way, in every day, in every life, and in every church, compromise, once allowed, brings apostasy as the ultimate fruit. 1. Seek Bible authority for everything: Colossians 3:17. 2. Emphasize: the infallibly safe way(a human is not infallible; the word of God is--trust what God says about anything). III. Conclusion. A. Never start on the road of compromise. B. Demand book, chapter and verse for every teaching and every practice--there can be no question about this position.-jy