By Pastor Robert L. Cheek Jr.
Victory Baptist Church
we were considering the characteristics of a compromising Christian. We are using the story of a famous compromiser, Lot, to illustrate these characteristics. We have looked at four so far. We will look at the remaining characteristics of a compromising Christian. It ought to be our desire not to compromise in our Christian walk. Perhaps by looking at the life of Lot, the Holy Spirit will point out compromise in our lives.
We have already seen that the characteristics of a compromising Christian are:
They are embarrassed by godliness.
They have something to hide.
They have unscriptural relationships.
They exercise ungodly reasoning.
5. A Compromising Christian Has An Ineffective Testimony
Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Lot’s compromising life led to an ineffective testimony. When he tried to talk his family into leaving the city, they did not believe that what he was saying was true. I can imagine what a terrible feeling it must have been to know his testimony could not save his family from the destruction. His testimony was not worth mentioning.
Many Christians have similar testimonies. When they walk into a room, nothing changes. The swearer keeps swearing, the drunk keeps drinking, the liar keeps lying, the sinner keeps sinning.
There ought to be a different atmosphere when a Christian walks into the office.
There ought to be a different spirit when a Christian family visits their relatives.
That is what Matthew 5:16 is talking about.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The light of a Christian is his testimony. If it shines bright, others will not only stop sinning, but they may even become apologetic at their sins. Have you ever had a person apologize to you for cursing in your presence? That is a sign of righteousness on your part. But a compromising Christian does not affect the environment he lives in. Nothing changes when he steps into the room and nothing changes when he leaves. Hey, it’s a good testimony when sinners wait to sin after you leave the room. But it’s a better testimony if they are no longer sinners when you leave the room. How is your testimony?
A compromising Christian has an ineffective testimony.
6. A Compromising Christian Wrestles With The Love Of The World
Genesis 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
I want you to notice the complete ignorance of Lot. All that he is gazing upon will soon be destroyed. Knowing the certainty of this he still lingers. His problem is the love of the world.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
What exactly is the love of the world? When we step outside and see the trees and the mountains and the valleys, the animals and all of creation, we get a sense of love in our hearts for what God has created. But is this the love of the world? No it isn’t. When we look around and see the lost of this world going to hell, the love of Christ constrains us to love them enough to share the gospel with them. But is this the love of the world? No it isn’t.
The world that John speaks of and the world that Lot lingered for is summed up in an ideology of self satisfaction and self fulfillment outside of the need for God. The principles that reside in the life of the lost: things like pride, selfishness and lust are what prevails in the world. Those things we are not to love.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
A Christian that is motivated to live solely for material things in this life is a compromising Christian. When God takes a back seat to anything in this life, we are wrestling with the love of the world and are compromising. That is what Lot did. He did not even fear for his own life while he lingered, loving the world. I like what verse 16 says:
Genesis 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
God is so merciful to Lot. He could have let Lot stand there and die lusting after the things of the world, but instead He rescued him. God does the same thing to us. But a compromising Christian has a problem loving the world more than God. For example, there are many things in this life we should not be involved in for testimonies sake. Paul said:
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
I know a Christian that claims to love God, but at the same time fills his movie library with ungodly movies. The problem is, he is wrestling with the love of the world. He is a compromising Christian. Another example is when Christians watch a movie on television with a fantastic story. When they watch it and hear the first curse word, instead of turning it off they act like they are mad and yet they keep right on watching it. I’ve done that and I am sure you have as well. Why? Because we were wrestling with the love of the world. That is compromise.
Lot loved Sodom. His love made him linger. He lingered because he was a compromising child of God.
A compromising Christian wrestles with the love of the world.
7. A Compromising Christian Thinks Nothing About Correcting God
Genesis 19:18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
Can you think of a greater contradiction than the phrase, “not so, my Lord?” The phrase flowed freely from his lips. He scarcely thought it strange to correct the angel. Many Christians today have a “not so, my Lord” attitude. The “not so” phrase describes the inward heart of a compromising Christian. The “my Lord” phrase describes the outward picture he wants others to see. I am amazed at how many Christians go to church just so they can look spiritual to others. They go to catch up on all the gossip. They go to look important in the eyes of others. They go to be seen of men. That is the “my Lord” part of their Christianity.
But when God speaks to their heart about sin their life, they say, “not so.”
When they hear preaching on living for God outside the church they say, “not so.”
When something does not go their way in the church they rise up and say, “not so.”
Their problem is compromise. They want to look respectable and spiritual on the outside but they privately seldom serve the Lord, pray, read their Bibles, witness, or do any of the things that Christians are supposed to do. They are a lot like the pharisees.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
When a Christian thinks nothing about correcting God, mark it down he is a compromising Christian. There is just no respect for God in their life. I have seen this attitude in church with church members not taking a second thought to correcting the man of God when there is no Bible reason to. I have seen this in the lives of Christians who refuse to follow sound instruction from the Word of God and do it their own way.
Once, I visited a church where a good friend of mine pastors. He was late arriving because of an unexpected trip to the hospital. The song leader told me to be ready to preach in case he did not show up. Now I knew already that this song leader was a compromising (probably a wolf) Christian. How? Well, the fact that he showed up to church in a short sleeve pullover shirt in a church that expects servants to dress formally was the first sign. The second sign is when he gave the announcements. He called the pastor Mr. so-in-so. In other words, he did not call his pastor “pastor” or even “brother.” He called him “Mr.” as if he was only an acquaintance. He is a compromising Christian because he thinks nothing about the man of God. He shows him no respect at all, no love and no honor for the position he holds. His Christian life is undoubtedly shallow. In fact, when the service had ended, he was already out the door headed home before the “Amen”. What a pathetic compromiser!
Mark it down, any Christian that lacks respect for God, His Word, His Preachers, His Church, His Message, is a compromising Christian no matter how sweet and nice he appears to be. Have you ever heard “thus saith the Lord” and responded with “no so, my Lord?” A compromising Christian sees no authority over him but himself.
8. A Compromising Christian Does Not Trust God’s Plan For His Life
Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
After being saved by the angels, Lot didn’t trust their plan for his future safety. When Christians stop trusting God’s leading for their life, they are compromising with God. All of us can say that we know what it is like to be led of the Lord. We can look back on our Christian experience and know that God has never once failed us, even though we have failed Him. I can say without hesitation that God has intervened in my life and directed me too many times to count. So then why do our hearts so easily doubt God? It does not make any sense.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
I can agree with the Psalmist.
Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
I can agree with Moses.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
I can agree with Paul, yet there are still times when I have trouble trusting God. It is ironic that we can trust God to take us to heaven but we cannot trust him to take care of us on the way. Here is Lot asking to flee to a city instead of taking shelter in the mountains. He just cannot trust God for his direction. Notice something with me. Notice the consequences of not trusting God for direction.
Genesis 19:21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
Genesis 19:22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Genesis 19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Lot is permitted to enter into one of the cities that would have been destroyed. He enters Zoar. I want you to notice something about his entering into Zoar.
Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Genesis 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Genesis 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Because Lot did not leave the valley, but fled into a city in the valley, his wife was where she could look back and see the destruction. Lot’s decision to not trust God cost him his wife. Had he up into the mountains where God had provided him safety, Lot’s wife would have never been able to see the destruction. She would have lived. His daughters would have remained pure and the Bible’s last statement about the life of Lot would not have been:
Genesis 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
What an awful price Lot paid for not trusting God. Christian, when God bids you to do the impossible, it’s your responsibility to say, “Yes Lord,” and God’s responsibility to make it happen. Don’t doubt God’s leading in your life. When you do, you are compromising.
These are the Characteristics of a Compromising Christian.
They are embarrassed by godliness.
They have something to hide.
They have unscriptural relationships.
They exercise ungodly reasoning.
They have an ineffective testimony.
They wrestle with the love of the world.
They think nothing about correcting God.
They do not trust God’s plan for their life.
The question is, are we showing any characteristics of compromise in our lives?
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