In 2003 when a CT scan found a tumor in Steve Jobs’ pancreas, doctors urged him to have an operation, but Steve chose alternative remedies. Nine months later, when the tumor had grown, he agreed to surgery, but by then, the cancer had spread to his liver. Though a liver transplant bought him a few years, ultimately his battle strategy failed.
You will recall that God's strategy for dealing with cancerous idolatry in Canaan was total annihilation. Sadly, Israel compromised, choosing alternative remedies. Fast forward 4,000 years, and we now have two generations of Americans who have grown up without another world war. Our strategy has been diplomacy: peace at all costs. However, recent unofficial talks by our government with Iran seem to be demonstrating a national naiveté that we can make peace with an avowed enemy.
Canaan illustrates the necessity
of a good battle strategy against the enemies of our soul—both within and without.
Coincidentally, we are living at a time in history when God's People are being asked to make peace with a sensually-driven culture. But it is a strategy as perilous as living with a tumor.
I read an article today about the lack of compromise in Washington. Democrats want to tax and spend. Republicans want to cut taxes and spend less. The writer gave an illustration of a husband who tells his wife he’d like to move from SF to LA. Even if she agrees to the move, there will be many decisions about which they need to compromise. But if she says she does not want to move, how will they compromise? Will moving to Fresno (half-way) be a good compromise? Yet that seems to be what the world wants Christians to do. How do you compromise on abortion? In fact, how do you compromise with anyone who rejects the inerrancy and authority of the Bible?
The desire to compromise is a great threat to Christians today. And as the culture becomes increasingly secular, it rejects absolutism as uncompromising. I think the antagonism against Bible-believing Christians who will not compromise will make the current hostilities in Washington seem like toddlers fighting over toys in a sand box. The time will come when those who refuse to compromise will not just be considered ‘old-fashioned’ or ‘quirky’, but subversive and threatening to the progress of civilized society.
“At that time many will turn away from the faith, betray and hate each other, and false prophets will appear and deceive many…but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Mat 24:11-13).
I don’t know about you, but I was pretty impressed by four South Carolina Congressmen last month who said (after having prayed together), they could not compromise on a bill to raise taxes. Whether you agree with them or not, you have to respect them for taking a stand—whatever the consequences.
In his commentary on the Letter to the Ephesians, Watchman Nee summarizes the book in his title: “Sit, Walk, Stand,” pointing out that the first 3 chapters speak of the believer’s position: “seated in the heavenlies,” while chapters 4-5 detail the believer’s “walk,” and chapter 6 ends with a challenge to take a “stand” against the enemy of these truths.
In other words, Paul employs a spiritual logic that you cannot stand if you are not sitting in the truth, nor can you stand until you have walked in that truth—without compromise. It used to be considered honorable to take an uncompromising stand on one’s principles. But these days, compromise and tolerance have become the new ethic, and all who are unwilling to compromise are vilified.
At this time in history, God is raising up an army of Christians who are positioned in (seated) and practicing (walking in) the truth, so they might stand firm in the faith until the last day. And there is no room for compromise.
As I listened last night to President Obama and House Speaker Boehner present their case for how to raise the debt ceiling, I observed how they both used the word “balance.” In this budget battle, the President is pushing for a “balanced” approach (cutting costs and raising revenues) while the Speaker wants a “balanced” budget amendment. Each accuses the other of being “out of balance. “
I remember in the 1980’s when “balance” became the newest buzz-word. It seems the word is having a renaissance. But the former use of the word (a balanced lifestyle) has been amended to include compromise and tolerance—balancing one’s views with that of others, being more accepting and embracing of alternate worldviews and lifestyles. Anyone unwilling to compromise his beliefs is considered intolerant, out of touch, and out of balance.
Defining balance as such, any wholehearted, committed follower of Jesus will be out of balance. Look at Jesus. He was intolerant of hypocrisy. And while he loved sinners, he was uncompromising with sin. Nor was His a balanced lifestyle. He worked long hours, and had short nights, rising early to pray rather than sleep. And He often skipped meals, saying “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus determined when to eat and when to abstain, when to work and when to rest according to His Father. He did not seek to live in balance with this world, but to do the will of the Father.
Today’s USA Today front page story says Afghanistan is increasingly Obama’s war—40% of Americans now believe it was a mistake to go to war. As the war efforts droned on in 2010 with marginal success, the Obama administration, eager to find a political solution, encouraged the Karzai government to negotiate, i.e., compromise, with the Taliban (who are allied with Al Quaeda). And so, discussions began…
Until last week, when it was revealed that the top-level Taliban commander the U.S./NATO alliance had been negotiating with was an impostor—he had no authority to speak for the Taliban at all. The Taliban must be laughing their heads off! But this is no laughing matter—decisions about winding down the war by 2014 were based on these deceptive discussions. I wonder what affect this will have on our Administration’s future attempts at negotiation and compromise with the enemy!
The SPIRITUAL parallel is inescapable. When the pressure of warfare increases, so does the temptation to compromise. Growing weary of the conflict of flesh & spirit (Gal. 5:17; Rom. 13:14), we are tempted to relax our stance. Or conflicts with co-workers, friends or family who oppose our godly principles (Matt. 10:36) may result in our acquiescence! We are rapidly moving toward a cultural crisis where intolerance (refusal to compromise) will not be tolerated. But James says “…don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God?” (4:4).
The war in Afghanistan is now the longest-running war in the history of our country. Yes, longer than WW II or Vietnam. And though Obama has set a departure date, there is really no evidence the Taliban will ever be defeated. And because of that, there have been 'talks' of finding a compromise with the Taliban and attempting to build a consensus government.
The spiritual parallel is palpable. We live in hostile territory—a war zone. Day by day the devil is making war on the saints. And if we are to live in Christ’s victory, we must have a warfare mentality. It is never easy to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12). But not unlike Obama’s Afghanistan strategy, you will be tempted to consider a less combative approach—to compromise with the enemy, even settling for peaceful cohabitation. Be careful; this is what the world will tell you: "Don’t’ make waves with your unsaved relatives, or neighbors and co-workers in the world. Don’t be overly concerned about your sins—after all, they are nothing compared to what worldly people do; and don’t worry about Satan and demons—if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you."
Don’t be fooled. If you want to experience the life of Christ, you must have a warfare mentality and lifestyle. You can never ‘make peace’ with an enemy that is out to destroy you. And by the way, we do know how this war ends! We win! In the meantime “do not grow weary in well doing” (Gal. 6:9).
