Wow… Pastor really went off today. In a good way. This new year, I’ve been thinking of two words that should depict or represent what I want to achieve. Yeah, a God’s child, Humble Servant, Gentle woman, and so on are really great qualities to strive for. Definitely all three are noteworthy. But the two words that stick out the most in my mind, highlighted, bolded and underlined with loudspeakers attached to the exclamation points are these two words: NO COMPROMISE.
When both Christian and non-Christians hear those words, they stiffen. I admit I used to because of what it meant for my life and those who I surrounded myself with from day to day. There is an album by Keith Green, one of my favorite artists, that is titled No Compromise and all the songs on the list really deal with the topic, as if divinely tailored. Anyway, most people define “no compromise” negatively as if it’s synonymous with the adjectives judgmental, intolerant and crass. I disagree. Instead it’s standing firmly for what I believe in, unwavering no matter if a wind blows from left to right, front to back, top to bottom.
Jesus did not compromise, even when he stood with a crowd of tax collectors, sinful people or even the callous at heart. He remained pure, holy and worthy of praise. It doesn’t mean he remained silent about his character because he didn’t want to offend. In fact, he spoke very boldly about it. Nevertheless, his life showed up and the people listened and were changed. Not him, mind you.
I’m in no way close being like Jesus but isn’t that the point… Christians, to become like Christ? No Compromise means I do not verbally beat them over the head with my Bible or bombard their poor ears and hearts with religious speak or condemn others for their behavior. It just means I am strongly accountable for mine. If I profess to being a Christian, then I must strive to stand for everything the Bible says a Christian should be…
We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, it’s natural. But No Compromise says that I die to your flesh DAILY, without apologies to anyone. It means I take on the armor of God and don’t feel self-conscious, penitent or embarrassed that the world has a different uniform from mine.
I’m seriously tired of that… being sorry or ashamed of my uniform, my faith, my stance. Why say I’m a Christian but I’m compromising all that I’m supposed to stand for? Just so I can keep certain friends or a certain reputation?
In the end, the chaff will blow away and the treasures are tested for their worth. I want to be found by God to have done what I was purposed to do, not how many people I managed to prevented from entering His Kingdom because of my need for acceptance. I believe that if I am firm but loving in my stance, accepting others for where they are and sincerely praying for where God wants them to be, the rest is up to God. I don’t want to sabotage someone’s future in Christ because I’m worried about my present status with the world.
Let me stop for now. Let’s just Selah for a moment.
Goodnight. Go 2012.
