During the days of Nai in Germany, there arose a confessing church movement against the German church movement, which became the religious arm of the fascist Nazi socialist movement. Of the 18, 000 pastors in Germany during that time (1933-1945), less than 5,000 were aligned with the confessing church. Hence, only a remnant held fast to the churches conforming due to political and societal pressure. Unfortunately, by this demonstration when pushing came to shoving, a large percentage of pastors, churches and so-called Christians bowed to pressure and allowed the norms of culture to become their credo of Christianity.
We see the same thing in churches today. With the accelerated attack on churches, religious liberty and political correctness; there are compromising churches and leaders today. More and more churches are compromising core biblical values and standards rather than be stigmatized or persecuted, and lose influence in the society.
A. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION – John 12: 2-4; Romans 12:2; I Cor. 7: 31; Acts 4: 15-20.
Compromise is changing the bible truth to suit people; watering down the truth by fear of men; not acknowledging the truth because of advantage. The confessing church stands on the truth, irrespective of opposition and threats.
- The compromising church accommodates Christ with culture.
- The compromising church alters the word of God because of opposition.
- The compromising church puts ethnicity before the kingdom of God.
- The compromising church alters the message they preach.
- The compromising church wants to be in the mainstream of both.
- The compromising church is applauded by the state government
- The compromising church conforms to those in power.
- The compromising church desires the praise of men.
- The confessing church holds Christ above culture
- The confessing church holds fast to the word of God in spite of opposition
- The confessing church puts the kingdom of God above their culture and ethnicity
- The confessing church alters their methods of preaching the truth.
- The confessing church is a remnant in the minority of church and state
- The confessing church prophetically speaks truth to those in power
- The confessing church desires the praise of God.
Since the compromising church enjoys the power and prestige the elites grant them, they always conform rather than confront. If things don’t change in the coming days, we will be shocked at how many mega churches, middle size churches and smaller churches compromise the word of God so that they could keep their doors open. Money, fame, properties, pleasures and fear of death make many to compromise their faith today. A good example is the issue of Gay priests, homosexuality and pre- marital sex.
B. STEPS TO A COMPROMISING CHURCH – Acts 5: 1-10; Rev. 2: 13-15; Isaiah 5: 20-21.
In these days denominational bigotry, independent lasciviousness and freedom to do whatever you want as church leaders, we don’t need to look too far to see compromising churches here and there. We can’t have compromising churches without compromised leaders. Take note of these steps:
- Worldly minded and covetous leaders
- The desire to belong and make it at all cost.
- Carnal, unbaked, uncooked and secular leaders
- Biblical illiteracy among leaders and the led
- Entertainment- driven ministry and pulpit.
- Focus on material gain than spiritual riches
- Gospel of no suffering, no cross and no persecution
- Undue emphasis and attitude of money, gain and profit at all cost
- Undue hobnobbing with politicians and closeness to the government
- Neglect of strong emphasis on dependence on the holy spirit
- Preaching in generalities and middle – of- the – road sermons.
- Failure to call people to true discipleship and biblical lifestyle.
Over the centuries, these points have not failed to kill churches after making them compromising ones. To a large degree, these steps can be seen in many mega churches and leaders today. The more reason we have more compromising churches than confessing ones all around us today.
Compromising and conformity with the world leads to declension, absence of vital godliness, apostasy of the church, spiritual death, divine judgement and backsliding of many.
Recommended Reading
Administering Church Discipline – The Right Way
Top Ten Ways to Serve in the Local Church
erving God In These Last Days: OBSTACLES TO SERVICE
C. HOW TO BECOME AND REMAIN A CONFESSING CHURCH – Rev. 3:4; Luke 18:8.
Pastors, ministers and church leaders compromise their faith today with reckless abandon; thereby becoming a bad witness in their communities. How can you become a true confessing church that stands for Christ in every situation?
- Have a fresh encounter with him and know him intimately
- Drink deep of his spirit and word
- Be grounded in his word and will
- Walk with him in righteousness and obedience daily
- Resist temptations and corrupting influence of the world
- Obey the gospel, live the gospel and preach the kingdom gospel
- Be eternity – conscious and heavenly minded
- Be prayerful and spend time on your knees.
- Raise genuine disciples and followers of the lord
- Believe that all things work together for good in those who are his
- Stand in the truth, for the truth, by the truth and with the truth at all times.
When Polycarp, one of the church fathers was about to be beheaded for his faith in Christ, he was given the opportunity to recant. Here is his reply, ‘’eighty and five years have I served the lord, he has never been unfaithful to me, how can I deny him now before men? I will not recant.’’ He was promptly beheaded for Christ. That is why we still have the faith today.
Prayer Points:
- Grace to stand with and stand for God, father, release it upon my life.
- Every spirit of compromise in the church; be arrested in Jesus’ name.
- Father, empower your church to stand in and stand for the truth.