Compromise is good...isn't it?

Senate majority leader Harry Reid is really fed up with the new republicans in congress (those pesky tea partiers). After the most recent impasse Reid stated he hopes those new members have learned their lesson, i.e. they must learn to compromise. That sounds logical and practical as a necessary part of democracy, however, according to the Bible democracy will fail in the future after running its course.

One of the ongoing issues debated in Washington is excess spending by the government. Spending in excess of revenues generated results in debt which in turn requires borrowing. The consequences of excess spending and borrowing are clearly spelled out in the Bible. If those warnings had been heeded we would not be in the present debtor/subservient relationship with China.

So if certain representatives stood their ground on a political issue which in the present case was backed by scriptural teachings, are they to be demeaned for not compromising? Recall that King Saul lost his kingship because he compromised God’s instructions.

“…I have sinned…because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
I Samuel 15:24

The prophet Samuel responded:

“…for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.” I Samuel 15:26

In the present example with freshmen representatives, compromising meant not only to agree to anti-scriptural legislation but also to break their promise to their constituents. Man’s logical thinking that the end justifies the means is not scriptural. God’s realm is perfection and nothing less can satisfy a Holy and just God. Inasmuch as man is created in God’s image, perfection is also required of man.

“Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

Perfect in the scriptures has several synonyms including sinless and completed for the purpose intended. The Bible states that all have sinned, therefore, the need for a perfect sinless substitute, i.e. Christ.

Now if our ultimate future depends solely on the merits and perfection of Christ, what would have been the consequences if He had given in to compromise? That’s exactly what Satan tried to accomplish.

At the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry Satan tempted Him to avoid the cross.

“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world…And… said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You…for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’” Luke 4:5-7

Satan knew all the kingdoms of the world would be given to Christ anyway. He offered Christ the reward without having to pay the price. Christ would not compromise God’s word.

Then near the end of Christ’s earthly ministry in the Garden of Gethsemane there arose again the issue of paying the price.

“He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.’” Mark 14:35-36

And again we saw that Christ would not compromise. Imagine the consequences for us if He had.

And then in the early church there is a great example of taking a stand for the truth and rejecting the easy way out. Peter and John were told not to speak nor teach in the name of Jesus. Their response was quick and decisive.

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’” Acts 4:19-20

Compromise is but another form of age old hypocrisy called political correctness.

There will be those who think Biblical principles have no place in government. This is America and everyone is free to have and express their opinion. In the mean time, however, should those who will not compromise Biblical principles in all aspects of life be ostracized for their stand?

Is America too big to fail?

The concept of being ‘too big to fail’ was brought to light when the economy began its plunge in 2008. Many politicians and economists argued that the failure of selected private sector companies along with several public sector entities would exacerbate the economic decline and therefore the government should bail them out of their financial troubles.

If government has the power to bail out distressed companies and public sector agencies, who can bail out the government? And can our government be salvaged? The final question, then, if America can be salvaged, will it be?

Prophecy proclaims and history confirms the answers to the above questions. The Old Testament prophet Daniel and the New Testament apostle John addressed the issue. Daniel, looking forward in time wrote of four world empires and their destiny while John confirmed those four by looking backwards in time. In both cases the leaders of the failed empires were described relative to their assessment of God’s sovereignty as well as their own powers.

John described the leader of the final world kingdom.

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name…it was granted to him to make war with the saints…and authority was given him…” Revelation 13:6-7

It is readily observed that any power ascribed to this final leader is granted to him by the sovereign God. The Bible further reveals this final gentile kingdom and its rebellious leader will be destroyed by Christ Himself when He establishes His everlasting kingdom.

The prophet Daniel provides much more detail about gentile kingdoms and their leaders. The first of the four major world powers listed was ancient Babylon which was seated in the present Iraq. Babylon’s leader was king Nebuchadnezzar. He had several dreams about his appointed role in God’s sovereign plan for Israel and the nations. Nebuchadnezzar’s major problem was his perceived personal power. He was told in a dream that he would be humbled until he learned that He was given all his authority by God.

“ O king…this is the decree of the Most High…you (shall) eat grass like oxen…and seven times (years) shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” Daniel 4:24-25

Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream didn’t change his heart. Nebuchadnezzar maintained his pride.

“All this came upon king Nebuchadnezzar…he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon...saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’… While the word was still in the king’s mouth a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, the kingdom has departed from you!’” Daniel 4:28-31

King Nebuchadnezzar then remembered the wisdom in Daniel’s previous words:

“…in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” Daniel 4:17

One of the major teachings in the Bible is that kingdoms rise and fall under the sovereignty of God to reward and chastise His chosen nation of Israel. There is no other nation specifically named in the Bible that is promised eternal existence. And that eternal existence is not due to Israel’s performance, but rather by the grace of God to vindicate His eternal promise first given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

So how is America doing relative to the above criteria? Our current president states America is no longer a Christian nation. His solution to the mid-east challenge is to chastise Israel and divide their land into a Palestinian and Israeli state. He endorses legislation that protects those who break God’s laws. He campaigned for president by stating that he would ‘fundamentally transform America.’ His confidence in himself sounds very similar to Nebuchadnezzar, i.e. ‘…is not this great Babylon, that I have built…by my mighty power…?’

It appears that the lessons about God’s sovereignty are going unheeded.

Therefore, based on current priorities and national trends, everyone can arrive at their own conclusion regarding whether or not America can and will be salvaged.

Can a Christian be Proselytized?

The answer to the title question is a resounding ‘no!’ It is impossible for a Christian to renounce Christianity and/or convert to another religion. Seven scripture references will be presented to support that truth.

Firstly, the power to retain one’s Christianity is not in the hands of the individual Christian. The power of retention is in the hands of God Himself.

“‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life…My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.’” John 10:27-30

Jesus acknowledged that there would be some who claimed to be His followers who really were not. Such are the basis of apostasy where there will be a great falling away from the church at the end of this age. This ‘falling away’ is the exiting of the apostates, i.e. those who claimed to be Christians but never bore fruit as evidence.

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Anti-christ is coming, even now many anti-christs have come…They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us…” I John 2:18-19

Jesus said the great deceiver will be granted powers to further his deception in coming days but the Christian cannot be deceived.

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

A Christian will be willing and able at all cost to remain true to his/her faith. A great example is found in the Revelation where martyrdom will be common for those unwilling to renounce their faith.

“…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands…” Revelation 20:4

The most powerful evidence supporting the teaching that a Christian cannot renounce his/her Christianity is that the individual Christian did not choose their status with God. It was given them before their very existence.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” Ephesians 1:3-5

The Bible teaches that all who have been chosen by God to be conformed to the image of Christ had their names written in the Book of Life at the time they were chosen.

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him (anti-christ), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world…The beast that you saw…will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world…” Revelation 13:8, 17:8

If one’s name is not written in the Book of Life that person has chosen to be judged by the books containing their deeds which can never satisfy a Holy and righteous God. Recall the total compatibility between man’s free choice to live or die and God’s sovereign election.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened…and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life…and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:12

Therefore, all Christians had their name entered in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world and nothing can erase those names or change the immutable plan of God.