During the current political season, and with everything as tense as it is in the world today, you'd think it poorly timed to talk about the virtues of not compromising...
In general, it's interesting to see what "hills people are willing to die on"; that is, what issues people absolutely refuse to stubbornly defend without any sign of compromise. I said this about wearing masks months ago, back when there was much more controversy over whether we should even wear masks at all. Regardless of your feelings on the issue, I always thought it was a weird hill to die on, metaphorically speaking. I mean, if the pro-mask people are wrong, then the worst we had to do was wear some paper over our mouths. If they're right, we potentially saved some lives. What's the big deal?
To an extent, this is just human nature. People choose weird things to fight over while totally ignoring other things that may be legitimately important. When we were beginning discussions on whether planting our own church was the best course of action, I told Pastor Doug about a conversation with another member at Bowling Green Baptist who was telling me, somewhat unwittingly, what hill he was willing to die on. He said he didn't have a problem when we wanted to spend money and resources on mission trips, he was fine when we wanted to add ministries, but as soon as you start talking about finances and trustee responsibilities you've simply "gone too far". I kind of smirked and said, "So basically, when we did the God stuff you didn't have any opinion or issue but, now that it's over money, people are all hot-and-bothered?" I was being sarcastic (perhaps when I shouldn't have been) but the areas in which you are willing to compromise and not compromise indicate what you truly hold dear.
In the final two chapters of Ezra (chapters 9 and 10), we see leaders approaching Ezra and admitting that individuals in Jerusalem had decided to intermarry with the pagan inhabitants of the land. This led to a situation where the Israelites had to commit to turning away their families to retain the purity of their faiths and practices.
Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering. At the evening offering, I got up from my time of humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. (Ezra 9:4-5)
Now, our God, what can we say in light of this? For we have abandoned the commands you gave through your servants the prophets, saying, “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices. So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons. Never pursue their welfare or prosperity, so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.” (Ezra 9:10-12)
It sounds harsh by today's standards, but consider that this was such an affront to God that it simply could not be tolerated. God had given a commandment to the people of Israel to remain pure and they turned their back. I have no doubt that real love existed between some of these couples. Some of them even had children. If this were to happen today, you can almost hear the news commentators saying, "You may have your beliefs, but love is love and you can't stop it!"
Ezra, and the people of Israel in their repentance, realized that their God was a hill worth dying on, even when it wasn't convenient. Their sense of comfort and purpose came from their covenant with God and anything else they got from this world, in light of that covenant, was worthless.
Thank God we do not find ourselves in this same situation, one where we have to cast our spouses and children out into the wilderness (though I'm sure some of you have your moments when you've considered it)! We are, however, confronted with moments where we have to decide how strongly we will hold our principles. With the changing of political winds, will we be forced to compromise what we believe in favor of political or social acceptance? In order to have a church with "good optics", will we compromise the calling we feel God has given us to share Christ with those around us? Whether we like it or not, the call to moderate what we believe will occur both corporately and individually. When that moment comes, how will we respond?
DAILY PRAYER A Prayer for Steadfastness
Unchanging God, you are the same yesterday as today and as you will be tomorrow. Just as you never chain, your covenant to us never changes and never fails. Help us to understand all the ways to continue to show faithfulness to us so that our own resolve might be strengthened. Give us the words to say when we have no words and show us how to act when action is required. You are the rock and salvation we look towards daily. Thank you for never changing. Amen.
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