Compromising Christians

[Lisa Jean child of God]

I am deeply grieved by the amount of compromising Christians I have been encountering for the past few years. Permissiveness is rampant in my church, in many of my family's and friend's churches, and in many well known ministries. I want to connect with fellow believers who are authentic, mature in their walk, and devoted to upholding the word of God.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Curiosity. What do you mean by "devoted to upholding the Word of God" ?

Are you meaning in their lives?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I am deeply grieved by the amount of compromising Christians I have been encountering for the past few years. Permissiveness is rampant in my church, in many of my family's and friend's churches, and in many well known ministries. I want to connect with fellow believers who are authentic, mature in their walk, and devoted to upholding the word of God.

Yeah totally can't stand it when people compromise the grace of God and make everything about the law.

Welcome to CF.

 

[eleos1954]

I am deeply grieved by the amount of compromising Christians I have been encountering for the past few years. Permissiveness is rampant in my church, in many of my family's and friend's churches, and in many well known ministries. I want to connect with fellow believers who are authentic, mature in their walk, and devoted to upholding the word of God.

Welcome to CF may you make many friends and be blessed by it.

 

[eleos1954]

Yeah totally can't stand it when people compromise the grace of God and make everything about the law.

Welcome to CF.

What is wrong with Gods laws?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What is wrong with Gods laws?

Nothing.

But the hint is in what we are called. Isn't it supposed to be all about Jesus?

 

[eleos1954]

Nothing.

But the hint is in what we are called. Isn't it supposed to be all about Jesus?

Yes ... it is

The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 8:8-10; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yes ... it is

The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 8:8-10; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)

Actually, the teachings of Jesus are more difficult than the law.

We must clean the inside of the cup as a priority, trusting the outside will be cleaned as we do this.

An example of this is Matthew 5:28 and 1 John 3:15.

The thing is, taking the "clean the cup on the inside" approach tends to cause the outside to look like a mess.

So a law focus (keeping up appearances) tends to take the focus off of Jesus and off of living the new life in light of the grace of God.

 

[eleos1954]

Actually, the teachings of Jesus are more difficult than the law.

We must clean the inside of the cup as a priority, trusting the outside will be cleaned as we do this.

An example of this is Matthew 5:28 and 1 John 3:15.

The thing is, taking the "clean the cup on the inside" approach tends to cause the outside to look like a mess.

So a law focus (keeping up appearances) tends to take the focus off of Jesus and off of living the new life in light of the grace of God.

We keep the law out of love and for no other reasons. They are laws of love. When kept our love towards God (1 thru 4) and love for our neighbors (5-10) then love abounds.

God doesn't want us to sin. What is sin? Transgression of the Law.

What is the work of the Holy Sprit? To make us aware of our sin and to help us repent (turn from it). This is the grace of God the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

God reveals His grace in His Word. As we fill our minds with the Word of God, His grace will flow into our lives. As we meditate upon His Word, we will have fresh glimpses of Jesus and His life-changing power.

His grace pardons us, empowers us, and transforms us.

 

[tturt]

I can really appreciate what is being said in the OP. Folks who are happy being saved but don't seem to go past that point. Proud of their opinions which aren't Scriptural.

But I have to remember not every believer is growing the same.

Even though they are or seem to be immature believers, at least with God's help the blinders have been removed from their minds - from our minds. This is no small thing. "...for their minds have been blinded by the god of this age, leaving them in unbelief. Their blindness keeps them from seeing the dayspring light of the wonderful news of the glory of Jesus Christ, who is the divine image of God." II Cor 4:4

How many times have we read Scripture then later read it again and see something we didn't see beforehand?

Also, some believer was patient with us in our earlier stage/times. They encouraged us and were willing to give their testimony which helped us in our Christian walk.

Can you imagine what they would be like without Him? Or what we would be like without Him and His Word?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

We keep the law out of love and for no other reasons. They are laws of love. When kept our love towards God (1 thru 4) and love for our neighbors (5-10) then love abounds.

God doesn't want us to sin. What is sin? Transgression of the Law.

What is the work of the Holy Sprit? To make us aware of our sin and to help us repent (turn from it). This is the grace of God the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

God reveals His grace in His Word. As we fill our minds with the Word of God, His grace will flow into our lives. As we meditate upon His Word, we will have fresh glimpses of Jesus and His life-changing power.

His grace pardons us, empowers us, and transforms us.

I think the transformation is the key.

Once we stop transforming, we begin to compromise.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

God doesn't want us to sin. What is sin? Transgression of the Law.

Romans 14:23 - anything that does not come from faith or trust is a sin.

Romans 13 gives a good summary of how the law applies to Christians.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Thus in all of our actions, striving to treat others as we would like to be treated, and to harm no one - this is the summary of what the law teaches in terms of conduct towards one another. That's really all we need to know.

Romans 7 speaks of sin as a living entity within our bodies, though James speaks of a law of liberty which also lives within us.

So in all these senses, sin is "missing the mark" in terms of not being of faith, not being of love, and being contrary to the divine nature given to us when we were born again.

So the idea that sin is the transgression of the law is only part of the understanding of sin. This is important to know, since confessing sins is part of the Christian life, and an important discipline to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

 

[Stone-n-Steel]

I am deeply grieved by the amount of compromising Christians I have been encountering for the past few years. Permissiveness is rampant in my church, in many of my family's and friend's churches, and in many well known ministries. I want to connect with fellow believers who are authentic, mature in their walk, and devoted to upholding the word of God.

Lisa Jean,

The enemy has been working to compromise the message since the garden. I think these two verses sum up my comment.

Eph. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2Tim. 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

[tturt]

#10 continued A lady at the church didn't seem to be maturing. While helping with a church project, she told us what she had been taught as a child. It was amazing how much progress she made with the Lord's help.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Luke 15 is good recommended reading on this topic.

Matthew 18:21 to the end of the chapter is good narrative to pay heed to on this topic

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I think the transformation is the key.

Once we stop transforming, we begin to compromise.

It’s completely about transformation nix conformation

 

[Gregory Thompson]

It’s completely about transformation nix conformation

I remember Romans 12 ends with "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" makes a good summary of the transformation.

When the church became state religions of different countries, and then part of the European colonization process, it became hard to see where the conformity began and ended.

So it seems simple, but all of the traditions have been affected in one way or another. So in this day and age, not conforming to the pattern of this world also means examining church practices due to past choices.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I remember Romans 12 ends with "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" makes a good summary of the transformation.

When the church became state religions of different countries, and then part of the European colonization process, it became hard to see where the conformity began and ended.

So it seems simple, but all of the traditions have been affected in one way or another. So in this day and age, not conforming to the pattern of this world also means examining church practices due to past choices.

Examining traditions, Traditions, and finding the source of the gospel message that the doctrine originated from, I agree. Those ancient church father’s studies need careful examination not to fall into the same trap of missed information that pit one aspect of God against another. Word studies are useful to align the flow of the teaching throughout the complete picture of the bible. Not exercising the response-ability to God, the Father, is usually the slumber factor.

 

[Lisa Jean child of God]

Curiosity. What do you mean by "devoted to upholding the Word of God" ?

Are you meaning in their lives?

Yes, in their lives.