Compromise

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  - Ephesians 6:12-13

When I was younger, it was easier for me to compromise.  Everything seemed less black and white; it was easier to see things that maybe weren’t so, as good.

Perhaps the beginning of the turning point for me was a negotiations class I took 30 years ago at the University of La Verne.  In the class we learned that compromise is a bad word.  In negotiations of any kind, if one side, or even both sides, compromise, it usually means that they had to give up something they feel is important and highly valued, and anger from having to do so will eventually surface.  The point of the class was to mine negotiations until an agreement (not compromise) could happen.

The passage above served as a reminder for me about compromise. First, the apostle Paul is reminds all that our issues as Christians are not so much against other people, but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

And if there are cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil that we are ultimately doing battle against, compromise will be deadly.

Here’s the real reality.  Whether we are doing battle against “rulers,” “authorities.” “cosmic powers,” spiritual forces; ” when we compromise, I believe we anger not just ourselves, but the One who  has given to us His word to live by.

A compromise in these realms will damage us, and ache the heart of our creator.  Think about it.  Aren’t most of us good at doing…both? 

And where will that get us?

I don’t want to find out.

Evildoers

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” Psalm 37:1,2

I don’t know. I think I’m too much of a pacifist for this passage.  I don’t like calling out people as evildoers; even thinking of someone as a wrongdoer seems judgmental. I’m too much of a conflict avoidant person.

Still, one of the many things the Bible doesn’t sugarcoat is the existence of evildoers and wrongdoers.  Sometimes… they are even me.  After all there is that phrase that says something about all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (visit Romans 3:23).

Actually the passage is not about us judging evildoers and wrongdoers; we have no business doing so.  But what is made clear is that there will be a judgment for those who persist.  And… “they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.”  OK, maybe that won’t be soon enough for some of us.  I get it.

As for those of us who do not want to be evildoers and wrongdoers, I would guess that we are then called to work out our “salvation with fear and trembling.” (Visit Philippians 2:12).  And quit worrying about those who mean evil.  We’re not responsible for them; never have been.  But we are responsible for ourselves.  To not be evildoers and wrongdoers; instead let us “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (visit Galatians 6:9)

We’re only responsible for ourselves. Let us approach that responsibility with fear and trembling.

Advice

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

I think as we etch our way into 2014, this verse that I received in my email has some sage advice for the New Year.     

• “preparing your minds for action” I am reminded by this phrase that, as frequently as not, Christianity is a verb.  It is an action.  It is how we live, how we love, how we exist. It is a faith, for sure; but a faith that calls on no one to stand still.  We are to be prepared for action; as it says later in Peter’s letter, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you….” (visit 1 Peter 3:15)  I believe Christians are called to make a difference in the world, and that difference will not happen if we are sitting on our hands. 
• “being sober-minded” Despite the claims of our critics, Christianity is not a pie in the sky wishful thinking outlook on life.  Our faith is fully grounded in reality. We are not asked to check our brains at the door when we enter a church. We are sober-minded, being “transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (visit Romans 12:2)  We are firmly grounded in reality, yet...
• “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” While we are prepared for action and our minds are soberly grounded in reality, we orient ourselves through the tremendous hope we have in Jesus as part of that reality.  Frankly, if we are really sober-minded, then we will realize that Jesus is the only real hope we have. Earlier Peters says, “he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….” (visit 1 Peter 1:3) this is where our ultimate hope resides; anything else is a pale substitute.

Great advice for 2014.  Good words for living!

2014

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

-Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

So here we are. Ready to celebrate the dawn of another New Year. Some of us might be thinking, “about time. I couldn’t wait for 2013 to be over.”

On the other hand, some of us might be thinking, 2013 wasn’t so bad…do we need to make a change?

The passage from Isaiah that I quoted above reminds us of what our attitude should be. “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it”

Those who are in Christ understand that our faith is a forward looking faith. It always has been.  In the Old Testament, the faithful looked forward to the day of the Lord; when the Messiah would make his appearance and make all things good.

In New Testament times (which we are in now), while we realize that a number of things that were wrong have been righted – especially our relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we still look forward.  Even in the post resurrection state, things are not perfect; we yearn for the times when they are.

The apostle Paul referred to this life as a “light momentary affliction” (visit 1 Corinthians 4:17) in which we look forward to the eternal.  Isaiah simply reminds us to not spend your time looking back.  A famed baseball player from my youth by the name of Satchel Paige used to put it like this: “Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you” Jesus was even more blunt than Satchel Paige when he said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (visit Luke 9:62)

Friends our very lives are never about what has happened in the past.  Good or bad.  It’s not that we are told to forget, but we are called to look and move forward.  As we end 2013 and move forward into 2014, what do you look forward to?  What do you need to have happen this new year?

Let me encourage you to lift these things up to God in prayer. There is a reason we are told not to look back.  And trust that God will be in what we are looking forward to in the future.

Happy New Year!