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.