There is no Compromise, a Call to Cross the Culture

We live in a world that believes in compromise.  That believes in going along to get along.  That thinks that anyone who takes a stand against evil is crazy.  This is true in all the areas of life.  Gay marriage, legal drugs, abortion and anti Christ religious systems like Islam.  We could all do better if we just bent a bit on our beliefs.  That if we were just more "reasonable" everything would be OK.

That is a trap of the devil.  Even the Pope has come to the recognition that something is wrong and that a seared conscience is a victory for the enemy.

Here is a recap of what he said, he is speaking truth:

“The evil one conceals himself, and comes with his very polite friends, knocking at the door, asking permission, but then moves in and spends time with the man and, little by little, starts giving the orders.”
With his “good manners,” Francis said, the devil makes the man fall into moral relativism, calming his conscience.
We start saying things like “This happens everywhere” and “We are all sinners,” Francis said. Yet “When we say everybody, we mean nobody,” he said. “And so we live this worldliness that is the child of the evil spirit.”
“Calming the conscience, numbing the conscience, this is a great evil,” he said.
“When the devil manages to numb your conscience he has won a real victory,” Francis said, because “he has become the master of your conscience.”
The Pope said that the key to combating the devil is discernment and vigilance. We need to be able to discern situations, he said, to see what comes from God and what comes from the devil who “always tries to deceive” and to “make us choose the wrong path.”
The Christian cannot just accept anything, but must “discern and look well to see where things come from, and what their root is,” he said.

As believers in Christ we are called to be counter Cultural.  Our culture has become violent, murderous, corrupt, hypocritical, cruel and coarse.  Listen to the language people use, even women.  I remember the first time I ever heard a woman use the F Word.. it stunned me.  Not now.

This has discouraged me because as a believer we have lost our way.  We have become adaptable. Yet the call to become salt and light once again in a dark and tasteless world is being shouted from the watchtower.

We cannot compromise.  We cannot become just like the culture.  We must stand or we will begin to fall till we cannot get up.  We are dangerously close to that right now.  This culture is winning and the church is losing.  Jesus is calling to us to stand.

In Ephesians 4:21-32 there is a passage that calls to us to be different from the world.

  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

While the call looks like WE need to be better, it is also a call to be salt and light, counter cultural.  Don't go along to get along.  Don't endorse or embrace evil.  We are to be different, not compromised.

Here's what I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying:

I have called you to be light bearers. I have called you to speak life.  I have called you to raise a standard of righteousness.  There is no darkness at all in heaven, and there is no darkness in ME.  Let no darkness reign in your heart.  The enemy roaring lion is still looking for those he can consume.  Don't be among them.  Many who say Lord Lord will find the answer "I never knew you" on that day.  Every day is a choosing between good and evil, darkness and light, my way or the way of perdition.  You choose constantly, choose well.  The leaven of those who would cause you to stumble is everywhere.. walk carefully as my light and word illuminates your path.