There are some things in life that can be good or bad depending on the context.

Conflict would be one example of that.

Conflict can be a good thing. That may sound difficult to believe but all through Scripture we have times where conflict led to a unique work of God.

I think of Acts 15 where there was conflict about circumcision which led to the encouragement and affirmation of Gentile believers.

Conflict can also be a bad thing.

We see that in Scripture as well.

I think of the conflict among the disciples about who would be the greatest.

Another example would be compromise.

Compromise is one of those things that can be good or bad depending on the context.

That is going to be our topic tonight.

Avoid Compromise

There is healthy compromise and unhealthy compromise.

Let’s look at a Biblical example of unhealthy compromise.

1 Samuel 13:5-14

1 Samuel 13:5–14 NKJV

5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Saul knew better.

He knew it was not his right nor position to offer a sacrifice.

That was only for the priests to do.

He says he “felt compelled” but the issue really was that he was afraid of the people leaving.

Because of his fear, Saul acted against the commands of God.

He compromised.

This is the type of compromise we need to avoid.

Go with me to Mark 2:1-12, where we are going to learn from the life of Jesus about avoiding compromise.

To avoid unhealthy compromise we pursue 4 goals.

Goal #1…

Stay Focused vv. 1-2

Mark 2:1–2 NKJV

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.

I love the end of verse 2. “He preached the Word to them.”

Jesus preached the Word.

This is one of the things He came to do.

Don’t compromise the mission God has given.

Stay focused.

Last week we talked about boundaries, when they are tested, stay focused on why you put them into place.

One of the big things that has helped Jess and I in our parenting is that we know our goal.

Our goal in parenting is to raise children who are able and equipped to reach people for Jesus in the world we live in.

Because we know our goal, we don’t shelter our kids, we equip them.

Knowing our goal helps us to stay focused when there are trials and difficulties.

This can be true in any number of situations.

However, here is the issue, you have to know why you do what you do.

In order to stay focused we must first know our goal.

What is the goal of your marriage?

Your parenting?

Your church attendance?

Why do you do the things that you do?

If we don’t have an answer to that question, unhealthy compromise is practically inevitable.

Comments or Questions?

To avoid unhealthy compromise we pursue 4 goals.

Goal #1: Stay focused.

Goal #2…

Take Decisive Action vv. 3-4

Mark 2:3–4 NKJV

3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

If anyone had an excuse to not do something, it is these guys.

They show up to take their friend to Jesus and the house is so full that no one could even get in the door.

Undeterred, they pull the roof apart to lower him down!

These friends were willing to tackle any obstacle to get their friend to Jesus.

Don’t allow excuses to lead to compromise.

If we say we are going to do something, do it.

Take decisive action to fulfill your obligations.

Now, some might argue that Saul, in our opening illustration, was doing this.

He was simply taking decisive action.

The problem was that he was taking action that violated what God had said.

The action we take must be Biblical.

Difficulties in relationships can tempt us to make unhealthy compromises.

We want to avoid conflict, so we don’t tell our spouse the truth about what we are feeling, thinking, or wanting.

We want to preserve a relationship and so we don’t speak clearly about Biblical truth.

We know we should discipline our child, but it’s been a long day.

These are examples of unhealthy compromise.

Excuses are never going to get us where we need to go. Taking action will.

Comments or Questions?

To avoid unhealthy compromise we pursue 4 goals.

Goal #1: Stay focused.

Goal #2: Take Decisive Action

Goal #3…

Be Authentic vv. 5-7

Mark 2:5–7 NKJV

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Do you think Jesus knew how they were going to respond?

Definitely.

Jesus doesn’t alter His behavior or message to appeal to the religious elites.

He is authentic.

We need to be who we are no matter what.

Here’s what I mean.

Do not have different standards of behavior depending on who you are with.

I am not talking about being more relaxed with certain people or in certain situations.

What I mean is compromising our integrity or beliefs when we are with certain people.

Our identity as followers of Jesus should always be evident.

This doesn’t mean we introduce ourselves as a Christian, though we could.

It means that in our behavior, our language, and our attitude we are examples of Christ.

We do not compromise our beliefs or values no matter who we are with.

Even when misunderstood and mischaracterized, be authentic.

Jesus was called a glutton, a drunkard, and a demon-possessed sinner.

He did not allow those mischaractherizations to stop Him from doing what He was sent here to do.

Comments or Questions?

To avoid unhealthy compromise we pursue 4 goals.

Goal #1: Stay focused.

Goal #2: Take Decisive Action

Goal #3: Be Authentic

Goal #4…

Please God Alone vv. 8-12

Mark 2:8–12 NKJV

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Jesus essentially doubles down here.

Jesus didn’t back down from what was right.

He knows they are accusing Him of blasphemy in their hearts.

By the way, that was a crime punishable by death.

Jesus doesn’t back down and say, oh no you misunderstood.

He doesn’t try to make things sound better or more acceptable to these men.

Instead, Jesus proves who He is.

What do I mean.

If only God can forgive sin and Jesus proves His ability to forgive sin by healing this man, Jesus is God.

Jesus does the exact opposite of appeasing these scribes.

What He does could be seen as antagonizing them!

Why?

Jesus was not there to make people happy.

Jesus came to earth to do the will of His father.

Because Jesus stood His ground and did not capitulate to these men, God is glorified in v. 12.

One of the things we must remember in all our communication and in every relationship is that we want to please God alone.

We cannot communicate well if we are trying to please people.

(me with Rob and Whit)

When conflict seems likely, our natural tendency is to back down, to avoid or run from it.

However, there are times when we are in the right, doing what God has called us to do.

In those moments, we cannot back down.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean we ignore all the other lessons we have learned in this study.

We still speak with clarity, praise the praiseworthy, say what we mean and all that.

The bottom line question is this.

Is God pleased with my behavior, attitude, and speech?

Our goal is to please God, it is not to please men.

Comments or Questions?

Challenge:

What will I do this week to avoid unhealthy compromise?