How do I live in today’s culture without compromising my convictions? - Compromise - TouchPoints

Daniel 1:8, 12-14Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. . . . “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

Never be afraid to take a stand for what you know is right and true, but do so in a respectful manner. You will be surprised how often you will be admired for sticking to your beliefs, even if others disagree with them. But if you meet resistance, you must not compromise by going against God’s Word.

Exodus 34:12“Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.”

Hebrews 3:12-13Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

2 John 1:9Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

Revelation 2:14“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.”

You must always be on the alert when living or working with those who don’t see sin as something wrong. You can easily find yourself compromising and agreeing to do “little sins.” This will eventually dull your sensitivity to sin. A little sin now and then can lead to a life defined by sin.

Judges 16:15-17Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it. Finally, Samson shared his secret with her.

You are most likely to compromise in areas where you are spiritually weak. Bad influences, and your own rationalizations, will often play on your emotions in order to sway you. Learn to recognize where you are vulnerable so that you are prepared when the temptation to compromise comes.