You must have come across the term “if it works for you, do it.” In many contexts, severally; at school, at work or even in your day to day living. The underlying philosophy is based on accomplishing goals by whatever means are necessary. Well, accomplishing goals isn’t bad, or is it? In any case we are all on a mission to fulfill our dreams and achieve whatever good things we so desire. However, in the pursuit with this self-centered perspective, the notion “if it works for you, do it”, inevitably leads to compromise of conscience and convictions.
The society we live in, or much greater, the country we live in is so greatly full of compromise. What’s more, we could say that we no longer have a national conscience; guilt and remorse are non-factors in determining behavior.
Sadly, the philosophy and practice of compromise has even invaded the church. The operative ideology in our society is often tolerance, and the church has adopted a similar perspective and now looks for ways of just giving people the Gospel without offending them. Yet the very nature of the Gospel is offensive because it confronts sinners with their sins.
On an individual basis, the spirit of compromise hits home in our personal interactions. Perhaps you’ve found yourself compromising God’s word on some ethical issues at home or more often at school. You convinced yourself that such compromise was necessary to maintain credibility as a member or a student.
You may have tried to cheat in exams and were most probably successful. You may have missed lab sessions or ward sessions and asked someone to sign in for you. You may have copied your assignment from your friend(s) or even asked them to write reports for you. You may have tried a number of things that were compromising your faith in order to maintain your credibility.
Personally, I have tried most of the things mentioned. Every time I convinced myself that that was just how things were; “Degree ni harambee” or the notion “It has to work no matter what!”.
We are familiar with this. Yet our very Christian testimony is predicted on our complete devotion to God’s word as the highest authority – no matter what the consequences may be.
Our difficulty in living in obedience to God’s standards is the opposition we encounter from the world. R.C. Sproul in his book Pleasing God describes the pull the world has on us;
“The world is a seducer. It seeks to attract our attention and our devotion. It remains so close at hand, so visible, so enticing. It eclipses our view of heaven. What is seen vies for our attention. It entices our eyes lest we look up for a better country whose builder and maker is God. It pleases us—much of the time, anyway—and, alas, we often live our lives to please it. And that is where conflict ensues, for pleasing the world so seldom overlaps with pleasing God.
The divine call we receive is this: “Do not be conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). But the world wants us to be partners with it. We are urged to participate in the fullness of it. It presses upon us with the ultimate peer pressure. ([Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1988], 59).”
When we give in to the pull of the world, we fail to obey God’s standards. The true price of compromise is a rejection of God’s word which amounts to rebellion against Him and promotion of self as the ultimate authority.
Integrity essentially means being true to one’s ethical standards. In our case, God’s standards. This is essential if any believer is to represent God and Christ in this world. Anything less than total devotion to our Lord in both character and conduct amounts to compromising with the world.
“O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works with righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:1-2)
The best way to maintain integrity and avoid compromising is to keep our eyes focused on Christ. Allowing Him free access to rule and guide our ways to the world’s toughest storms and from the pull of the world. And by this we will be able to live in obedience and God will work in us.
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13).
Do what is right
Howard.