Q3. Religious Compromise

[PASTOR D]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

Because it involves compromise and compromise is always dangerous

[Ramon]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

Answer:

Religious compromise,and religious practices are Spiritually destructive,as it voided the power of the Word, of God.And we all know that the Word of God is Jesus

[ABS]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

By participating in the trade guilds, which were marked by guild dinners filled with pagan rituals and immoral conduct, you were expected to follow the status quo. To disassociate yourself from them, could mean loss of business and social standing. No one wanted to loose their jobs; their families depended on the income from these enterprises. It all boils down to how can a Christian live in a sinful world and not be affected by it. As Christians we have to become an Ephesian warrior (Eph 6:13-20), girded with truth and shielded with faith to withstand evil. What most of us do is to compromise our choice. Compromising our choices in life decisions is an action of non-commitment. We also compromise by making apologies for being a Christian by joining activiities that we know are not right. We do this instead of remembering that we are "heirs to the kingdom." Compromise is also about feelings. God's truth is not about feelings; it is a conviction. Compromise also leads us down the path of accomodation - with each sin, sin becomes easier. Compromise also negates accountability. We forget we are accountable to God and our fellow Christians to be who we say we are and who Jesus says we are.

[Barbara A. Lee]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

Anytime we put other things, whether it be a TV show, other god, or any of the thousands of things that is of the WORLD, before our worship of the One TRUE GOD, we dishonor Him. That is spiritually destructive. We live in an instant gratification world now and we have to be on guard for anything that is not of the one TRUE God. When we compromise in our faith we dishonor the Lord. We fail to see because of the worldly things but anything that is not of the Bible is against God. We must learn what it is that God likes and the only way to do that is to study the Word. If we had more of the Bible taught in schools we would not be in the mess we are in now. God says you bless me I will bless you... So why don't we just tell the 24% that don't believe in God to take a back seat and show them what God will do if we get back to the basics of His love.

[dlite80]

Religious compromise is often like cancer that if unchecked begins to spread and destroy other parts of the (spiritual) body. Even well meaning

[gusta]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

It was spiritually destructive because it caused seperation between them and God. I think it holds true in todays workforce[ although not so much now that we are protected with the sexual harrassment law.]as it did back then, mostly women would have to put up with sexual harassment to keep their jobs or get promotions. Nowadays if you try to talk to your coworkers about Jesus and God you are apt to become a social outcast or lose your job.

[Lion of Grace]

Being required to compromise and participate in heathen practices for any business or lively hood is spiritually destructive because we "become" what we practice and believe. I'm not saying a Christian can not be in the world....but we sure are instructed to not be "of it". Compromising and going along with anything wrong is really being in agreement with it. We should have an absolute truth to what we believe. Everywhere in life someone will try to get us to compromise and we need to stand strong. Even more important, just as we don't want to compromise with worldly standards with concern of polluting our minds....we should all the more be in the Word and have fellowship with other firmly standing Christians to bolster our beliefs and saturate our minds with Biblical truth. I've known Christians who "dabbled" in questionable areas only to fall. They were sure they could handle it, yet were compromised in the end. I'm not saying we shouldn't be in places to witness for the Kingdom....I'm just saying we need to be very discerning and cautious, guarding our hearts and minds and be ever aware of danger lest we fall. We need to be SURE of what we believe and not step to the right or the left in that. We need to be in constant communion with God for direction. It's very hard in a work place to be a Christian in the midst of worldly ideology and belief systems. It's hard to be in a church when that seeps in and truth slowly dies out. When good Christians with truth are replaced in favor of go- getting people with success packages. It's very discouraging when anyone is denied fairness and justice for not "going with the flow" and that can begin to seem hopeless. But our God`says He has overcome the World....so we have to keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith and know in the end....He reigns.... and we will have every tear wiped away....so this is our encouragement!

I think the biggest compromise 21st century Christians struggle with are power and social status and money and a lack of integrity and truth in handling all of them. There isn't anything wrong with having clout and a big say so....but what are we using it for? Do we know what it's even given to us for and by Whom? Same with money. It's all God's...we are to be good stewards of it....for His Kingdom. Even social status. Do we use it help the poor? To champion someone who is left out? Those children of God not quite what the "world" thinks is acceptable? How do we define our purpose in any walk of life? Those I think are our major challenges and failures.

[Mark Smith]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

We should not compromise on what we know to be true from God's Word. The easier way, usually, is to compromise, especially if we focus on the world, and pleasing the world. If we truly focus on God's holiness, and God's Word, we won't be so willing to compromise. But having said that, we also don't need to "major on the minors" when eternal souls are on the line.

[tammie7]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

It was spiritually destructive because it is one of the ten commandment that we are not to have no other gods before God almighty. Anything can come before God it can be a house or money this can get all of your mind and you don't have time for God.

There are so many things the twenty-first christain struggle with wanting what everyone else have not having thing can cause a person to compromise because they don't have and thing is getting very hard for a person.

The love of money.

[Marloes]

if boundaries become less clear, you turn farther and farther from the Lord, until you end up completely somewhere else

[van]

Religious compromise required by practicing in heathen religious practices in the trade guild was spiritually destructive because it opposes all the principles Christ taught. Christ opposed compromising of God's law in the church for any reason. Many within the church close their eyes to all types of sin that is performed within the church. Sexual immorality not only hurts us and others, but it hurts God and leads us to destruction. It destroys families, churches and communities because it destroys the integrity in which it was built. We must have no part in sexual immorality even in our culture today! The real compromises that dilute vital Christianity is heresy and immoral practices. We should never tolerate sin by bowing down under pressure that would lead us to being open-minded in justifying sin.

[tgandy]

I feel that the religious compromise in the trade guilds was spiritually destructive because they were compelled to go against their beliefs in order to survive. Either they trade and go along with the practices of the day or be forced into economic hardship. Twenty first century Christians face homosexuality, lesbians, transgenders, HIV/AIDS. We face isolation from our peers and some in our churches if we befriend these people and even we ourselves face being called by the names. Jesus taught us to love one another. He did not say if it suited us and if we liked who and what they were. He said Love your neighbor. And everyone is our neighbor.

[Craig]

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

 

This compromise denounced Jesus Christ and was very disloyal.  Moral and spiritual compromise mean that a person's convictions and faith really don't mean much and can be accommodated to any situation that benefits the individual.   Compromise says there is no absolute truths.  Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life ..."  Compromise is being pragmatic and doesn't abide in truth.  In the end it destroys the soul and ends in death.

 

Real compromises, today, that dilute vital Christianity include:  sexual immorality; slander; gossip; selfishness; lipservice; lack of involvement in church and personal ministries; lack of personal Bible study, prayer and worship; using the church for personal gain of any sort; compromising Biblical standards to feel comfortable in the popular culture; fear; antipathy; envy; bitterness; lack of joy; lack of thanksgiving; etc.

 

The real compromise that dilutes vital Christianity is not having a true, meaningful, and born-again relationship with Jesus Christ and the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the believers life.  Compromise is fueled by lack of faith, trust, love, and obedience to God.

[rn_flobow]

While we are to LOVE our neighbor which would include Society of people we are NOT to participate in the SINS that our neighbor/society of people  is/are committing. Homosexuality is alive as never before. Our churches are filling up with active homosexuals whose sin is horrible to God according to the Bible. We are not to condone such sin and we are to turn away from it. If the people practicing this type of sin do not change we are to do as the Bible says and have no further communication with them. We have done all we could do to help them turn to the Light of God's LOVE which can fulfill all our needs. In today's society, even the churches often would say this type of behavior is acceptable. READ your Bible and you will see the Truths for yourself. We struggle with broken relationships and how to continue life after we have endured these. We struggle with how we help people but we are not overcome with their sins and thus we ourselves are not lured back into the world. Often, if we don't accept certain practices in our modern world we are scorned and not accepted just as the Christians during the time frame Revelations was written. The more we change as a society, the more we often stay the same. The real KEY lies as always in Christ's hand. That is who can really help us change and live as we should. Right now, our society is helter skelter. In the military, for example, homosexuality is now an accepted part. Sin should never be accepted into our society but it's running rampid right now. In order to join the service, you might be forced to bunk with a homosexual. It's really NOT popular to be a Christian in today's society and we are penalized in many ways for being one.

[Old Jerry]

I think that the religious compromise that the heathen religious practices required in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive because it took their eyes off of God. The compromises that the twenty-first century Christians struggle with is trying to be politically correct and trying to accumulate more stuff.

[Commissioned]

On 7/28/2003 at 12:39 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive?

The religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive because it accommodated heathen practices.  The word of God says, thou shall have no other god but Jehovah Elohim and Him alone is to be worship. 

What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with?

The twenty-first century Christians struggle with worship of material things.  They put before God and worship those things that have eyes and cannot see.

Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity?

The real compromises that dilute vital Christianity is to have the influence of the world so deeply ingrained that they become Christian in name only.