Compromise in Worship

An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. . . . Verb:

Settle a dispute by mutual concession [yielding]. (New Oxford American Dictionary)

Compromise

. . . the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3)

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor

with the wine which he drank: . . . (Daniel 1:8)

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open

in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks

before his God, as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6:10)

O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee

from the lions? (Daniel 6:20)

O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and

he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which

thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:16–18)

Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but

He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,—the souls He had purchased

with His own blood. (The Desire of Ages, p. 356.1a)

He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to

the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to “follow after the things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle.

And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. (The Desire of Ages, p. 356.1b)

A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience. But Jesus bade His disciples,

“Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.” Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan. In Christ their

eternal life is secure. Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them. (The Desire of Ages, p. 356.1c)

. . . the saint of the LORD. (Psalm 106:16)

To morrow is a feast to the LORD [Jehovah]. (Exodus 32:5)

From the wisest of the rulers, Solomon became a despot. Satan triumphed as this man, who had thrice been called the

beloved of his God, became a slave of passion, and sacrificed his integrity to the bewitching power of woman.

(The Signs of the Times, July 1, 1903, par. 4)

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:5)

The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost

souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as

the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. (Education, p. 57.3)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that

are freely given to us of God.(1 Corinthians 2:12)

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of “the man of sin” foretold

in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of

Satan’s power—a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his

will. (The Great Controversy, p. 50.1)

Thousands were imprisoned and slain, but others sprang up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ and accounted of Him as conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the

crown of glory when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer. Their living example and dying testimony

were a constant witness for the truth; and where least expected, the subjects of Satan were leaving his service and enlisting

under the banner of Christ. (The Great Controversy., p. 42.1)

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13)

Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God by planting his banner in the

Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived and led to displease God, then their strength,

fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy prey. (The Great Controversy, p. 42.2)

The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead

were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and resurrection, but they had no conviction of sin

and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart. With some concessions on their part they proposed that Christians

should make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ. (The Great Controversy, p. 42.3)

We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to

us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an

infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and

they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean

thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(2 Corinthians 6:14–18)

Good and evil never harmonize. Between light and darkness there can be no compromise. Truth is light revealed; error is

darkness. Light has no fellowship with darkness, righteousness no fellowship with unrighteousness. (Ms 82, 1900, par. 40)

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God

heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:5, 6)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,

and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

δοκιµάζω (dokimazō)

to try to learn the genuineness of something by examination and testing, often through actual use (Louw-Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New

Testament based on Semantic Domains, vol. 1 p. 331)

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. (Romans 12:2b NIV)

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of

myself. (John 7:17)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world

passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15–17)

The minds of many have been so darkened and confused by worldly customs, worldly practices, and

worldly influences that all power to discriminate between light and darkness, truth and error, seems

destroyed. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 62.2)

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. (Hosea 8:7)

The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us. The contest will be

between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to

worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. At that

time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who

have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own

nakedness. (Prophets and Kings, p. 188.1)

I would say that we are living in a most solemn time. In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small

portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will

conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 608.3)

The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most

discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress

of the work, will renounce the faith and take their stand with its avowed enemies, toward whom their sympathies have long been

tending. These apostates will then manifest the most bitter enmity, doing all in their power to oppress and malign their former brethren

and to excite indignation against them. This day is just before us. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 463.2)

Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are

distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth these are receiving the

heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is

impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity.(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 216.1)

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view

matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing

address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to

misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. (The Great Controversy, p. 608.2)

To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from

their treason. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 136.2)