Compromise: Good and then Bad

Almost anyone reading here knows the word “compromise.” It’s not a word in the Bible, but it is a word very often used in theological or scriptural contexts. One could use other words: for instance, accommodation or appeasement.

For sure, compromise is positive in certain instances. A husband and wife could work out a compromise on a non-scriptural issue in which they have liberty to think or practice one way or the other. They humble themselves not to get exactly what each of them might want in a decision. They land somewhere in between for the sake of the relationship. This is positive use of compromise, and it could occur in a home, a church, or in government.

With mentioning a good aspect of compromise, let me talk now about a bad or negative usage of compromise, which is especially compromising the truth. This is a situation where the Bible says one thing or the truth of scripture applies in a particular way that genuine Christians have believed through all history since Christ and yet someone, maybe a Christian or not, doesn’t want to believe it or do it. If someone takes the position, it will inconvenience him or cause suffering for him. It might be difficult because of foreseen poor treatment from others. People who take or practice the biblical position face severe opposition, it seems. On those matters someone will compromise to believe or practice less than biblical to appease or accommodate.

The compromise becomes the new position. It’s new, different than the former belief and practice. This is bad compromise.