In politics, there isn’t nearly enough compromise. The Democrats want one thing the Republicans want something else. In an effort to win the larger battle, sometimes these two groups don’t compromise even if an agreement could benefit each. There is no compromise in an effort to win a bigger battle.

There is a growing trend in churches to compromise on doctrinal issues in attempt to show love and bring “unity” to the church. I guess that you can’t argue that unity is important, since the Bible makes the call for unity (although it is probably the best idea to allow the Bible to define unity rather than man). To me the most interesting part of this philosophy is the idea of compromise.

One of the definitions of compromise is “A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.” While there very well may be some issues where concessions are in order (where Bible teaching permits), are God’s people permitted to make concessions on Biblical teachings or where their conscience would honestly be bothered? Was the church at Corinth instructed, or allowed, to make concessions with the one caught in fornication in 1 Cor. 5? When Gnostic teachings began to impact the Body, was there a call for unity by the New Testament writers? Noted are two examples where agreement were based on God’s desires rather than mans and God’s desired were passed on through his Word.
To get in a long discussion, or argument, of who is righteous and accepted by God and who isn’t; who is “in” the Body and who “isn’t” seems to be fruitless. Similarly, to be asked to accept teachings that one feels the Bible does not condone in an attempt to achieve unity is also fruitless. If I feel that the Bible does not condone a clergy-laity system, why would you ask me to condone it? If you felt that observing Christmas was wrong for Biblical reasons and I had no problem with observing the holiday should I expect you to “compromise” so we could achieve unity? To an honest person the answer is obvious.
There seems to be little good in condemnation of believers that worship in a different way from us. However, the call for compromise may be the first steps of even greater division. This isn’t a situation where ‘out of love’ we change our desires in deference to our spouse. It also isn’t a situation where we refuse to budge because our political party is steadfast. It is a situation where we, by faith, look to God for direction.

Incidentally, another definition for compromise is “A concession to something detrimental or pejorative: a compromise of morality. “ That seems to be the definition that most applies to the trend that I am seeing.