Judges 3:2
Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
God told Israel to teach those who know nothing of war how to war. Why would God say this? Does not God know that we need to get along at all costs? God said this because the generation that did not know how to war would make peace their focus at all costs, and peace at all costs always leads to the road of compromise and wrong associations.
Many in our Christian circles think that it is evil to point out compromise. It is a sad day when the one who blows the trumpet on compromise is considered the bad guy over the compromiser. Though I do not believe we ought to seek to be at odds with others, I do believe that each generation needs to learn how to stand without compromise at all costs.
The great men that I grew up under had to fight great battles against compromise so they could hand me a pure faith. The men who handed me this pure faith were men like Lee Roberson, Lester Roloff, Jack Hyles, Tom Malone, and Harold Sightler. Each of these men fought great battles, and most of them were kicked out of the crowd they grew up in. Roberson, Roloff, and Hyles were all kicked out of the Southern Baptist denomination because they would not compromise God’s Word for the sake of union. We forget these men fought great battles just to give us a pure faith so that we can know God and His power as they did.
Bro. Hyles was my pastor for many years. One truth he often taught was that every generation will fight the same battles; it will just be different characters we will fight against. As a young preacher, I didn't understand what he was talking about because he fought those battles for us. However, as a preacher approaching my sixties, I see the compromise these men saw as young men, and I see how many would rather accept compromise instead of standing for truth. I am thankful my pastor taught me to fight for truth because I want those who I pastor to understand what the war is like and why we must fight this war. Let me explain these statements.
First, war is never easy. Whoever stands against compromise is always in the minority, but I would rather be in the minority and stand for truth than to be in the large majority that never stands against compromise. When you stand against compromise, you will often find that you are the “bad guy.” Many would rather have peace at all costs say that your stand for truth is hurting the cause. My friend, it is not standing against compromise that hurts the cause of Christ; it is compromise that hurts the cause of Christ. War is never easy, but for the faith’s sake, you will have to fight the battle for truth because every generation will have to fight this battle.
Second, we must fight the battle for truth because every generation needs to know that compromise never stops its war against truth. You are living in a dream world if you think you can live life without standing against compromise. People compromise, so to fight against it will seem like you are fighting against people. However, you are not fighting against people; you are fighting for truth. If we don't teach each generation to war against compromise, truth will cease to exist in that generation. Don’t run from the battle against compromise because truth is more critical than our enjoyment of peace. Peace comes in Heaven; until then, fight for truth and teach the next generation how to fight that battle as well.
コメント