Are We a Compromising

Church? Series: What Kind of

Church Are We?

September 25, 2011

Churches……strive desperately to remain relevant in the midst of an ever-changing cultural landscape.

A Problem…occurs, however,

when churches strive so hard for cultural relevance that they lose their biblical uniqueness

This is called moral compromise.

Moral……compromise is like loading a map of Detroit into your GPS when you live in Dallas.

You might……enjoy the sights of Dallas, but you will never get to your intended destination.

Compromising…

…churches may have great church but they will never become a great church.

Such was……the problem in

Pergamum –The church wanted to

remain culturally relevant in Satan’s hometown.

–But they allowed false teachers to load the wrong maps into their moral GPS

Jesus has three…

…admonitions for Pergamum and every compromising church

The Word of God is the only map that

should be loaded

into your GPS

Moral GPS

The Word of God…

…is the ultimate standard by which all thoughts and actions are judged.

Old ParadigmF F FA A EC I ET T LS H I

NGS

The Word of God……informs our thinking.

It tells us what is true and what is not. We put our faith in the truth of God’s word, and feelings come after we have trusted God.

ExampleFact: God is sovereignFaith: I believe that God

is in everyone of my circumstances

Feelings: No matter what I am going through, I will not be afraid

New ParadigmF F FE A AE C IL T TI S HNGS

Feelings……constitute my ultimate reality. If I am not feeling it, it is not valid.

Example

Feelings: God is blessing others but not me

Fact: God is not fairFaith: I am leaving the church

Pleasing God

means faithfully following your GPS

Moral GPS

Pergamum…...held fast to God’s name

…they did not deny the faith

You have to……listen to GPS Sally and you have to follow her instructions

Compromise happens

when someone

tampers with the map

Moral GPS

Pergamum…...mixed in the teachings of Baalam and the Nicolaitans

Your moral GPS…

…is only as good as the map that is loaded and your commitment to obey the instructions.