The church of compromise...

The Compromising Church...



By: R.S. Helms

The Church at Pergamos (Pergamum) noted as the “Compromising” church. As belonging to a compromising church, or as compromising your intimate love relationship with Jesus, Lord and Savior, is doubtful what He would expect from us.  This article might put pressure on us as to examining our positional relationship to Christ.  What Theology does your church follow?  Could it be, Progressive, Liberal, or perhaps Liberation, maybe it is still Conservative, Orthodox. 

Let us see, what Jesus has to say about our compromise?  Perhaps we are still fighting for the Authentic Christianity as built on the Petra, the mantle rock of Jesus, as He Himself intended.  Jesus the Son of God, God incarnate never changes, neither does His church. 

Revelations chapter two, beginning with verse 12; (Rev. 2:12),   12). “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:’ 13). ‘I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.’  ‘And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’

14). ‘But I have  a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.  15). ‘Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate’.  16). ‘Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.’  17). ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.  And I will give a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ‘ 

Again, the Apostle John is instructed to write to an angel of the church, the “overseer, pastor, bishop,” write this to the head one, the under-shepherd.  Letting him know who it is that is authoring this letter, the one who has the two edged sword, the head of the church, Jesus, who has the ultimate authority to remove their status.  In the instance where it is the individual, then what he is saying is repent, go in the direction of God not of the devil. 

Tell this person, (do not know who it is, or I might call him something worse.)  Tell this guy, ‘I know your works, and where you are… where Satan has his throne.”  This is a major city; it has a library with over 200000 volumes, Mark Antony took it to Egypt and gave it to Cleopatra, so great was its prominence.   It was not about a library; it was sin, and idol worship of the city, accepted into the church, which caused Jesus to give his running condemnation against them.

pagan gods and various worship practices, each having their own sort of vile rituals, and doctrines, which the false teachers taught in the church, introducing abominations connected to the worship of Dionysus, and Aphrodite.  It is considered why the mention of Balaam, who is the one who persuaded Balak to use sexual means to overcome the men of Israel; prostitutes to lure the men to sin against God. 

Moreover, the sexual perversion practiced by the Nicolaitans, as a Christian rite of worship, the church compromised on the faith, the teachings of the Apostles; the church compromised on the very word of God.

Today, there are those in the so-called mainstream Christian denominations that have compromised on the word of God, it was bound to happen, as it became increasingly necessary to adapt to the progression of the liberal culture, whereby the re-birth of liberal Theology, Marxist Theology, Liberation Theology, and all can fall under Progressive Theology.  Where the moral values, once founded on Christian moral principles; have given way to our social advancement.  Values are now, simply created by the individual.

It has resulted in people who, when asked by pollsters, just say they are not Christian, or have left the Christian faith.  That attitude in big part is formed because of the continuous name-calling of Christians who oppose lifestyles, Abortion, promiscuity.  The demonizing of the Christian while promoting paganism, lawlessness, and the welfare state, of socialism.

I can just imagine what the letter would read like, if Jesus were to write one to the church at the United States.  It would get rather ugly.  I would not want to be one of the denominations or churches that have compromised the word of God, just for “political correctness” in avoiding persecution by name calling that liberals are engaged in … including the President of the United States.  The commander in chief of Christian demonizing.  Furthermore, they all say they are Christians.

Then Jesus tells them how to escape the judgment.  ‘If you REPENT, stop going towards Satan, and turn towards God, then He promises them a white stone with a name on it... The white stone, which is mentioned, could be akin to the white stone given to athletes who finished a race, and were given a white stone with their name etched on it; guaranteeing them their seat at the winners banquet. 

The true Christian has the white stone with the name etched on it, and only that person knows the name.  It is the guarantee of our place at the marriage banquet of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus makes this personal to the individual; the one who freely chooses to repent and accept God’s grace.  ‘He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’  Jesus makes it personal within the church.  Moreover, just what is the Spirit saying to the churches?   Presented here, an opportunity for Christians to truthfully examine their position with Christ.  You may recall, (I have a tendency to be quite redundant on this), ‘you can lie to me, you cannot lie to Jesus, and if you are lying to yourself … shame on you because you are in deep trouble…

He who has ears, is simply meant for the true Christian, it is limited to ‘spiritual’ ears; that you are able to hear what the Spirit is saying.  So much of the time, we think it means everyone… not so; those who are without Christ cannot hear what the Spirit says to us.  They cannot understand verses in the Bible, (outside of literally).  Perhaps that is why it is so hard to communicate to heathens, because they hear what you are saying but they cannot hear what the Spirit is saying, or calling, or convicting.

Perhaps the Spirit is telling Christians to find a church that preaches and teaches the word of God in the truth and Spirit.  Compromise nothing what so ever, in the word of God.  Follow God not man, humble yourself before God and let him know that you are nothing without him.  Do not let the liberal progressives rob you of your foundation in Jesus.

There was a progressive setting in church, and as I was preaching, what I considered a very controversial topic.  As I watched the progressive, he would mime, a person with a shovel, and frequently act as though he was throwing a shovel full over his shoulder.  I know well the meaning of the jester, he had nothing against the message, he was simply saying this is good stuff, but I do not need it; the guy behind me needs my portion.

The Church at Pergamos was getting a message, do not follow the doctrines of men, but do exactly what Christ wants you to do.  With no compromise you Christian, do what Christ wants you to do.  Love the sinner, as Christ loves you, but there is nowhere found in scripture where Jesus instructs us to compromise the faith, for political correctness. 

Thanks ….