compromise

Compromise.

Lately that word has frightened me greatly.

Look at the news: Mel Gibson leaves his wife of nearly 30 years to have a baby with some chick that probably could be his daughter and now "they've drifted apart." That, while Kate Gosselin is busying disposing of everything in her life that has and will be important in exchange for a few moments of beauty treatments and stardom.

Locally, there's this family at church. Four kids ages eight to 16. The kids take turns which side of the church they will sit in each week. Mom is on one side. Dad is on the other. I don't even know the situation because really I don't need to know details to pray for them. God knows them. But it throws me off whenever I see them.

At Priya's school, one of her four classmates parents recently moved on opposite sides of town. A town of maybe 1000 people. I don't know the story, but it throws me off. They didn't seem like off-kilter people. They seemed solid. What happens when people hit the 10 or 15 or 20 year mark of being married? After spending most of their adult life with that other person who at one point was the best thing ever, what would possess them to dislike each other to the point of living in separate houses?

Then I read this yesterday. She used to be good. She used to have a solid message. That was before. Before she traded in her Maker's standard for something more palatable to her human nature. Now she's writes "angry songs" and her theology is confused and jumbled and man-made and she's in just a position to lead confused minds astray.

Curse the devil and his tactics. He's been at it since Eve. He makes it sound good appealing to our greedy little selves, reborn or not, are always looking for a chance to jump out and make themselves big.

Never will it be easy to fight self trying to make itself big. Some sins are specifically listed in our Guidebook. Lots of them actually. Murder, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, envy.....but God made the rules clear. But I think sin could be defined as when we even entertain self for just a little cup of tea - it only takes a few seconds and a quick mental decision.

Does anyone ever leap from living far from a sin to bogging up to it their ears in just one day or hour? Maybe. More likely it takes a glance, then two glances and then all-out staring and on from there.

It takes a series of compromises. Entertaining something for tea, then all afternoon, then overnight.

As for me, I'm not going to be ashamed to being a prude in the areas where I don't wish to compromise. Because if that's what it takes to celebrate 70 years of imperfect but faithful marriage someday, it's a tiny price to pay.

And here's my promise from my Maker. He knows me best.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it. (I Corinthian 10:13)