Posted in A Day the Lord Made

What are some ways that we can combat compromise and set a godly example for our children?  Obviously I am not alone in my disappointment by what I have been seeing.
In part 3 I would like to list several ways that we can protect our family and possibly turn some of the ugly tide around.  What is the purpose for gathering with other believers anyway?   Is it not for encouragement, edification, instruction, worship in song, Bible study and reproof to name a few?  As we deal with our own sinful natures, the last thing that we want to concern ourselves with when we meet as the body of Christ is resisting *more* sin.  There should be no question but the answer cannot be found in compromising.

What is compromise? An amicable agreement between parties in controversy, to settle their differences by mutual concession.  A concession to something that is harmful or depreciative.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

I am surprised over the well thought out and prayerful responses to part 1 and part 2 and I want to thank all of you for your contributions to this topic. Something is not right,  when we read in one of the responses that while teaching a class for adults in their church, this husband and wife had been asked to find a more "seeker friendly" topic.  What was the introductory question asked of this class?  If you don't believe the 1st five words in the Bible, how can you believe the rest? I believe that would have the Lord's seal of approval don't you? But sadly not by those in position who oversee the classes.

In another comment, it is brought to our attention that the church lacks the ability to think logically and critically.  Again, this is another area where we find homeschoolers instructing their children and leading the way! Why *do* we acquaint our children with logic? We understand the need for the tools to properly defend the Word of God. A good example of an introductory course for children would be a book called "The Fallacy Detective" Thirty-Six Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn

What is a fallacy? A fallacy is an error in logic – a place where someone has made a mistake in his thinking.
I used this book to instruct the children in our local co-op.  This is an example of a way that we can help our children learn to divide truth from error.

Another commented that we lack a foundational knowledge of scripture. Right again! This is why it *is* foundational for us as Christian parents and homeschoolers to continually talk of and learn the Word of the Lord with our children on a daily basis.  How does what we see around us compare to what the Lord says in the Bible?  How can we change a wrong behavior in our lives? Go to the Word!  Pray to the Father through the Son!  He is with us, He will lead us into all truth if we will only yield to Him and become teachable! This another example in combating compromise.
The last way to combat compromise, surly there are more ways, but in order to sum up this entry, is by what we have done right here on our blogs.  I did not think that many would take the time to even read these long posts on compromise let alone respond to them in such prayerful ways as you've done. I see that we have touched and helped one another in this issue. We must continue to pray and seek out those who desire truth.  When we are faced with the temptation to sin (and I cringe as I say this), when we are gathered in a place of worship, remember that HE is with us!  When we are mocked for choosing what is right before the eyes of the Lord, He is with us and He will provide shelter from the tempter!

Ways to Combat Compromise in the Church

•  Pray and seek  Jesus Himself (first) and He will instruct us and lead us to each other and to those who will encourage us to be strong.
• Set an example for our children by studying the Bible with them and learn the basics of the foundation that the Bible is built upon and hold fast to what you've already received.
  
• Practice ourselves, instruct our children and those who the Lord places in our path to divide truth from error via critical thinking skills and logic courses.
• Resist the devil and he will flee from you!!!!

Please feel free to add to this list! May the Lord bless and keep us in His constant care!
In His Love,
Cathy

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Comments

Posted by danib

I hope you're not thinking of being done with this conversation, because there's so much more to say and I'd like to read your wonderful thoughts on the topic.

One of the issues we've dealt with in our extended family (as well as us personally) is leaving or staying. We left a church years ago for so many reasons, they're hard to count (health, anger, disillusionment, abuse, etc); but my "out-laws" just left a year ago after trying to be the change agent back to righteousness. My parents, on the other hand, have stayed in a sister church, partly out of hoping it won't really happen there (it is, quietly) and partly out of some personal issues.

I'd like to read your views and that of your other readers on the question of when to leave.

Thanks again.

Dani

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Posted by gottsegnet

Thanks for this series of posts...I'm really enjoying it! This is only tangential to the discussion, but I just stumbled across an old post as I hopelessly search through my archives for something else. Anyway, I thought you might be interested...it is about being "fishers of men" and how the connotation of that we have now is probably not what Christ had in mind.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/gottsegnet/56994/

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Posted by rondadebi

thats it, your going to be my devotional in the morning.....thank you thank you thank you

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Posted by gottsegnet

I just read your comment on danib's blog. Sounds like a good idea (posting weekly). You could start your own carnival...the carnival of church compromise? Doesn't that sound like fun? Truthlaidbear even lets you enter your own carnivals so everyone will know about it. Or you could just submit your articles to the already existing carnival of Christianity. Then more people would read them : )

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Posted by DandelionSeeds

Thanks for stopping by my blog... I've added you to my friends list as well, so looking forward to getting to know you better!

Blessings,
Amy

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Posted by MyChildrenAndMe

I have really enjoyed reading all three part's. I must say, and agree with you on the "way to combat compromise in the Church". Without listening, reading & following, there would be so many out in the world lost without ' the word and work of Jesus Christ'

It had taken us almost 4 yr's before we found our (Home Church)."after we moved" We never gave up hope. We knew their was a plan for our family.

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Posted by danib

Oh, thanks for offering, Cathy!

I was hoping for something more peaceful, like yours. I copied the code from jammie on the forums (she had six items -- leaves and hearts), and narrowed it to three items, thinking it would limit the torrent as well. It didn't seem to, and I don't know enough about code yet to figure out how to change that. I found code with x,y coordinates and I'm assuming speed, but I'm not familiar with what needs to be changed to what.

That's what I get for trying to be funny ... books falling off the shelves .... I should have known better! ; )

If you have any ideas for me, or know of someone who does, I would be so extremely grateful. Thanks.

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Posted by gottsegnet

I thought of a fifth one (this is born out of a controversy in my neck of the woods that is bothering me): remember that it is not our work. God does not need us to improve upon or modify His word to fit our culture or our times. So long as we are speaking truth in love, we cannot hurt evangelism, even if we are making enemies.

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Posted by Pattycake

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I need to add to my own series, but have not in a while. There is still a lot more I wanted to share.

Compromise in the church -- Oh, good series! There is a lot to say here. I was in a church with a very muddled statement of faith. We were attached to a main denomination which was liberal, and so there was our statement of faith -- but the people, in reality, believed many different things. The church actually ended up splitting (like, about 5 times before the worst split) because we needed to leave the liberal denominiation we were a part of, and when it came down to leaving -- we found out where everyone was at. All we had was a "Christian Club" which had no idea how to divide the truth. In the end, the guy people liked and wanted to be their Pastor (very personable) had a doctrine we didn't agree with. IN THE END, the people said to us "We don't believe like him either, but he's a good man."

THAT was a very sad state of affairs. Turned out he left. He was a GOOD GUY so the congregation left with him. They didn't hold his beliefs, but he was a good man, that man in the pulpit. Only three families were left. My husband took time off work, and we prayed over the pulpit that God would put a man in it who cared about truth. He did. I love our church -- and I would call it a Berean church. With only 3 families left, we were able to leave the liberal denomination we were a part of. A miracle happened there too -- the denomination turned over the rights to the church to us (unheard of).

Shortly after the split, the furnace in the church broke. The church ran on 2 furnaces, this one fed the fellowship hall and other rooms -- not the sanctuary. There was soot everywhere. A fine layer of soot. It looked like it was decorated for Halloween, because suddenly there were cobwebs where we couldn't see them before. Insurance covered the whole thing -- cleanup and all. But we couldn't miss the analogy.

Before the "blow-up" everything looked fine. But it wasn't. There were problems, and the mini splits and final split exposed peoples' hearts. They didn't care about truth. That was the biggest expose' of all. People didn't care about truth. They wanted a club that was psuedo Christian, without The Truth. But we were covered with insurance. The best. Jesus Christ Himself, who promises to be found by all who seek Him. He cleaned us up, and set us on a sure foundation. I LOVE our church today!

I found that wanting truth comes with a price. It isn't popular. Jesus said "They hated me, they'll hate you too." It's a narrow way, and any other way is over the wall, not through the door.

There's a lot to be said about false shepherd, and wall jumpers.

There I go, bloggining on someone elses blog again. SORRY!

Deb

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