The word ‘compromise’ is one that carries both positive and negative connotations. Compromise in a positive sense is ‘to reduce your demands or change your opinion in order to reach an agreement with someone.’ This definition yields an outcome of agreement and unity among two parties. I have heard married couples say that marriage is an institution that requires compromise. In marriage, two people from different families, different genders, different backgrounds come together and become one. It therefore requires some level of compromise for both the man and the woman to make the marriage work. Whether it is in trivial issues such as if the toilet paper roll should go over or under or serious issues such as how to invest their finances.

Compromise, however, can be very detrimental. In a negative sense, compromise involves the abandonment of core values or principles, often due to the need to be accepted, welcomed or included. This is quite common in our times, especially as it relates to relationships where an individual may be tired of being single so they lower their moral standards and settle with the first person who can meet these bare minimum standards. Whilst this level of compromise might look effective on the surface, the individual is left with a lingering resentment as they now have to face the consequences of living a life that is beneath what God created them for.

In his third letter, John is instructed by Jesus Christ to write to the church in Pergamos:

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 

Revelation 2:12

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

These words that John is writing to the church in Pergamos are not just words he came up with. They are the direct words of Jesus, the One who not only has the Word of God but is in fact the Word (John 1:1). These words were not to be taken lightly by the church in Pergamos and the modern church today. Jesus Christ is the One who not only knows our works but is able to discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

“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.

Revelation 2:13

Pergamos was a city that was known for worship of other gods, and also worship of the Roman Emperor. This made them a stronghold of satanic power. Jesus starts by commending the church for holding fast to His name. In the midst of a plethora of other gods that they could have worshipped, the church in Pergamos chose to hold fast to the name of Jesus. The words ‘hold fast’ in the Greek language denote the idea that they believed in the name of Jesus faithfully and were careful not to discard it or let it go (remember in Revelation 2:4, Jesus convicted the church in Ephesus for letting go of their first love.)

Additionally, they did not deny their faith even in the face of persecution. It is one thing to hold fast to your faith in a comfortable place. However, Jesus makes it clear that the church in Pergamos saw first hand the consequences of death that would come as a result of believing in Jesus and they did not chose to run away, cower or deny Jesus.

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. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2:14-15

It can be very easy to receive Jesus’ commendations and not pay attention to his corrections. One can assume that Jesus Christ is just going to look at what you have done right and completely excuse/ignore the areas you are living in compromise. Hebrews 12:6 clearly states that the Lord disciplines those He loves. It is the mercy and love of God when He corrects us, not from a point of condemnation but from His love for us.

Jesus made sure that He pointed out the areas that the church in Pergamos needed to change. He tells the, that there are people amongst them that were compromised. Jesus didn’t mention the number. Was it a quarter of the church, half, three-quarter? It didn’t matter because these people were part of the church and are the reason why the church needed correction. In a world where people see correction as judgement, this verse shows the importance of being the Body of Christ and that if one part is faulty, the whole body is compromised (1 Corinthians 12:26 – 27).

What is this doctrine of Balaam that they held on to? In Numbers 22 to 24, Balak, the king of Moab, instructed Balaam to curse the people of Israel. However, each time Balaam consulted the Lord, the Lord gave him a blessing to pronounce to Israel instead of cursing them. However, in Numbers 25:1 – 2, we see that the Israelite men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who persuaded them to offer sacrifices and worship their gods, which in turn made the Lord’s anger to burn against them. In Numbers 31:16, it is clear that the Moabite women had caused the children of Israel to stumble, as a result of Balaam’s counsel. Balaam was a compromised prophet who led the Israelites to compromise. The church in Pergamos is being warned against holding the doctrine of Balaam, a doctrine of compromise that would encourage sexual immorality and idolatry. In addition. some of them held on to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Jesus hates.

It saddens me that the modern church carries similarities to the church in Pergamos. In a world where new doctrines arise every day that are contradictory to the gospel of Jesus Christ, many churches remain silent and in this way they tolerate compromise. Where the world speaks of ‘living your truth’, the church has failed to counter this by declaring that Jesus is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6). Many churches speak about the grace and mercy of God but forget to mention the holiness, justice and righteousness of God. That God is holy and their is no impurity in Him. That God has not lowered His righteousness standard in the 21st century. He is a loving Father who knew that we could never meet His righteousness standard by ourselves and sent Jesus to die for us, to reconcile us back to Him. Let us not confuse God’s love and mercy as Him excusing/accepting a lukewarm compromised brand of Christianity.

What does a compromised brand of Christianity look like today? Going to church on a Sunday but living according to the flesh from Monday to Saturday. Preaching a prosperity gospel but failing to mention how important repentance is. Looking at homosexuality, fornication and adultery as the major forms of sexual immorality and forgetting that pornography and masturbation are included in that definition. Keeping Jesus out of your dating life but expecting him to approve the marriage since you had a church wedding. Picking and choosing what parts of the Bible to follow or misinterpreting scriptures to suit one’s lifestyle

Procrastination is another huge form of compromise in the modern day. I saw a quote that says:

Procrastination is the arrogant assumption that God owes you another chance to do tomorrow what He gave you the chance to do today.

Whew!!! Let that quote sink in for a minute. Procrastination is really a form of arrogance and pride. As Christians, we have really normalised procrastination by using excuses such as ‘I don’t feel qualified for this’, ‘That’s not what God has for me’, ‘I am waiting for further confirmation from God.’ I am all for receiving confirmation from God to ensure we stay in alignment with His will. However, at time, we may be ignoring nudges and instructions from God or we are waiting to get Plan A to Z before we even take the first step. In the Bible, we see severally where God gave instructions and required urgent execution of the instructions, for example in Genesis 19 when Lot and his family are told to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, it required their urgent and complete obedience. Moreover, Abraham was told to leave his family to go to a land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1). Imagine if He procrastinated waiting for everything to make sense?

In John 10:10, the Bible says that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. One of the ways that the enemy is stealing, killing and destroying our destinies in this day is through procrastination. When the enemy cannot destroy you, He will distract you. Procrastination is a form of distraction. Procrastination is delayed obedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. So procrastination is disobedience. And God does not play about disobedience!

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Revelation 2:14

Jesus tells the church in Pergamos to repent and offers a direct consequence if they don’t. He says that He would go to them quickly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth – His Word. At the beginning of the letter, Jesus introduced Himself as the one who holds the Word and now He tells them to act on the Word He has given them.

“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 him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

Revelation 2:17

The word ‘hear’ does not merely mean words entering the ear canal. It means to understand, consider and attend to what has been said. Jesus’ instructions then and to us today are not mere suggestions. They are Instructions that require urgent and complete obedience. And Jesus offers a promise to anyone who would hold fast to their faith and be victorious in not following false doctrines – that He would give them some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. A promise of eternity spent with Jesus.

Jesus is coming back and He is not coming back for a compromising church, He is coming back for a Completely Surrendered Church!

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says!

Blessings,

Victor