Compromise
Compromise
To compromise is to lower your standards and settle for less than you know is ethically acceptable. Whether it is a blonde bombshell in her “boots,” or a Christian artist who decided to “cross over” with her music, it is a sure bet that somewhere along the line they have had to compromise to get to where they are today. Washington, Nashville (and of late, Branson), Motown and Hollywood are notorious for stealing the integrity of their protégés. You can’t expect to play with fire without getting burned.
Hardly anyone goes into a situation expecting to have to surrender their values. Not many people expect to sell their souls to the devil, but it is a daily occurrence that creeps up on us like a mountain lion on its prey. It is a process that occurs to those blinded by greed and desire for fame and power.
The process begins with a person having talent that elevates them above their contemporaries. It could be a beautiful voice, musical ability, a great personality coupled with a way with words that is able to sway the multitudes - a talent that others would die for. In years past, personalities like Ed Sullivan, Ed McMahon and Dick Clark exploited the youth of our nation. Today, it is Simon and Paula who tease thousands of our youths into becoming “idols.” What an appropriate word! We have all heard the stories of young girls who get their start on the couch of some Hollywood producer. We are just repeating history, but we are not learning from our mistakes.
We would like to think that this only happens to non Christians, but no one is exempt from that same voice that deceived Eve 6000 years ago. We are still being tempted by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, and it is ruining our present and future generations.
If you are a young, talented Christian reading this, let me describe the process which Satan will use to bring you to the brink of Hell. If you were to be “discovered” by either Hollywood, Nashville or Washington, I am sure that you would think, “Here is an opportunity to make a difference in the world. I can use my fame and fortune as a platform to tell others about Jesus.” You need to know that while this may be on your mind, the one whom the deceiver has sent to tempt you and your talent away from God isn’t thinking this at all, but he will use this motivation to persuade you to make the first step.
You will find yourself having more money, recognition and fame than you ever thought possible. The praise of man is a narcotic. It will cause you to be dissatisfied with what you have and you will come to the place that you will do anything to remain on the crest of popularity. Remember this, there will always be somebody else who has already sold his soul to the devil and he will stop at nothing to stay on top. If he is on top, then you are not. This desire to be the best will cause you to say yes to those things that before you would have rejected. The thought will come to you, “Just this one time.” Upon compromising that one little point, you have placed your foot on the top step of an ever downward spiraling staircase to Hell. Each step you take will take away a little piece of your life until finally you find yourself no longer knowing, or caring about, what is right and wrong. Finally, one morning you will wake up to the realization that you are no longer praying, reading your Bible, thinking about God or his will. You only care about what you need to do to stay on top.
You began this process with the desire to bring the world to Jesus. You end with bringing the world to you and Jesus is nowhere in the picture. I am sure that people like Jessica Simpson and Whitney Houston have all come to a place where they wonder what happened to that little girl who used to sing in the choir in church, but I am afraid they no longer care.
To compromise is to lower your standards and settle for less than you know is ethically acceptable. Whether it is a blonde bombshell in her “boots,” or a Christian artist who decided to “cross over” with her music, it is a sure bet that somewhere along the line they have had to compromise to get to where they are today. Washington, Nashville (and of late, Branson), Motown and Hollywood are notorious for stealing the integrity of their protégés. You can’t expect to play with fire without getting burned.
Hardly anyone goes into a situation expecting to have to surrender their values. Not many people expect to sell their souls to the devil, but it is a daily occurrence that creeps up on us like a mountain lion on its prey. It is a process that occurs to those blinded by greed and desire for fame and power.
The process begins with a person having talent that elevates them above their contemporaries. It could be a beautiful voice, musical ability, a great personality coupled with a way with words that is able to sway the multitudes - a talent that others would die for. In years past, personalities like Ed Sullivan, Ed McMahon and Dick Clark exploited the youth of our nation. Today, it is Simon and Paula who tease thousands of our youths into becoming “idols.” What an appropriate word! We have all heard the stories of young girls who get their start on the couch of some Hollywood producer. We are just repeating history, but we are not learning from our mistakes.
We would like to think that this only happens to non Christians, but no one is exempt from that same voice that deceived Eve 6000 years ago. We are still being tempted by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, and it is ruining our present and future generations.
If you are a young, talented Christian reading this, let me describe the process which Satan will use to bring you to the brink of Hell. If you were to be “discovered” by either Hollywood, Nashville or Washington, I am sure that you would think, “Here is an opportunity to make a difference in the world. I can use my fame and fortune as a platform to tell others about Jesus.” You need to know that while this may be on your mind, the one whom the deceiver has sent to tempt you and your talent away from God isn’t thinking this at all, but he will use this motivation to persuade you to make the first step.
You will find yourself having more money, recognition and fame than you ever thought possible. The praise of man is a narcotic. It will cause you to be dissatisfied with what you have and you will come to the place that you will do anything to remain on the crest of popularity. Remember this, there will always be somebody else who has already sold his soul to the devil and he will stop at nothing to stay on top. If he is on top, then you are not. This desire to be the best will cause you to say yes to those things that before you would have rejected. The thought will come to you, “Just this one time.” Upon compromising that one little point, you have placed your foot on the top step of an ever downward spiraling staircase to Hell. Each step you take will take away a little piece of your life until finally you find yourself no longer knowing, or caring about, what is right and wrong. Finally, one morning you will wake up to the realization that you are no longer praying, reading your Bible, thinking about God or his will. You only care about what you need to do to stay on top.
You began this process with the desire to bring the world to Jesus. You end with bringing the world to you and Jesus is nowhere in the picture. I am sure that people like Jessica Simpson and Whitney Houston have all come to a place where they wonder what happened to that little girl who used to sing in the choir in church, but I am afraid they no longer care.
posted by GrandFather at 4:05 PM
1 Comments:
What inspired you to write this,did someone you know compromise?
Heather
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