August 14, 2024

LAST DAYS Compromise?

I was out walking the neighborhood with a friend last night when she stated, “What do you think about…She then named a well-known minister recently removed from his position over alleged compromise.

We are and will see these exposures even more. But we need to realize that we are all just as subject to these failures and I’m not just talking moral/sexual failures. Compromise is happening on many levels. Sexual compromise immediately comes to mind, but also compromise by those who compromise their integrity for profit, position—and relationships.

Relational Compromise
Relational compromise is not a new phenomenon. What is new is how quickly it is increasing. Missed discernment is the result.

Relational compromise is when a relationship—whether by blood, marriage, friendship, or trust in someone—causes us to abandon or change our stand/values on an issue.

For example, T.D. Jakes and Christian author Jen Hatmaker publicly changed their stance on homosexuality after a family member came out as gay. Suddenly, their biblical/public stand of homosexuality shifted. They publicly showed their embrace of the individual (important), but also their new embrace of the lifestyle (compromise). Of course, their love and support of the family member would not/should not change. But when we change our core beliefs due to a relationship, that is where the danger lies.

Relational Compromise in the Bible
In the book of Nehemiah, we are introduced to Eliashib the high priest. It is the story of Nehemiah, a cupbearer for the king, who courageously took on the assignment to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.

One of the first leaders to stand up and join Nehemiah was Eliashib (Neh 3:1). You can imagine that the people were initially hesitant to rally behind Nehemiah. Eliashib courageously led by example. So all the people knew and respected Eliashib—and with good reason.

But wait…

After the wall was rebuilt and Nehemiah was made the governor, he put Eliashib in charge of the oversight of the temple. It is there we realize relational compromise has turned Eliashib into an untrustworthy leader. He betrayed Nehemiah, disobeyed God’s instruction and ignored his duty which resulted in the Levites and singers leaving. This all done to accommodate an evil man – Tobiah.

So what caused the change?

When Nehemiah began to rebuild the walls, he made some political enemies. Namely, Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem (Neh 2:19) who were recognized leaders. The three publicly mocked Nehemiah. They wrote letters to the king accusing him of rebellion and a coup. They threatened the Jews in an attempt to make them afraid to help. (Sounds exactly like what is happening in our world today on the political scene!)  

Eliashib was well aware that these three men had worked relentlessly to thwart Nehemiah at every turn. And although Eliashib had stood courageously with Nehemiah initially, after the wall was rebuilt and the city and temple restored, Eliashib compromised.

He used his position to give a large room in the temple to Tobiah—the Ammonite--for his household. In doing so:

1. He violated God’s instruction (Neh 13:1) which stated no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God. Tobiah hadn’t just entered. He was living there!
2. He gave honor to someone who had actively and repeatedly lied & opposed the work—dishonoring Nehemiah in the process. (betrayal)
3. In order to provide the room for Tobiah, Eliashib had to remove the grain offerings, wine, oil frankincense and other supplies stored there for the Levites' use.
4. The result was Eliashib ceased to provide the Levites and singers their allotment of food from the temple provisions. So the Levites and singers had to leave their positions to fend for themselves. 

Eliashib went from a trustworthy leader, to an untrustworthy leader in just a matter of months or a year because of relational compromise.  

It turns out Eliashib was related to Tobiah by marriage. Ultimately, after being promoted to a place of honor by Nehemiah, Eliashib betrayed him by aligning with the very people who had opposed the restoration of Jerusalem.

This story of compromise is repeating all around us. This happens when we continue to trust people (relationship) whose actions in the past were righteous, and we don’t recognize that they have changed.

Can you imagine the confusion as people who trusted Eliashib saw him doing things that didn’t seem to make sense? The question is, did they continue to trust Eliashib? Or did they discern his actions were very wrong?

What about us?
Are we paying attention when our elected officials say one thing, but vote another? When a pastor teaches one thing, but does another? Or when someone is elevated to a position who lacks the skill or integrity for it?

This is increasing all over the world and has resulted in the betrayal of America, the people, the Church and ultimately God. It is part of the shaking underway—and it will increase.

The greatest problem is when we refuse to believe what is exposed because it runs in stark contradiction to what we have believed of someone in the past. We believe them to be righteous, but their actions now say otherwise.

If someone compromises, that is on them. But when we continue to trust someone who has compromised—that is on us! If we stick our heads in the sand, we then open ourselves to relational compromise when we refuse to believe what actions indicate which then puts us in compromise.

Pray and ask God for discernment which we all greatly need so we don’t enter into that compromise unknowingly.
 
Blessings, 

Kevin & Karen

1. Please pray over Karen and her current attempt to point out some local election integrity concerns in Oklahoma this week. She is trying to get the governor and attorney general to be willing to request an investigation into this matter. It seems to be quite the "good ole' boys club" around here, but we need justice and election integrity assurance for a change. The spiritual darkness is enraged around here, but greater is He who is in us than he who is in this world!!!

2. Please lift up our family TODAY as we are in court over our daughter's divorce and child custody case. She's had to file contempt against her ex and OUR legal fees keep hitting us hard.

1) Please join with thousands across our nation as we pray each day at noon the “Noon Time prayer for America and Donald Trump.” To download that prayer go to: https://bit.ly/FreePrayerLink.

2) Sign up for our City-by-City.org weekly prayer email where together we pray over our cities and our nation.

3) For those in the Tulsa area, join us every 2nd and 4th Monday evening for our AwakeOklahoma.com prayer for revival and our government leaders. Email Karen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to this email list to know when and where to meet and what we will be praying over. 

1. Election integrity
2. Righteous judges
3. Reducing the national debt
4. Protection for Donald Trump & his family
5. Deliverance from unjust accusations & unjust indictments
6. Restoration of our legal system
7. Restoration of law and order
8. Truth & justice regarding the 2020 election
9. Courage to stand
10. America to be restored, and more.

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