There are some areas in life where compromise is a good and commendable thing. Family members may compromise over which restaurant to eat, which movie to watch, or where to go on summer vacation. Business partners may compromise over which direction to take their company. In matters where there is no absolute standard of right and wrong, compromise can be a noble and productive thing. However, this is not true in areas that are regulated by God and His word. Religion is governed, not by the whims of human opinion, but by the inflexible word of God, which is “forever settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). When God speaks, we must listen. When God is specific, our options are removed. There is no room for compromise. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). If we wish to be approved by God, we must speak where He speaks (“speak as the oracles of God,” – 1 Pet. 4:11); we must be silent where He is silent, and we must abide in His word (“abide in the doctrine of Christ,” – 2 John 9). Solomon said to “buy the truth and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). In this realm of divine revelation there can be no compromise. Those who compromise the teaching of Christ “have not God” (2 John 9). That is, they have no fellowship with God.
By failing to respect the definition of true Bible love, and by failing to balance love with other Bible requirements, some religious people have developed the tendency to accept others into their religious fellowship even if it means compromising with sin and error. The Bible tells us that this acceptance and approval of sinful doctrine and conduct is itself sinful. Let us consider a few passages:
2 John 10-11 – After teaching saints the necessity of abiding in the doctrine of Christ, John states the consequence of our compromising with others who refuse to bring the doctrine of Christ. He says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” Some people are actually surprised that this passage is in the New Testament. However, it is as much a part of the Scripture as is John 3:16 (and it is even penned by the very same writer – John). The passage contains an explicit warning against receiving errorists and false brethren.
Ephesians 5:11 tells us to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather, reprove them.” Rather than compromise with false teachers, we should instead “admonish” them. If they refuse to repent of their sins and errors we should “mark and avoid” them (Rom. 16:17,18; Tit. 3:10,11). A curse is pronounced upon those who modify God’s word in any way (Galatians 1:8,9). This modification is usually done either by adding something to God’s word or by taking something from it. This may seem like a small and inconsequential thing, but God’s words are “pure” and holy (Prov. 30:5). They are not to be changed (Proverbs 30:6). The practice of manipulating God’s word is condemned in both Testaments of the Bible (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19). Let us not tamper with the precious words of God, and let us not accept and welcome those who do!