While the word compromise is a key to making a marriage successful, we must never use this same word when it comes to sharing the message of the Christian gospel. When it comes to the gospel, the stakes are too important, and the eternal destinies of billions of souls, depend on our presenting a clear and truthful presentation of why Jesus came to earth.
Billy Graham said it well: “Christ needs people today who are made of martyr stuff! Dare to take a strong, uncompromised stand for Him.”1 In America today, taking a firm stance for Christ and the message of the gospel often will get us ridiculed, ostracized, and labeled bigoted. In our increasingly woke society many behaviors, once considered sinful, are now condoned and even praised as virtuous.
Sadly, many Christians in America are too afraid to share the full gospel message that while God loves you, He hates the sins you so often commit. But I firmly believe we must warn the unsaved that they are rebels against God and full of sin, and that their only hope of escaping eternal damnation is to come to Christ. And if Jesus never compromised His message of salvation only through Him, we must take the same stand; regardless of the cost to us. Kirk Cameron said it well when he stated: “Jesus first of all, loves His Father in heaven and would never compromise the message that sinners must be delivered or be damned. That is the reason Jesus came to earth – to save sinners.”2
While telling someone that they are a sinner, and if they don’t come to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins they are going to spend eternity in hell, may not be the best way to start sharing the gospel message, at some point this fact must be conveyed to those we are sharing with. If we don’t they may get the wrong impression that somehow God loves them and that they are going to be OK. To just share that God loves them is only half the gospel and if we don’t let those we are sharing the message with come to understand that they are in grave danger, we do them a great disservice.
I firmly believe that until a person understands that they are a sinner, and in perilous danger, they won’t truly realize why they need Jesus. Of course, fervent prayer for the conviction of the Holy Spirit, should be added to our sharing the message, if we want to see the miracle of conversion.
In addition, when we get asked, if there is any other way to get right with God and make it to heaven, we must be bold in proclaiming that there is only one way and that is through Jesus. While this will label us as very narrow minded by many, we need to stand firm in our convictions that yes there is only one way to heaven. Compromise here may make us more popular with man, but at perhaps the high cost of losing souls for all eternity.
The gospel is indeed “good news,” because it lets sinners know, that while they are hopelessly lost on their own, that there is a wonderful God named Jesus who is lovingly waiting for them to come to Him for forgiveness of sins, the restoration into fellowship with the God of the universe, and eternal life!
I pray that we never compromise when it comes to sharing the message of the gospel for the eternal destinies of souls are at stake.
1 Billy Graham – Christ needs people today who are made of martyr… (bibleportal.com)
2 Kirk Cameron quote: Jesus first of all, loves His Father in heaven and… (azquotes.com)