It may not be a proverbial “dirty word,” but I believe the word “compromise” often comes very close. Not always, but often enough.

Toward the end of this year, three very large automakers faced the death knell of negotiation: worker strikes! The drama played out for several weeks and then eventually all three corporate giants yielded ground on the demands of the workers. Worker wins always mean better benefits for them.

It also always means higher car prices for us. In the end, the two sides…compromised.

Alongside this bitter struggle was (and will continue to be) that battle over a federal budget. Again, as per usual, conservative lawmakers tried to hold the line on spending while liberals (or as they prefer, “progressives”) joined with their friends in mass media by claiming conservatives threaten the very wellbeing of the most needy in the republic.

After the previous Speaker of the House was demoted (dare I say, humiliated) by a tight band of the most conservative House members, Republicans finally settled on a man with principles. Why even biblical principles! Miraculously, the new Speaker managed to save America from surefire destruction by what appeared to be sufficient compromise with his Democrat opposition.

A borderline miracle.

Not all Republicans were happy. Of course not. But the new Speaker, Mike Johnson, has a working strategy in mind to re-take lost ground. February will tell the true tale. Don’t get your budget cutting hopes up.

Among the worst of compromises in recent days, months, years — is the cataclysmic, never-ending war on so-called, “women’s right to choose.” The June 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade rolled back abortion rights in nearly half of the states. This, of course, infuriated the masses who celebrate the grievous sin of killing human beings shaped in God’s image. Their anger resulted in new battle plans.

In the most recent November election, the liberals/progressives had their way with voters on abortion issues in several states. Ohio in particular delivered a stunning anti-life result with the passage of Ohio Issue 1. Playing on the emotional appeals of women who believe that restricting abortion would ruin their lives, the public (including many Christians) in the Buckeye state sucked up to the rationalization of killing and voted to pass the measure.

As a result of several pro-life losses in the elections, it drew the usual criticism that the Republicans’ position is “too harsh.” Why even the once stalwart Catholic voice of Sean Hannity called for softening conservatives’ stance! In other words, the way to win is to…compromise!

We’ve witnessed the very same dangerous mentality permeating the Christian community in the LGBTQ+ issue. A highly controversial conference held this fall at North Point Ministries in Georgia (headed up by Pastor Andy Stanley) was widely viewed as soft on the gay issue. Since people of the faith are to be known for our love (which almost always leans toward tolerance) let’s…compromise.

Wise spiritual leaders, including former Moody Bible Institute President Michael Easley, took issue. (Watch HERE)

A biblical example of the call to compromise was shared in a devotional recently by Pastor Greg Laurie. He quoted Exodus 8:25 where Pharaoh has finally had enough plagues to weary his resistance to letting the people of Israel go to worship their God.

He’s ready to…compromise, telling Moses and Aaron, “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

God’s boys would have none of it. And it cost Pharaoh greatly. Even to the point of death of Egypt’s first born children.

Pastor Greg summarized his thoughts on this by saying,

“Sometimes we think we can reach people for Christ if we just do what they do and relate to them on their level. Then they will believe and think we’re really cool. But no one has ever come to Christ that way. Nonbelievers come to Christ because Christians living genuine lives before God aren’t afraid to let their lights shine. Sometimes we’re trying so hard to be cool and relatable that we forget about being righteous. We forget about standing up for what is right.”

Yes, sometimes a compromise is unavoidable. But when it comes to the moral fiber of our nation, compromising means losing.