No compromise: A personal testimony

It’s been about 15 years now that I asked God what He wanted of my life and He answered, “No compromise.” I was still in high school and at our church’s summer retreat. Ps. Richard Holland was our guest speaker and introduced us to revival. I was on the floor, having been “slain in the Spirit,” and felt the presence of God over me. Because I felt He was near, I asked him what He wanted. I knew what I had wanted up to that point, but now I wanted whatever God wanted for my life. I lay quiet for a while, conscious that He was there and waiting for Him to speak, oblivious to the prayers, shouts, and songs around me.

“No compromise,” He answered, after what seemed like a long time. What He said—the exact words—was very clear to me, clearer than any “word” I’ve received directly from the Lord since then. Not only were the words clear, but the meaning was exactly clear as well. God unfolded what those two words meant for my Christian life: I was not to compromise His standard in any area of my life. He didn't want me to live up to what others thought was acceptable, but He wanted me to live up to His own perfect example. It was as Jesus said during His Sermon on the Mount, “Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Of course, I’ve failed many times to live up to the perfect standard of God. I’ve compromised many, many times. But, even with all my failures, I am glad those were the words God gave to me 15 years ago because I know that God has called me with the highest calling. God doesn’t want me to compromise in love. He doesn’t want me to compromise in holiness. He doesn’t want me to compromise in discipline, effort, conviction, and commitment to His work. He doesn’t want me “on fire” only on Sundays or only during our annual church camp, but He wants me on fire for Him and His work all the time. “Never be lacking in zeal,” as Paul wrote. Of course I fail to live up to His perfect standard; but He never does, and so as long as I refuse to give up, He will continue to finish the work He started in me.

Moreover, these words “no compromise” mean that God Himself is my standard and not other people. I am not called to follow in the footsteps of any man, except that those lead me further in the way of Christ. Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy for him to not let anyone look down on him because of his relative youth, but to “set an example for all the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” In other words, Paul told Timothy not to set his standards according to those who he naturally should have looked to (the elders in Ephesus), but to set his standards according to the calling of God in his life.

As I’ve matured spiritually (though I admit I still have so, so much to learn), I’ve come to understand that God doesn’t measure us relative to other people, but according to what He has called us to individually. If we compromise His calling in our life and excuse ourselves by comparing ourselves favorably to others, we will be surprised on that Last Day, because God will hold each one accountable for what He’s spoken to them individually and what He’s given them individually. To those who much had been given, much we will be demanded. So, don’t compromise.

Chilling reading on eugenics and family planning

I stumbled upon this Google Books version of Margaret Sanger's The Pivot of Civilization, in which she lays out her case for "family planning" as a way to implement eugenics on a broad scale. She's the founder of Planned Parenthood and writes some really scary stuff about eugenics. (Check out chapter four on "The Fertility of the Feeble-Minded," for example.) It's frightening to realize how much of her vision has come to reality with legalized abortion. And, if proposed health care reform includes subsidies for family planning, her vision will be even more true. It's scary stuff.

The grace of god

This is a sermon I wrote last year. I don't see the grace of God as simply a ticket to heaven or pass for our sins. Yes, it's relieved our fears, but also teaches our hearts to fear Him. I dare not let His grace go in vain (as Paul said) or miss the grace of God (as the writer of Hebrews said). At the same time, I know that if I do fail, then God gives us even more grace so that we can repent (as James said). The key is to truly humble ourselves before Him (as both James and Paul said). This is what I mean when I talk about the grace of God.

I really, really want an iPhone

I've never been a texting guy or signed up for a mobile data plan, but I have to admit that the iPhone is a thing of singular beauty. I feel really bad about admiting this, but it's the truth. I'm supposed to be a PC guy, and really I still am at heart. But the iPhone has so many cool apps and just looks awesome.

Dealing with reality on rationing

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, ration is defined as: "a share especially as determined by supply."

I understand the arguments against healthcare rationing because no one likes being told there's not enough of something to go around, especially when it comes to your life or that of your loved ones. But you have to ask yourself, don't we have healthcare rationing right now, except that it's done by the market and insurance companies? When you have to decide between better coverage and a higher premium, that's rationing. Whenever you apply for a treatment or operation and are rejected, that's rationing.

So I guess my response to all these arguments against rationing is that it doesn't matter whether it's public or private, there's still going to be rationing of healthcare--there always has been and always will be. Our time would be better spent arguing over what should be rationed and how it should be rationed.

The hammer and sickle ... and marketing

One thing that stuck with me reading Marx's Communist Manifesto in high school was the idea that some professions contributed materially to society more than others. Farmers, factory workers, skilled laborers, and professionals like doctors and scientists all produced things or services that helped people and met basic needs. But some professions, like traders, bankers, and shop owners, produced comparatively little material benefit. Still other classes, like land owners, contributed absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, in a capitalistic society, the ones that reap the most profit are usually the ones that contribute the least.

I believe that Leo Tolstoy wouldn't have been entirely unsympathetic to this basic argument, as he often admired his serfs who worked the land, and would even join them at harvest time with a sythe.

And here I am today, working in business-to-business marketing. I only can see very tenuous links between what I do now and its benefit to society. I suppose that, by helping my clients market their products and services more effectively, I am making the marketplace more competitive. That, in capitalist theory, should make the overall market more efficient, and thus drive down the prices of the products and services for our clients' customers or help them derive greater benefit at the same price. I suppose that some of my clients' business customers produce something of material benefit to society, but in reality many of them might be professional services firms, or work in bourgeois industries like fashion or media.

The point to all this being that I can't really see how my job materially benefits society. If there is any benefit, it is far, far removed from me.

Don't worry, I am not a communist. I don't think communism is a realistic solution to the world's problems. In the end, the thing this present world needs more than anything is God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Looking at things that way, my marketing job helps feed my family so that I can spend the rest of my time telling people about the saving power of Jesus. And that, I believe, is definitely a direct material benefit to society.