Convictions and Compromise:

This is another bonus entry, so to speak, but will certainly be my last entry to this blog until we get settled in our new place of ministry. There was a key vote in the U.S. Senate Tuesday regarding immigration reform. The pending legislation moved forward on a procedural motion after failing on a similar vote just a few days ago. Yes, the issue this time was immigration reform; but it could have been anything. My point here is not to argue for or against this particular piece of legislation. Rather, I want to consider how easy it is for people to waiver in their convictions and succumb to compromise. How can something that seemed so bad two weeks ago suddenly become good? Of course, the answer to that question is easy. Egoes are massaged. Promises are made, and pressure is applied. People who change their minds on basic matters so easily from one week to the next have all kinds of rationalizations and excuses. They may make lofty statements for the press; but usually, we can see right through the deception. Would we really want lawmakers who can be so easily swayed? Well, think about the rest of us. What about the average American when it comes to matters of conscience, morality, integrity, and compromise? Are we a people of conviction, or are we more political animals? Are we a people of principle, or primarily a people of pragmatism and expedience? I think we tend toward pragmatism; and worse, I think most of us are proud of it! We fear people of principle more than the results of pragmatism. Now, consider this from a spiritual perspective. Think about the changes in church doctrine over the past half century. Consider how most mainline denominations have changed their views on abortion, homosexuality, the Bible, sexual morality, truth and falsehood, and a host of other basic issues. These changes have not come about primarily because of new information, but because of politics, pressure, cultural adaptation, and the like. Sometimes, we don't even admire people who have strong convictions any more. I was once derided as a "non-conformist" by a minister who was examining me in a certain presbytery. I suppose he was right. I still admire conviction and tend to be suspicious of those who, on a regular basis, prefer compromise. How about you?