Compassion or Cowardice?

The enemy comes not for our entertainment or enjoyment. Despite his tricks and deception, he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). That’s it. No exceptions. Sin can present itself as pleasure, freedom, and empowerment, but in reality, it separates us from the love of our holy and righteous God. Ultimately, sin leads to death and eternal damnation, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).

This is basic Biblical doctrine, rooted in the Word of God, long established by the Church of Christ, believed and proclaimed by Christians around the world for millennia. Yet a desire for societal acceptance within the American Church and among American Christians leads some to find the truth of the Gospel harsh and off-putting. So out of fear of personal rejection or being labeled a fundamentalist or a bigot, Christians who ought to know better choose to placate sin, ignoring or belittling its pernicious effects, often under the guise of being empathetic and compassionate.

But what is compassionate about allowing one who is in bondage to sin to continue to suffer while withholding the truth that would set them free? Such behavior is not at all compassionate. It is cowardly. Cowardice is simply the lack of courage. And it is indeed a lack of courage, not compassion, that leads the so-called believer to hide or neuter the Gospel in order to be accepted in societal circles and applauded by the world for an evolving, progressive view of Scripture. Such cowardice is not only shameful for the Christian, but his affirmation of sin has potentially deadly consequences for the unbeliever.

As some cower under the guise of compassion, the enemy does not retreat. He aggressively pursues their homes, their children, their schools, their communities, and even their churches. Sin reigns rampant in their communities, most often unchallenged, and sometimes even celebrated. God’s standard for holy living (1 Peter 1:15-16) is mocked. We see the aggressive indoctrination of young children with gender ideology and an intentional desensitization of adolescents to sexual sin and perversion. Educators and political leaders mock the sincere Christian faith of people of all ages, as schools, universities, governments, and corporations attempt to deny their constitutional rights to freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech. So-called ministers of the Gospel even attempt to delegitimize portions of the Biblical canon, asserting the need for a third testament of the Bible that aligns with Marxist and progressive ideologies—worldviews that are incompatible with orthodox Christianity.

Despite such cowardice, I am grateful for the courageous generation of Christian leaders the Lord is raising up in our midst. I see them at Houghton and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their lives. These are young Christians who have personally experienced the truth and grace of Jesus, and who boldly proclaim the Gospel of repentance and salvation through faith in Jesus. They know Jesus to be the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit is empowering them to be Christ’s witnesses in near places, far places, hard places, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8-9). They have rejected cowardice and embraced a courageous compassion, rooted in the unchanging and infallible Word of God.

I pray that the Lord strengthens and emboldens them. May He multiply the force of their efforts. And may many unbelievers come to know the salvation of the Lord through their courageous witness and the power of the Holy Spirit working through them.