In last week’s issue, we examined the ways we could reach out to erring brethren who were once faithful but had fallen away. In today’s issue, we will consider the question of whether it is ever acceptable to compromise the truth as we try to bring back the erring or to “give in a little” as we plead for their return.
IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO COMPROMISE THE TRUTH TO BRING BACK ERRING BRETHREN?
It is very important to bring back erring brethren to the Lord’s fold. This is because souls are precious. Jesus taught the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son in Luke 15 whereby there was great rejoicing when the lost was found. God is long-suffering towards us and does not want man to perish (2 Peter 3:9). There are ways to help bring back erring brethren but these ways should be such that God’s truth is not compromised.
Scripture dictates that we cannot alter God’s word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18). Some brethren have said that this is so important considering the fact that these verses were recorded in the beginning, middle and at the end of the Bible. None of us like our words to be taken out of context or distorted. We do not want to be quoted for things we did not say. In the same manner, we should not be doing that to God’s word. In talking to brethren who have fallen away, we neither want to misquote God nor compromise the truth because this will not be what God wants us to do. He wants us to teach the truth to brethren and not falsehood.
A fallen member asked before if it’s true that she/he would not see her/his mother in heaven who had passed on. We said yes because she was not saved. The fallen member then responded by saying that hell would then be the preferred option.. It was heartbreaking for us to hear that response. The fallen member clearly did not understand the concept of eternity, suffering in hell, the need to put God first and to put oneself to death (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 16:24). However, it would not have been right to deceive that person by saying that the mother would be in heaven. Compromising the truth would have done more harm than good.
Compromising the truth might also cause one to be disillusioned with Christianity and fall away from God. Using the example in the preceding paragraph, if that member had been comforted with falsehood that the unsaved mother would be seen in heaven in eternity, the truth would be known ultimately. The member might get disillusioned with Christianity as Christians are not supposed to lie. It would also be setting a bad example that it is alright to tell a white lie or not to tell the truth in entirety. I remember the late brother Chuck Horner describing a white lie as a quibble in his lesson on Abraham’s lie about his relationship with Sarah in Genesis. Such is unacceptable to God. Christians are supposed to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:16). We certainly want to be a good example to fellow Christians, especially to new converts, and not be a bad example.
In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul opposed Peter because he was behaving hypocritically, such that the Christian Jews and Barnabas followed his example of hypocrisy. It is important that we take heed that even apostles like Peter also can make mistakes. After all, Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he needed to be mindful lest when he preached to others, he himself would be a castaway. We must be mindful of what we say, and that we only communicate the truth of God’s word, else we would be castaways too.
The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 that loving the truth would lead to salvation. Brother Jeff Miller wrote that “If a person loves the truth taught in God’s Word – be it the truth about Creation or the Cross – will he not want to oppose those ideas he believes to be false and only teach true ideas to others (regardless of their popularity)?” He also gave some reasons and examples that teaching error is sinful. He cited Job warning his friends about putting words in God’s mouth (Job 13:7) and that by doing so, we would become false witnesses. Brother Miller also gave another example of Paul giving a defense with regards to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 and the need not to be false witnesses of God in 1 Corinthians 15:15. It is important for us to understand that teaching error is sinful. The apostle Peter wrote that those who wrest scriptures to fit what they want to say would bring destruction on themselves (2 Peter 3:16). All of us are accountable for our actions and Christians, being the body of Christ, are the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15). By compromising the truth in order to bring an erring person back, how can we claim to be the pillar and ground of truth?
When we compromise the truth, we actually deny God and put ourselves in a position whereby we are friends with the world and enmity with God (James 4:4). It is commendable when a restorer’s heart is tender and wants to go all out to save souls because he understands the value of one soul. However, this should not be done at the expense of truth. Jesus said that His word is truth and the truth would set one free (John 8:32). By compromising the truth, a restorer would not be speaking God’s word but falsehood and thus would be in opposition to God. We recall how Satan lied and deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden by distorting God’s commandment. Satan has been described in the bible with several negative names like: the prince of devils (Matthew 12:24), wicked one (1 John 5:18), adversary (1 Peter 5:8), an enemy (Matthew 13:28), father of lies (John 8:44) and the tempter (Matthew 4:3). We definitely do not want to be associated with Satan who is an enemy of God.
Hosea’s message in pleading for Samaria’s return to the Lord showed God’s consistency and Him not compromising any of His truth. It is essential that we follow the example that God set.
It is clear that we should not compromise the truth in pleading for someone to return to the Lord. Is it acceptable to “give in a little”? It depends on what we are giving in a little too. For example, a fallen member said before that if he/she ever returns to the church, he/she would only come on Sundays for worship and not mid-week Bible classes. We are aware of the importance of Bible classes for edification of the saints. Spiritual food is important and vital for the growth of a Christian so as to be pleasing to God. However, in such a situation, it may be wise to “let it go” or “give in a little” and not pursue the importance of Bible class at that particular instant. The immediate need will be to encourage the fallen to repent and return to the Lord’s fold. Subsequently, much effort must be exhausted to teach and help the brother/sister grow in the faith such that there would be an understanding of the importance of Bible classes and the need to attend them. It will not do us any good if we lose the big picture in mind and nit-pick.
Paul put it very aptly when he posed the rhetorical question of whether he should please men or God and that if he pleased men, he should not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). Indeed, we need to preach the unadulterated truth and gospel regardless of circumstance because we seek to please God and not men. This guiding truth would help us decide against compromising the truth in our plea and efforts to bring back erring brethren.
CONCLUSION
The book of Hosea offers great insight of the love that God has for His people. We are indeed blessed to have a God who is merciful, full of grace and faithful. Thus, we should not take Him for granted nor have the mistaken belief that He will always forgive no matter what we do. God desires all man to be saved and to walk after His ways.
We need to be patient and exhaust much effort to reach out to fallen brethren to restore them. There are several ways that this can be done but wisdom and much thought must go into it. In the process of restoration, we must remember not to compromise the truth because we will then be no different from any other false teacher.
References
Miller, Jeff, “Should Christians Accept Evolution and an Old Earth to Win
Converts?”
https://apologeticspress.org/should-christians-accept-evolution-and-an-old-earth-to-win-converts-part-2/