There is No Ministry of Appeasement

A few days ago, I did a video on Christians who try and make concessions with the world. It’s still on my mind. Part of the reason Christianity doesn’t “work for us” is that we keep trying to mix in the old self when we’re trying to be new. In the same way, I’ve spent, more or less, about 20 years in recovery ministry, as a member, and as a leader. I see people who make good progress slip and fall doing the same thing every time: the go back to their old friends and their old hang outs to “help people,” and, 90% of the time, they slip right back in to their old lifestyle, if they don’t actually get worse. Christians without addictions are no different: we make concessions to the world, live for our jobs, our families, and everything else but Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong: Jesus wants us to go out and share the Gospel. But the problem is we can’t do so from the place where we fell to begin with. There is no ministry of appeasement. We can’t have both God and the world. We can’t live in the Old life while Jesus is, through His word and Spirit, making us new. It doesn’t work. Jesus isn’t the bridge between the world and Holiness: He never mixes the two. He, in fact, puts our flesh to death. So, therefore, we need to live as if we’re new. Some might say “Well, we’re working on one thing at a time. Be patient and gentle.” I agree with this to a point: however, if God’s standard is Holiness, and He says “be Holy as I am Holy,” ought we not to be patient with the worldly things inside of us? Ought we to hate what is worldly in us, including what we consume, both physically, as well as in our forms of entertainment? If we’re called to put to death what is earthly in us, we should not make excuses for it, rather, seeking God’s word, we should look for how to put those fleshly vices in the grave. We cannot excuse what Jesus died for. Yes, with gentleness, we ought to correct new believers, but we cannot and should not tolerate sin among us. It’s not what we were saved for!

Colossians 3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.