When you strive to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, you will be persecuted, you will suffer. That’s a promise right out of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:12). And while history validates that truth, it also captures another tragic reality—you can mitigate your suffering for Christ with little or no effort. Just compromise.

For some, that translates into compromised speech—profanity and crass humor at work, and discussing openly what God intends to stay private and sacred. Others compromise their relationships. Where Scripture calls for separation, they cry for unity. Friendships, romantic pursuits, even ministry alliances all seem to push—or cross—biblical boundaries. Others resist suffering by blending in with the culture, immersing themselves into every fallen fad imaginable—movies, music, even their clothing is marked by compromise.

Certainly those examples won’t surprise you. But there’s another kind of compromise more subtle than risky relationships and risqué wardrobes. It’s compromised preaching. In fact, that’s where the trend begins. John addresses that in today’s sermon excerpt. Though he talks about preaching, his comments illustrate principles that apply to all of life.

Here’s John MacArthur, outlining the steps toward compromised preaching . . .

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