Christianity is a challenging faith — a heavenly vision, a high calling — beckoning men and women to live life at a higher level than that of merely satisfying their cravings, compulsions, and self-interest.

However, rising above our baser nature is extremely difficult.  It’s much easier to compromise our Christianity and to surrender to spiritual mediocrity, rather than to fight to rise above it.  Here are some ways that contemporary Christianity is compromised.

* It is compartmentalized.  Christianity is seen as applicable to religion and/or to life after death, but not to the real world, whereas Jesus challenged His early followers to apply their faith in and to the world around them.

* It is culturally conformed.  Compromised Christianity follows and approves of the cultural standards that surround it.  It is a mission field of the culture rather than a mission to convert the culture.

* It is casual or even trivial.  It isn’t taken very seriously, even by those who claim to believe it.

* Compromised Christianity is convenient.  It is much like minute rice or instant oatmeal.  It doesn’t require much time, effort, struggle, thought, or attention.  It’s swift and easy.

* It is controlled by human authority rather than by the living Christ.  Compromised Christianity is ruled by men, committees, human regulations, religious tradition, organizations, man-made messages, and even intimidation; rather than by encouraging believers to daily follow and obey the living, resurrected Jesus.

* It is class conscious.  It is segregated by income, culture, nationality, and race which is contrary to the New Testament concept of unity and brotherhood.

* It is comfortable rather than challenging.  Compromised Christianity does nothing to correct, criticize, warn, or discipline church members who are living contrary to the clear teachings of the New Testament; but rather gives them false assurance that they are spiritually alright.