Straddling the Fence: Christ’s Treatment for a Divided Heart

    Have you ever found yourself "straddling the fence"—holding onto your faith with one hand while flirting with the world’s values with the other? It is a common struggle in our modern walk. This is especially true as we see the divide between God and the world to continue to widen. 

    We often try to hide our compromises and our hypocrisies. We strive to keep on pretending we have it all together, but Jesus reminds us clearly: "I know where you dwell". You might try to cover the scent of compromise with the "perfume" of religious activity, but God sees right through to the truth of our conduct. We play church on Sunday and live like the Devil throughout the week and think that we have fooled everyone. Yet you will never fool God! 

    The church in Pergamum was exactly in this position. They were living in a "corrosive culture" and, while they held onto their faith in some areas, they had begun to ignore sin and false teachings within their own walls. Instead of influencing and evangelizing the city of Pergamum, Pergamum was influencing them. 

     As Christians, we aren't called to blend in or compromise; we are called to be holy because He is holy. Sadly, there are many churches who are much like this church today. There are many Christians who are trying to play both sides of the field. Far to many American churches are far more like America than they are like Christ. 

The Modern "Doctrine of Convenience"

    Compromise often starts small—a minor concession here, a little silence there. A ship who is off by just one degree off course will find themselves hundreds of miles away from their intended destination given enough time. Consider these contemporary reflections on the state of holiness:

    A 2023 Barna Group study found that while many Christians value the Bible, only about 20% of practicing Christians say they consistently apply its moral teachings to their everyday business and social interactions. That means 80% of Christians are failing to allow the bible to impact there every day interactions! Why would we expect people to take the church seriously when 80% of us don't the bible seriously?  According to Lifeway Research, nearly half of frequent churchgoers admit that secular media and social culture have a significant influence on their moral worldview, often rivaling the influence of their local church. I don't know about you but that is a scary thought. Secular media has just as much influence on the public's moral worldview as the bible! This needs to change! 

    Like Pergamum, many today fall into the "Gnostic" trap—believing that our spiritual life is separate from our physical actions. Many people in our church compartmentalize our lives. We have a church life, and then we have our everyday life and the two rarely interact or intersect. We act as if what we do with our bodies or how we treat others has no bearing on our standing with God.

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: "I know your works, and where you dwell... But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."'" — Revelation 2:12-16 (NKJV) 

    When we find ourselves compromising, Jesus offers a three-fold treatment to bring us back to a state of purity:

1. Purify Your Life

    The Pergamum believers were allowing the Roman culture of sexual immorality and idol worship to dictate their behavior. We must stop excusing sin out of convenience or a desire to conform. The good news is that God is a God of second chances—no matter what you have done, He offers mercy when we turn back to Him.

2. Purify Your Teaching

    Jesus warned against the "Doctrine of Balaam" and the "Nicolaitans," teachings that encouraged people to stumble and indulge in sin. What we believe directly affects how we behave. We must be on guard about who we listen to and ensure our beliefs are based solely on the Word of God rather than human opinion. 

3. Purify Your Associations

    In Pergamum, there were "instigators" (those teaching sin) and "accommodators" (those willing to let it happen). To stay on track, we may need to address the relationships that help us "dive into sin". Instead, we should surround ourselves with godly people who love us enough to keep us accountable. 

     If you are surrounded by people who accommodate your bad habits, you will never grow in your faith. We need the church to be a place where we help one another grow, rather than a place where we hide our struggles. If you have a wound on your leg that you refuse to clean and change the bandage because doing so is painful. It won't be long before a painful situation becomes a life threatening situation. It often hurts when someone exposes an area of our life that needs to be fixed, but it is really the only way we ever get better. This is why we need a biblical church. This is why we need biblical, God fearing friends who will tell us the truth in love. 

Expose the Secret: Is there an area where you've allowed sin to creep in because it was easier than standing out? Repent and turn to Him today.

Check Your "Input": Who are you listening to? Spend time studying the Word for yourself to ensure your "truth" isn't just a cultural trend. Make sure what you believe is informed and supported by the Word of God. 

Seek Godly Counsel: Find one trusted, god-fearing friend this week to whom you can be truly honest about your walk

    Jesus’ prescription for Pergamum is simple: Repent. Whether it is purifying your life, your teaching, or your friends, the goal is the same—to stop straddling the fence and walk fully in the light of His Word.