The Perils of Compromise

Genesis 19:6–11 (NASB95) 

6But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8“Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door. 10But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway. 

I should first define what I mean by "compromise" (or "acceptance") in this context. I define compromise/acceptance as allowing our moral and ethical values, our sense of right and wrong, to be defined by culture as opposed to being defined by God. 

Lot’s story in Sodom stands as a warning about the dangers of acceptance and moral compromise. After living in Sodom for about twenty years, Lot had become so accustomed to the city’s violence, sexual depravity, and lack of hospitality that his sense of right and wrong was dulled. When a violent mob surrounded his house and demanded his guests, Lot tried to protect them by offering his own daughters instead. This was an unacceptable compromise. Lot’s decision shows how deeply he had absorbed the values of Sodom.  

I believe that it is reasonable to assume that Lot’s willingness to make such a compromise did not happen overnight. It was the result of years spent accepting and normalizing the ways of a corrupt society. The longer he lived in Sodom, the more he became desensitized to its evil. What began as a simple choice to settle near a prosperous city ended with Lot making choices that should have once horrified him. His attempt to address the mob as “my brothers” shows how much he wanted to fit in, even as the city rejected him and his values and threatened his family. 

This identifies a crucial point. We may think we are showing “love” by being accepting or compromising on moral and ethical issues. But here is the danger: Where does compromise end? Not only is it a violation of God’s commands for His people, but Lot’s story also shows that compromise with evil is never static. It grows, demanding more and more until it threatens everything we claim to hold too. Lot’s family suffered because he allowed Sodom’s values to shape his decisions. 

I believe the lesson is clear: moral and ethical acceptance and compromise are not viable paths for the church. Lot’s acceptance and compromise are about to result in the literal harm of his family. Even though Lot’s two angelic visitors intervened and saved him from the violent mob, his family will not come out unscathed, as we will see. 

For the modern church, Lot’s example is a call to vigilance. We must guard against slowly accepting values that conflict with God’s intentions. Compromise may seem harmless at first, but it can erode our convictions and harm those we love. Parents and leaders must recognize that their choices and what they teach the next generations set the tone for their families and communities. The church must stand firm in truth, refusing to trade God’s standards for cultural acceptance. 

Jude 3 – “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”