Non-negotiable! When a lawyer looks at that term, he/she probably says, "yeah, right!" And the litigation begins. Non-negotiable! When a child hears that term from a parent, they may smile, laugh, cry, or throw a temper-tantrum and begin the process of reducing the term to ashes!
Non-negotiable! When people hear this term in the context of "there are some non-negotiables in Christianity," they do something utterly maddening! They agree - and then violate the non-negotiable! Even if it is God's Word!
Non-negotiables! In the church - in your life as Christ following child of God - can you identify any REAL non-negotiables? These would be matters in which you would never back up - to the point of dying if necessary!
Perhaps I could put it another way for clarification! For what beliefs would you die rather than recant? or negotiate? My grave concern is that in the modern church, very few people have genuine non-negotiables! Why would I believe this? Well, a people who can be stopped from worshipping by rain are probably not going to give a second thought to denying Christ at the point of a gun! People who will not share the Good News of the Gospel, though commanded to by the Lord Himself, because they are "uncomfortable" doing so will not have much moral courage when the faith is under REAL attack!
I guess I am not interested in whether or not you can identify non-negotiables in your life of faith - but whether or not we really believe in any!
For me a non-negotiable that I cannot refuse is that Christ is the only means and pathway for salvation! Salvation is found in none other! Yet, nearly every funeral I do for people who have lived nothing of a Christian life finds their family emphasizing how they were good - loving - caring - or eccentric and people just didn't understand them! They "prayed the prayer" so they must be saved! So much for non-negotiable understandings of real salvation, sanctification and glorification.
Another non-negotiable is that there is a heaven and a hell and real people go to both of them!
Another non-negotiable is that my personal behavior must be impacted by faith in God! A claim of faith absent faith generated works is DEAD! So how is my behavior - and yours?
I should probably reflect a bit more and post again on this with a brief list of absolutely non-negotiables in my life that exist because of a relationship with Jesus Christ! Are there any Non-negotiables in your life?
My fear is that too many people have this non-negotiable - that everything can be negotiated!
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