God Brings the Increase: Why the True Church Cannot Be Built on Compromise

When the book of Acts describes the growth of the church, it says, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Notice who added—the Lord. It was not human strategy, not clever programs, and not watered-down sermons. The church grew because God Himself was working in the hearts of people through the gospel.

The Father, Son, and Spirit at Work in Salvation

Jesus made clear that salvation is not the result of persuasion or personality. When Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Lord told him, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). The Father reveals who the Son is, and the Son in turn reveals the Father (Matthew 11:27).

Jesus also taught that the Holy Spirit “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Paul echoed this when he said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). We may faithfully preach the gospel, but the Spirit alone brings conviction and new life.

The Tragedy of the Seeker-Sensitive Church

In light of this, we must ask: why do so many churches today believe they must change the gospel to make people believe? Entire movements have risen around the idea of “seeker-sensitive” services—where the goal is not to confront sin but to make people feel comfortable. Sermons avoid addressing sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, or the exclusivity of Christ, because these truths might offend. Instead, people are offered motivational speeches, entertainment-driven worship, and a message tailored to match the culture.

But a gospel that does not call sinners to repentance is no gospel at all. Paul warned about this very thing: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3). That time has arrived. Churches that hold back the truth in order to draw crowds may look successful on the outside, but they are not building on the foundation of Christ. They are offering false hope.

Why We Don’t Need to Compromise

The truth is, we don’t need gimmicks to build the church. We don’t need to reshape the gospel to make it more appealing. Jesus told us plainly, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). Salvation does not depend on our ability to market the message. It depends on God’s mercy (Romans 9:16).

When churches soften the truth, they rob people of the very conviction that the Spirit uses to bring about repentance and faith. The gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16)—not our creativity, not our sensitivity, and not our entertainment value.

Our Call: Faithfulness, Not Frustration

As believers, our job is simple: preach the Word, love people, and trust God with the results. We should not grow angry when people resist the truth, nor should we compromise in hopes of gaining their approval. Our message may be rejected, but it is the only message that saves.