Broken Mindset

I was talking to a friend who is into the music and TV industry a few weeks ago. We were sharing about our identities as Christians, and he was sharing about how it is hard for Christians in the industry where he is in. He said, some people would say, that because of their high standards and convictions on the roles they have to play they have less projects than other “flexible” artists.

Christians are known to have more conservative convictions in terms of physical intimacy, specially to the opposite sex. Consequently, for those who work in the media,like my friend, it will reflect on how they choose their projects.

My friend told me that some of their friends, who understood them, suggested that they “stretch” their Christianity a bit. Meaning they play around with their convictions; to push it a little further.  Besides, it wouldn’t mean they’re turning their backs from Christ, right? Also, they’re just doing it for the job anyway…yeah, for the money.

I realized that the idea of “stretching” our convictions and our principles isn’t only prevailing in the media industry. I think all of us, in one way or another have done this before, where we are in our own “industry”- it’s a familiar word called COMPROMISE.

I think a lot has been said already about compromising one’s belief for something like job stability; money; acceptance; or popularity. But are these reasons really worth compromising our convictions for? Can we really live a life of compromise and sleep soundly at night? Can one person compromise his beliefs and still claim that he is still who he is?

Funny how he used the word stretch. I remembered in one of my engineering classes, we were talking about elasticity. We proved that stretching the rubber band beyond its limits never returned the rubber band back to its original state. It was a bit loose than normal, yes it didn’t break  (not yet, at least), but it was never “normal” again.

I have made a lot of compromises too and at times it means setting aside honesty and integrity- it NEVER felt good. I felt like I am living a double-standard life. Yes I was in control on the outside, but not really. Because at the end of the day, I knew that in compromising, I traded something that is part of me over something temporary. Losing your identity through compromising your principles and values is definitely NOT worth it!

I learned my lesson, I determined the values which would define me and tried my best to stick to it. I think people will give you respect if you stand firm on something. Specially if it is of value beyond material things. Maybe some people lose respect on a belief because the believers have compromised a lot and never really fought for what they believe in.

How about you? Is compromise worth it in your “industry”?

 

Related posts:

Comments

belief, Christianity, compromise, convictions, industry, music, stretch, TV, values