Salvation without Compromise

Chapter 23 – 4. Salvation without Compromise

Is it not true you do not recognize some of the forms attack can take? If it is
true attack in any form will hurt you, and will do so just as much as in
another form that you do recognize, then it must follow that you do not
always recognize the source of pain. Attack in any form is equally
destructive. Its purpose does not change. Its sole intent is murder, and what
form of murder serves to cover the massive guilt and frantic fear of
punishment the murderer must feel? He may deny he is a murderer and
justify his savagery with smiles as he attacks. Yet he will suffer, and will
look on his intent in nightmares where the smiles are gone, and where the
purpose rises to meet his horrified awareness and pursue him still. For no
one thinks of murder and escapes the guilt the thought entails. If the intent
is death, what matter the form it takes?
 
Is death in any form, however lovely and charitable it may seem to be, a
blessing and a sign the Voice for God speaks through you to your brother?
 
The wrapping does not make the gift you give. An empty box, however
beautiful and gently given, still contains nothing. And neither the receiver
nor the giver is long deceived. Withhold forgiveness from your brother and
you attack him. You give him nothing, and receive of him but what you
gave.
 
Salvation is no compromise of any kind. To compromise is to accept but
part of what you want; to take a little and give up the rest. Salvation gives
up nothing. It is complete for everyone. Let the idea of compromise but
enter, and the awareness of salvation’s purpose is lost because it is not
recognized. It is denied where compromise has been accepted, for
compromise is the belief salvation is impossible. It would maintain you can
attack a little, love a little, and know the difference. Thus it would teach a
little of the same can still be different, and yet the same remain intact, as
one. Does this make sense? Can it be understood?
 
This course is easy just because it makes no compromise. Yet it seems
difficult to those who still believe that compromise is possible. They do not
see that, if it is, salvation is attack. Yet it is certain the belief that salvation
is impossible cannot uphold a quiet, calm assurance it has come.
 
Forgiveness cannot be withheld a little. Nor is it possible to attack for this
and love for that and understand forgiveness. Would you not want to
recognize assault upon your peace in any form, if only thus does it become
impossible that you lose sight of it? It can be kept shining before your
vision, forever clear and never out of sight, if you defend it not.
 
Those who believe that peace can be defended, and that attack is justified on
its behalf, cannot perceive it lies within them. How could they know? Could
they accept forgiveness side by side with the belief that murder takes some
forms by which their peace is saved? Would they be willing to accept the
fact their savage purpose is directed against themselves? No one unites with
enemies, nor is at one with them in purpose. And no one compromises with
an enemy but hates him still, for what he kept from him.
 
Mistake not truce for peace, nor compromise for the escape from conflict.
To be released from conflict means that it is over. The door is open; you
have left the battleground. You have not lingered there in cowering hope
that it will not return because the guns are stilled an instant, and the fear that
haunts the place of death is not apparent. There is no safety in a
battleground. You can look down on it in safety from above and not be
touched. But from within it you can find no safety. Not one tree left still
standing will shelter you. Not one illusion of protection stands against the
faith in murder. Here stands the body, torn between the natural desire to
communicate and the unnatural intent to murder and to die. Think you the
form that murder takes can offer safety? Can guilt be absent from a
battlefield?