Subtitle: How Compromise Becomes Culture
⚓ Floatie: Entry Point
1 Kings 15:14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all of his days.(ESV)
They worshiped God—but not fully. They obeyed His commands—but not completely. They were righteous except. The kings of Israel did many things right. They removed idols, reestablished the temple, led with justice. But over and over, Scripture records the same haunting phrase: “…the high places were not taken away.” Those high places—those hidden compromises—eventually corrupted the nation. And the same pattern still exists in the church today.
✒️ Forge: Theological Framework
What Were the High Places?
High places were altars or sites of worship on hills or mountains. Some were used for pagan gods. Others were repurposed for Yahweh. But God wasn’t interested in “good intentions.” He demanded obedience.
Deuteronomy 12:3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.(ESV)
Anything less than total destruction left room for spiritual drift.
The Modern High Places
High places today don’t look like stone altars.
They look like:
- Programs that no longer bear fruit but still consume resources
- Unspoken leadership loyalties that override accountability
- Traditions elevated above Scripture
- Platforms protected while victims are silenced
These are not always sins in themselves. But they are sacred cows, protected not by truth, but by legacy, fear, or convenience. And every high place left standing becomes a foothold for future idolatry.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.(ESV)
⚒️ Anvil: Application and Challenge
Compromise Today, Collapse Tomorrow
The danger isn’t immediate. High places often appear harmless. But they numb us. They become normal. They become sacred. And then they become untouchable.
Until one day, the next generation doesn’t remember why it was ever a compromise in the first place. They just worship there—because their fathers did. If we don’t destroy the high places now, our children will build temples on them later.
Ask the Hard Questions
- What in our churches is off-limits to critique?
- What in our own hearts are we calling “wisdom” but is really fear?
- What are we defending out of comfort instead of obedience?
Tearing down high places isn’t about destruction. It’s about clearing the way for holiness.
🔥 Ember: My Witness
The Sacred Thing I Didn’t Want to Touch
There was a ministry I loved. It had changed my life. It had helped my family. I had history there. But over time, it drifted. Not obviously. Not scandalously. Just enough. It was still bearing some fruit—but less and less. And deep down, I knew. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to question it. It felt disloyal. Ungrateful.
Until one day I realized…my loyalty was no longer to truth. It was to a high place. And that high place had to come down.
The Series Continues
The kings did many things right. But the high places stayed. And those compromises, left untouched, led the whole nation into darkness. May we not be remembered as the generation that worshiped well, but left the high places intact.
Matthew 15:13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.(ESV)
[⚓ Floatie] [✒️ Forge] [⚒️ Anvil] [🔥 Ember] [🌿 Covenant Triumph]
This post follows the Forge Baseline Rule—layered truth for the discerning remnant.
Walking With Christ 
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