THE REALITY OF APOSTASY
Richard Thetford
Apostasy? What is apostasy? To some this word may sound strange and may not have meaning. But let us first assign a meaning to this word and then we will understand how serious apostasy is. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines apostasy as: “an abandoning of what one believed in, as a faith, etc.” Now do you see how serious this word is? The Lord’s church is suffering today because of individuals that have abandoned their faith in God and slipped back into worldliness. Peter says “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 20-21). These are some strong words delivered by the apostle Peter! God is very displeased with anyone that accepts his commandments one day and then throws them into the wind the next. Individuals that do this will be lost eternally. James says “My beloved brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). God takes apostasy very seriously and so should we because our soul is at stake!
If apostasy wasn’t a real problem, then it would not be addressed so often in the word of God. There are different types of apostasy. The Hebrew writer says “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26). Apostasy usually comes about as a result of an individual who willfully strays from God’s word but we can also see that apostasy can come in other ways such as deceptiveness. “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
Apostasy is known by other terms such as “shipwreck” as Paul points out to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:19. It is also described as a “falling away” in Hebrews 6:6. James refers to individuals that slip into apostasy as “erring” (James 5:19). As we see various terms associated with this word apostasy – one thing is for certain and that is “one has abandoned their faith in God!”
Now that we know what apostasy is, we need to find out what causes this awful thing to happen to God’s children. In today’s society there is an endless list of things that can cause someone to turn away from God because their faith is not as strong as it should be. False teachers that are on the television networks and around every corner are being fueled by Satan to cause you to fall away from God. Jesus talks about the false prophet in Matthew 24:11 when he says; “…many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.” This is just one cause that will confront the Christian on a day-to-day basis. There are many, many others such as; the love of this world (2 Timothy 4:10), ignorance (Romans 10:3), carelessness (1 Corinthians 10:12), discouragements (Matthew 24:12), temptations of all kinds (Luke 8:13), developing an attitude of “unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:19), impure hearts (1 Timothy 1:5-6), and the lack of a good conscience before God (1 Timothy 1:19), just to name a few.
But there is a remedy for apostasy and that is to repent and turn back to God’s way before it is everlastingly too late (Revelation 2:5). As Christians, if we would concentrate on adding the Christian characteristics to our lives, then we would not be so easily swayed into apostasy from one form or another. Read 2 Peter 1:5-10 and add these characteristics to your life. Apostasy is real and can happen to anyone that has a weak faith and isn’t growing in the ways of Christ.
From Walking in the Light
( www.thetfordcountry.com)
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“YOU CAN ONLY LIVE SO LONG”
Mike Johnson
“You can only live so long.” According to an AP article, these were the last words of a tenor as he performed at the Metropolitan Opera House during a production in New York City. The man was standing at the top of a ten-foot ladder when he suffered a heart attack. He fell to the stage below and died a short time later after singing the fatalistic line.
A few years ago, in Michigan, a bowler who had been bowling for 31 years died shortly after bowling his first 300 game at the age of 40. Fellow league members had cheered him on and had surrounded him as he rolled his final three strikes. Shortly after the game, the man seemed quiet; then, the color drained from his face, and within fifteen minutes, he suffered a fatal heart attack!
People die under a variety of circumstances and in many different ways. Most do not die under such unique circumstances as the two men mentioned above, although many die unexpectedly and suddenly as they did. However, despite how death comes and the conditions under which it happens, it comes to all.
The Bible teaches the inevitability of death and the fickleness of our lives here on this earth. Hebrews 9:27 speaks of two certainties we face as it says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Job 14:1-2 says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” James 4:14 points out that our life is a “vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
People ask various questions when a death occurs. Someone might ask, “Did he leave a family behind?” Another may ask, “Did he have a lot of money?” Some may want to know the cause of the person’s death. Although commonly asked, these and similar questions pale in comparison to the most crucial question: “Was the person a faithful Christian?” When a person dies, this is the only question that matters.
At the most, life on this earth is short, and death can come at any time. So what are we doing with the time we have? Are we using our brief life here on this earth to faithfully serve God? Are we “redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16), knowing that our death and the Judgment are swiftly approaching (Eccl. 9:7, 2 Cor. 5:10)?
People do die under unusual circumstances and at unexpected times. However, unless the Lord comes first, we all will die. Are we prepared for this inevitable event? If not, we need to prepare ourselves by obeying God’s Will.
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The Family Religion
Mark White
Oh, we’re members down at First Church because that’s where my Grandparents worshipped when they moved into town many years ago. Why, my Mother and Father were married down there. Our kids all grew up at First, and when our oldest little granddaughter was born, they brought her back to First Church for her dedication. All our friends go there, and we wouldn’t even dream of going any place else to church.”
Doesn’t that sound familiar? Our experience is that if asked, most folks will give you this kind of answer as to why they go to church where they do. Even members of the church of Christ have been known to make such reasons the basis of their decision to work and worship with their present congregation.
Should a person just accept his parents’ religion as his own, without any question whatsoever? Some people sing, “Give me that Ole’ Time Religion – It was good enough for Momma, so it’s good enough for me!” But is this right?
The Bible says, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). And, “He that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37). It is such a blessing if our family is serving God acceptably, but that is still not the proper reason for our faith. But if what our family believes and practices has no basis in the word of God, we must not follow them into error. Real love for our family will cause us to do right rather than encourage them in what is wrong. Opposing religious error in your own family may be the most difficult thing you will ever do as a Christian. But if you want to go to Heaven, you must stand for what is right, no matter whom you must oppose. Trust God to help you and supply your needs (Phil. 4:13; Mk. 10:29,30).
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Eager to Leave
It was my first time at church. I had never really wanted to go, but a good friend of mine had finally worn me down enough to give it a try. I had always thought, “That church stuff isn’t for me,” or, “I’m a good person. What do I need church for?” or “All church is good for is making you feel guilty and asking you for money.” But then, when I finally arrived at the doors, I was greeted by smiling faces and warm welcomes from the regulars. I was expecting more of an attitude of disapproval for an outsider, but no one was like that.
When services finally began, I sat and listened to the people singing. I didn’t know any of the songs myself, so I just took it all in. There were several people with beautiful voices, and there were those who hadn’t hit one note right from start to finish. Those people sang with even more feeling, though, and all I could do was smile at their obvious love of the songs. There were a few things I didn’t understand in the lyrics. After all, I had never really been taught anything about God.
What really got me curious was the sermon, though. The preacher started talking about this Jesus character. I knew who Jesus was supposed to be, but I had never really considered what he had done. The preacher read a lot out of the Bible, using it as his main reference. It surprised me to hear the words he read, telling a somewhat graphic story of this one man’s abuse and execution. The sermon went on for a while, but I never once looked at my watch. I was so intent on what the preacher was saying about sin and sacrifice that it only felt like a moment had passed by the time he was getting to the heart of his lesson.
“Now is the time to act,” he said passionately. “Now is the time to lay aside your sin and take up the cross and follow Jesus.”
He went on and talked about baptism and how it was a step on the way to salvation. It seemed too easy, but he got my attention. I wanted to know more.
“If you are not a Christian yet and we can help you in any way,” he started, but as he began to say these words, the people all around me started packing away their things. The rustling of papers and the movement of people slipping on their jackets were distracting. The preacher was still talking, inviting anyone who had a need or a desire to learn more, as I did, to come forward and make that need known, and they would help and pray for that person. But everyone seemed like they wanted to leave, like they had something important that they couldn’t be late for, some pressing appointment that they needed to hurry to as soon as things were done here. They were all getting ready for the next song that they knew was coming, flipping through pages and moving around in their seats.
I didn’t want to hold these people up just because I was ignorant of what they already knew, just because I wanted to learn. So, when he said, “Come now as we stand and sing”, I stayed where I was. I didn’t go forward, though I felt the pull strongly. I didn’t want to be a hindrance to these people, to keep them here longer just because of me. I stayed put and let the moment pass by.
When the service was over, people started talking and filing out through the doors to go home or go out to get something to eat. A few people stopped to talk to me, but I tried not to keep them. I kept my answers short and let them go on their way. Maybe it wasn’t as urgent as the preacher had made it sound. Maybe I didn’t need to do anything about this sin he had talked about. I had been fine so far, after all. Life would go on whether I went forward or not.
So that night, when I left and went back home, I went back to the way things were. If the people who always went to church didn’t think that going forward was that important, then why should I? I didn’t really know anything about God anyway. It obviously wasn’t that serious.
Author Unknown
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God’s Precious Gifts
We need to remind ourselves of gifts we can give or exchange throughout the year that will always be appreciated. Consider:
THE GIFT OF PRAISE: Appropriate mention, right in front of the other person, of appreciation for a job or of deeds well done.
THE GIFT OF CONSIDERATION: Putting yourself in the other’s shoes and thus providing your genuine understanding of his/her side of the situation.
THE GIFT OF CONCESSION: Humbly and with love say, “I’m sorry, you’re right, and I’m wrong,” or even “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, I love you and want to work things out.”
THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE: Never forget to say, “thank you,” or “I appreciate that so much,” and not fail to mean it.
THE GIFT OF ATTENTION: When the other person speaks, listen attentively. If his words are directed at you personally, meet him squarely – eye to eye.
THE GIFT OF PERSONAL PRESENCE: Nothing takes the place of personal presence in times of joy or trouble, sorrow or need. Be there with sincere love and with a comforting expression of sympathy or of congratulation.
Author Unknown
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Church Growth
Irvin Lee (1975)
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org
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