article by site founder, Connie Rice
What is an apostate church? According to the article, “What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?” from “Got Questions”, there are two main types of apostasy: “(1) a falling away from key and true doctrines of the Bible into heretical teachings that claim to be ‘the real’ Christian doctrine, and (2) a complete renunciation of the Christian faith, which results in a full abandonment of Christ.” A number of churches seem to have turned away from the truth plainly taught in God’s Word. Why is this? Perhaps they don’t want to offend others or they seek approval from the world. Perhaps they’ve focused on some of God’s attributes or specific teachings to the detriment of His other attributes and teachings, leading them to create God in their own image. Perhaps those deceived by Satan have infiltrated church leadership, intentionally or unintentionally. Perhaps church leaders have taken Scripture out of context or were influenced by the world’s ideas when interpreting various passages. Perhaps some have not noticed that pride has become an issue for them and do not humble themselves before their Maker. Perhaps they doubt the truth of God’s Word because of the world’s teachings and base their understanding of good and evil on man’s ideas instead.
“Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.
Psalm 119:155-160
Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your judgments.
Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word.
Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
But if God has given us His revealed Word in Scripture and has repeatedly commanded His people to obey His commandments and brought judgment to those who continually turn away from them , then shouldn’t we pay attention to it? Throughout Scripture, God’s love and mercy are evident in the many chances He gave His people. And when leaders genuinely humbled themselves, repented of their sin, and turned back to God, at times He relented or delayed judgment on them. Is it time for church leaders to humbly seek the Lord and make sure they are obeying Him and accurately teaching the whole counsel of God to their congregations?
“Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Psalm 33:1-15
Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He lays up the deep in storehouses
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.”
Will apostate churches and their leaders be held accountable before the Lord for leading people astray? The Bible warns that leaders and teachers are held to a higher standard for the influence they have. This should have a sobering effect on all church leaders and teachers:
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
James 3:1
Are individuals responsible to check Scripture to make sure they are being taught solid doctrine?
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.“
1 Timothy 6:3-5
Godliness is repeated in the above verse, so what does that mean? You can see the definition according to the article, “What is Godliness?”, by NavPress and reprinted on Bible.org that may help in our understanding.
“For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.”
2 Peter 2:18-19
When the teachings of church leaders keep people from recognizing the seriousness of their sin, it can keep people separated from God’s promises and blessings which instead may cause them to rationalize their sin. In some cases, it may even encourage them to celebrate their sin before a holy God. It’s only through Scripture that we understand what sin is and what pleases or displeases God. He is the source of all that is good and is the ultimate judge between good and evil. Beginning with Adam & Eve in the Garden, people have attempted to determine what is good and what is evil for themselves. We see this now all around us in the world. Humans’ sinful tendencies lead them to reject God and His teachings and determine their own way, even for many who confess Jesus as their Savior. This is actually rebellion and can keep people from experiencing the love, acceptance, and sense of purpose that God offers. As our Creator, Jesus knows exactly what we need to equip us for the path He has created each of us to walk. It requires that we agree with Him about what sin is and repent of anything that He calls sin.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;
Nahum 1:7
And He knows those who trust in Him.”
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
James 1:13-18
Even when people are rebelling against Him, our merciful and loving God longs to bring them back to the center of His will so He can show them the way of salvation through believing in Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death on the cross. As people trust in His guidance, He is able to care for them, meet their needs, and bless them. The book of Psalms helps us understand God’s heart:
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
Psalm 107:6-15
And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons—
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!“
My prayer is that churches will be faithful in the teaching of God’s Word, even though Scripture says that in the last days there will be even more apostasy. Therefore, believers need to know God’s Word for themselves. This allows them to discern solid doctrine from false teaching and find a church that is faithful to what God has revealed. The Bible mentions how the Bereans went to the Scriptures to make sure what they were being told was true:
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”
Acts 17:10-12
People who have agreed with what God says about sin and who acknowledge and repent of their own sins regularly are able to enjoy fellowship with the Lord and live out the unique life He created for each of them. There is nothing in the world more precious than that, but it is so hard to help people understand who haven’t experienced life with the hope, supernatural peace, strength, and more that Jesus shares with those who have surrendered completely to Him. The song. “Nobody” by Casting Crowns expresses it well. One of the song’s verses is here:
‘Cause I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
Some of lyrics to Casting Crowns song, “Nobody” as listed on lyrics.com
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus“
Those who understand will continue to share with people because the consequences are eternal, and want as many as possible to go with us in the Rapture. Chronologically, it is the next event on the prophetic calendar – we will meet Jesus in the air and be removed from this world in an instant. Heaven will be more amazing than our finite minds can imagine, but the Tribulation on earth that follows the Rapture will be more horrific than people can imagine because evil will progress unrestrained for seven years. The Rapture also signals the end of the Church Age. God will fulfill His promise to restore His chosen (Jewish people) and give them and others one last opportunity to trust in Jesus for their salvation before He brings judgment on evil and on those who have rejected Him. Not only does He win in the end, but as long as any of His children are still here on earth, He walks with them and guides them through any and all trials they face. The victory is His – praise Jesus! He is worthy of all praise!
© Constance Rice 2023
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