Shadows of Apostasy

As the shadows of apostasy increasingly overtook the early church, its leaders earnestly sought to meet the challenges; thus, Jude (and John) warned the church of “ungodly” and false men who had “crept in unawares” (Jude 1:1,15) with perverse doctrines and conducts that were polluting the church and leading the unsuspecting astray. Jude forthrightly identified these errors and counseled the church leaders how they might resist them.

Similarly, in recent times the church has experienced a wave of monumental unprecedented shift away from mainstream doctrinal belief, by some of its Frontline Ministers, to embrace a doctrine of deception that brushes aside and ignores some of the fundamental tenets of our faith. 

As a result, we have to be vigilant to identify and avoid these wolves in sheep's clothing whose mission is to lead the unsuspecting saint astray with their strange doctrine. It is remarkable that Satan’s tools and Man’s nature have not changed; which is to “Steal, kill, and destroy;” But Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Indeed, there are wolves in the church today, and by this I mean clergy and laity speaking perverse things, diverting from the truth of God’s word, and being obstinate in the wrong, willfully in order to draw the weak and unwary members of the church after them. This is evident in our country, causing many to question the relevance of the church in a postmodern era.

Every Christian should ask himself this question, "Is apostasy occurring in my church?" The answer to this question can only be realized when we first look in our own house, for the Bible tells us that judgment will begin in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17).

Therefore, we would not know it unless we first closely examine the Bible, our standard of truth, and then compare the present day Church to the Word of God; that is the measuring rod by which apostasy can be detected.
 
However, the arrival of the Antichrist cannot occur until sufficient apostasy has taken place, and we have already begun to see an increase in disaffection among church goers almost on a daily basis worldwide.



Apostasy means to fall away from the truth.  Hence, an apostate is someone who has once believed and then rejected the truth of God’s word.  As a consequence, apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is a rebellion against truth. 

In the Old Testament God warned the Jewish people about their idolatry and their lack of trust in Him.  In the New Testament the epistles warn us about not falling away from the truth.  Apostasy is a very real and dangerous threat. A denial of the following (to name a few) would suggest apostasy:

• Inerrancy of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16)
• Virgin Birth of Jesus - relates to incarnation of Christ as God and man.
• Fidelity in marriage in heterosexual relationships (1 Cor. 6:9)
• The condemnation of homosexuality (Rom. 1:26-27)

Therefore, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1Pet. 5:8).