This was written by Wayne Jackson. It appeared in the Christian Courier of October, 1980. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson.
In a previous article, Biblical evidence was presented to demonstrate that it is indeed possible for a child of God to fall from the Lord's grace and hence be eternally lost. In this installment, some of the reasons why Christians apostatize will be explored.
1. Some fall because of persecution. In the parable of the sower, Christ spoke of the rocky soil. This was a thin layer of earth with a bedrock underneath. When the seed (the word of God) was sown in such soil, it sprang up quickly but because it had no depth, when the sun came out the seed was soon killed. The Lord, in explaining the story revealed that this shallow soil represents the one who, "endures for a while; and when tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, straightway he stumbles" (Matthew 13:21). Unfortunately when some people obey the gospel they have an improper view of what Christianity involves. Perhaps they see only its more pleasant elements. Maybe they have not been taught to count the cost (Luke 14:28). They have not realistically recognized that, "all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (Second Timothy 3:12). And so, when the hardships of the Christian life come they do not endure. For some, persecutions provide the testing by which character is made (cf. James 1:2-4; First Peter 1:6-7). In others, tribulations seek out a weakness which becomes the downfall of that person.
2. Some fall when they become heir to natural disaster. We live in a world that has been cursed by the evil effects of sin (Genesis 3:16ff; Romans 5:12; 8:20ff). Earthquakes, violent storms and floods frequently occur. The ravages of cancer, heart disease, etc. invade our homes. Death steals parents, spouses and children. The Christian is no less victim of these misfortunes than anyone else. Yet occasionally one encounters a child of God who feels that if the Lord were really caring of his interests, such disasters would never come. This of course, reveals a very inadequate and unbalanced view of life. One of the great lessons of the book of Job is that Jehovah does not necessarily shield us from life's calamities. In fact, in Job's case his hardships were a tribute to him. He was God's trophy to the fact that the Lord is worthy of our service both in good times and in bad ones. Even the great apostle Paul was not exempt from natural disaster (cf. Acts 27; Second Corinthians 11:25-27). And so, natural hardships will occur; we are not in Heaven yet! One must never allow such difficulties to turn him from the faith; rather, he must use all trials to fortify his heavenward journey.
3. Many apostatize out of neglect. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that we simply cannot escape the wrath of God if we neglect the great salvation that has been so richly provided for us (Hebrews 2:3). Some apparently enter the church under the delusion that they have a ticket to Heaven which can never be canceled. They do not realize that they are but babes in Christ and thus in need of much growth and maturity (First Peter 2:2; Second Peter 3:18). To assist such people, the following principles must be constantly taught: (a) Church services must be faithfully attended in order that warm encouragement and competent instruction can be regularly received (Hebrews 10:24-25). (b) Harmful entanglements with the world must be severed (First Corinthians 15:33; Ephesians 5:11; Second Timothy 2:4). (c) Personal habits of study, meditation and worship must be cultivated (Second Timothy 2:15; Psalm 1:2; First Thessalonians 5:17). (d) Active involvement in the salvation of others is imperative (John 15:1ff; Romans 7:4). Many who would never neglect their physical health or the welfare of their families are nonetheless, woefully neglectful of their salvation and so frequently just drift away from the faith completely. How very tragic.
4. Cares, riches and pleasure are the downfall of others. Again, in His sower parable the Lord spoke of those who were fruitless because their productivity was choked out by the thorns of, "care of the world" the, "deceitfulness of riches" and the, "pleasures of this life" (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14). The care of the world is the inordinate anxiety that Christians sometimes have concerning the daily needs of human existence. Even poverty can be a temptation (cf. Proverbs 30:8). If one's possessions are extremely meager, he must still trust in God and never allow worry about material things to draw him away from Christ (see Matthew 6:25-34). On the other hand, some who have plenty already, are ever greedy for more. Bigger barns must be built (Luke 12:16-21). A love of money leads many from the faith (First Timothy 6:10). The destruction of others is a lust for the world. Some members of the church are never weaned from the defilements of an evil society; their minds are never transformed (Romans 12:2). Accordingly, the lure of the wild side of life entices them away from the Lord and back into the filth of a degrading existence (Second Peter 2:20-22). Demas is a classic example of one who abandoned the noble life in exchange for this world (cf. Philemon 24; Colossians 4:14; Second Timothy 4:10).
5. Some are seduced from the faith by false teaching. Paul foretold that in the latter times some would fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits (i.e., false teachers, First John 4:1). They would turn away from the truth unto fables (First Timothy 4:1ff; Second Timothy 4:1ff). Why do men become involved in the propagation of religious error? Honest people are sometimes ignorantly caught up in it. That is why Christians must take heed how they hear (Luke 8:18) and compare what they hear with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). The Lord charged that the errors of the Sadducees were attributed to their ignorance of the word of God (Matthew 22:29). Others adopt false doctrines for baser reasons; perhaps they are anxious for a following (Acts 20:30), maybe they feel that godliness is a way of gain (First Timothy 6:5; Second Peter 2:1ff). Some preachers among us are declaring that the church of Christ is not distinctive and unique; that we are but another denomination among the many. They no longer proclaim the Biblical truth of the one body (Ephesians 4:4), the church (Colossians 1:8). As a consequence of such pulpit garbage, numerous deceived souls are being led into the satanic entrapments of sectarianism. Faithful Christians must attempt to inoculate against this great evil.
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