This is the final installment in a series about apostasy written by Wayne Jackson. This appeared in the Christian Courier of November, 1980. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson. In this day of "feel good" religion and "once saved, always saved" attitudes, I believe this is an important matter to discuss.
In two previous articles it was noted that it certainly is possible for the child of God to fall away from the faith and that the Bible carefully points to a number of factors that frequently lead to apostasy. In this final installment, we will continue to explore some of the reasons why the weak defect from the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Some have an unrealistic view of conversion. When one obeys the gospel of God (First Peter 4:17), he enters the Christian life as a newborn (spiritual) infant in the Lord (First Peter 2:2). He must endeavor to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (Second Peter 3:18) and thus progress toward maturity (cf. Ephesians 4:13ff). Occasionally however, one encounters new Christians who have mistakenly adopted the notion that conversion virtually eliminates the capacity to further make mistakes. Accordingly, when they again make some bad mistakes, they are deeply crushed. They may be unable to cope with the situation hence, throw up their hands in despair and abandon the faith altogether. Such souls must be taught a realistic view of the Christian life. They must learn that even the great Bible characters sometimes made serious errors (cf. Matthew 26:70; Romans 7:15; Galatians 2:11-14), yet through repentance and learning, great growth can be achieved.
2. Some fall due to a lack of Christian association. Conversion to the Son of God frequently extracts a high price in terms of human friendships. Jesus said that it would be so (Matthew 10:34ff; Philippians 2:7-8). Since it is true that the Christian can have no fellowship with the evil works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), and as it is further the case that intimate companionships with the nonspiritual can be a detriment to the Lord's servant (First Corinthians 15:33), many times friendship with the ungodly will be broken at the point of conversion. Now here is a blunt question: are Christians careful to speedily replace with warm fellowship those worldly associations that have been severed? Sometimes we are seriously neglectful of this responsibility. We bring the lost to Christ then freeze them to death! Undoubtedly this is one of the major reasons for the high mortality rate among new converts.
3. Some apostatize due to harsh treatment at the hands of crude brethren. No one who is remotely acquainted with New Testament doctrine would deny for a moment that false teaching, together with rebellious, hypocritical brethren ought to be vigorously opposed (Romans 16:17; Titus 3:10; Second Timothy 4:1ff). The Lord's treatment of His brethren (the Jewish leaders) in Matthew 23 was blistering; that situation demanded it. This certainly does not indicate however, that all spiritual weakness is to be dealt with in such a manner. Some brethren have apparently concluded though (compare Diotrephes in Third John 9-10) that they have been personally deputized by the Lord to billy club all immature children of God into perfection! A new Christian may, through ignorance and/or weakness commit a dramatic sin and yet before they can be lovingly and patiently restored (Galatians 6:1), they are bludgeoned into spiritual death by some insensitive zealot. They did not anticipate this type of "brotherly" treatment and hence cannot survive it. Child abuse is not just a physical phenomenon!
4. Some never learn to receive considerate correction. As was pointed above, all children of God are bound to make mistakes. We will need therefore, loving correction along the way. There is that type of person however, who simply cannot abide rebuke no matter how compassionately it may be offered. Doubtless, pride is a chief weakness in such an individual. Solomon noted that, a rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool" (Proverbs 17:10). Correction is a natural expression of love (Proverbs 3:11-12) and when it is well received, it produces peaceable fruit (Hebrews 2:11).
5. Some never learn to deal with church difficulties. When some enter the church, they labor under the delusion that they are already in Heaven! It is a tremendous shock when these tender saints learn that not everyone in the Lord's church is honest and good. They are not prepared for the reality that, as one preacher put it, some of the people in our fellowship ought to be in the penitentiary! When they observe conflict in the church or if they are treated in an unbecoming way by the brethren, rather than attempting to assist the situation for the sake of righteousness, occasionally a sense of smugness sets in. A spirit of self-righteousness may develop. It is sometimes the case that church members such as these described will withdraw from the church in general and establish their own little anti-septic fellowships (usually a so called "house church") wherein they can (from afar) crucify the church for her shortcomings, or imagine that they are the last faithful people on earth. But our Lord knew there would be difficulties in the kingdom (consider the parable of the tares in Matthew 13). Paul had his enemies even within the church (Second Corinthians 11:26) yet he did not sour on the entire brotherhood. Faithful children of God will look for ways to help their brethren in times of confusion. They will not bury their heads. The old proverb about lighting a candle instead of merely cursing the darkness still contains a lot of truth.
6. Some fall because of misplaced confidence. A proverb says, "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint" (Proverbs 25:19). It is never easy to be disappointed by those we love and in whom we have a great confidence. Perhaps some are so cynical that they will not allow themselves to trust anyone; an opposite extreme views everyone (especially in the church) as virtually angelic. Often, Christians will make a super-hero of some prominent leader (elder, preacher, etc.). They will idealize that person to the point of near perfection. If, therefore, the hero falls, it can destroy the faith of the one who so admired him. This writer knows of a number of situations in which weak brethren have fallen from the faith because a favorite preacher was discovered in adultery, or perhaps a respected elder was exposed as a crooked businessman. It is certainly not sinful to have great respect and confidence in good brethren, but listen, in the final analysis our trust must be in God Almighty and in His Son Jesus Christ! They will never do wrong. They will never disappoint us (Hebrews 13:5).
Surely it is to the advantage of all of us to learn those areas of weakness which can precipitate apostasy. None of us is beyond the possibility of falling (First Corinthians 10:12). We must be diligent to fortify our souls against failing the grace of God. And we must learn to reciprocately assist each other on the road to Heaven. God bless us to this end.
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