APOSTASY – Part 2
FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH
By W. G. Guy
To begin this topic of apostasy we will deal with God’s chosen people – Israel. As the title mentions, apostasy refers to abandoning or turning away from what was previously believed and practiced. This was a problem that Israel encountered repeatedly, going from apostasy to restoration, and back and forth, from the time of the Judges up to the time of the Greek Empire, and the conquest of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes.
Why did the Israelites, over and over, merge with the heathen and pagan cultures surrounding them, (which they were commanded by God not to do). Why did they forsake worshipping and honoring almighty God, but embraced the worship of the idols and gods of the other cultures? It seems amazing that after God worked numerous miracles on their behalf, the Israelites chose to worship idols of wood and stone that could neither hear, nor speak, nor do anything kind of works.
How could Israel fall into such a horrible apostasy after all that God did for them, and how He revealed Himself to them? This question requires an understanding of what was involved in many of these pagan worship forms and practices. The Pagan worship of Ashtoreth, Ishtar, Venus and the like, involved sensual and perverted sexual conduct, along with other forms of debauchery that fulfilled their carnal lusts. Then the worship of Moloch and Baal went so far as to demand child sacrifices which promised to bring success, material wealth, and riches to the worshippers.
These forms of worship appealed to fleshly and carnal lusts of the Israelites which drew them as they mingled among these heathen populations; especially as they intermarried with them. What is further amazing is the fact that those pagans were not drawn to the miracle working power of Almighty God that was previously openly displayed on behalf of Israel, and that the surrounding populations knew of from past history. This was because the Israelites, not only stopped believing, but they also became disobedient and ceased walking the power of His presence. Thus the heathen no longer saw any evidence of the power of the true God in Israel. Thus the Israelites fell prey to their carnal lusts causing them to forsake the laws and commands of God which stand against such immoral behavior.
God’s commands and laws were not written on the hearts of the Israelites. These laws and commands were external; conditions that they should obey and conform to in order to show themselves as God’s special people. Too many of them seemed to consider such conditions as shackles that their carnal flesh wanted to be free of. Their hearts were not toward God, but still favored carnal things that satisfied “self”. Thus they graduated toward the heathen forms of worship for a sense of self-fulfillment and gratification. Thus they apostatized just as Isaiah spoke, and was repeated by Jesus.
Matthew 15:7-8 – Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Now let’s consider the same conditions that caused Israel to fall as it is parallel to our modern day church. The prophetic word given in 2 Thessalonians applies to several portions of what is known as the church. This word refers to the time that we expect just prior to the return of our LORD Jesus Christ, and our gathering unto Him.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Note the warning, “Let no man deceive you by any means”. Jesus warned us that a lot of deception would occur before His return by the preaching of false prophets and preachers. Currently there are a lot of them teaching doctrines that lure believers away from the true faith to believe what is false. There are several preachers pushing doctrines that appeal to the carnal and lustful nature that entice with success, prosperity, worldly pleasures and possessions. These doctrines cause a falling away from true faith in the Lord as they promise more of that which is of the world.
It is time to identify some of these preachers who are luring people away from the faith and into apostasy. It is easy to identify them because so many people flock to their services that they are called “mega” churches. People flock to these preachers so their ears can be tickled with pleasing messages that lustful people want to hear so they can justify their love for the things of the world. What they fail to preach on is turning from sin, repentance, and Jesus is the only way.
One of these false preachers took over pastoring a church that I attended many years ago. After he first arrived, I invited him for dinner so I could examine him. He refused to preach on sin and repentance saying that God loves us just the way we are. The problem is that Jesus had to die because of the way we are; and we need to change (repent); but he could not accept that fact. And most of his efforts were on collecting the offering; to get more money. I left that church! It wasn’t long before members of the congregation began to live in overt sin, and eventually the church was destroyed.
These prosperity preachers include Joel Osteen, whose net worth is $95 million; Kenneth Copeland, whose net worth is $310 million, (but he claims to be a billionaire); Creflo Dollar, whose net worth is $27 million; Jessie Duplantis, whose net worth is $20 million; T. D. Jakes, whose net worth is $20 million: and this is to name just a few. The prosperity they preach is mostly for their own, so they can own and fly around in multimillion dollar jet planes, and live in multiple exotic houses on huge estates.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Timothy 6:5-10 – perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Then there are others who preach New Age and mystical doctrines of “cosmic conscienceness”, or promoted the “wokeism of LGBT and transgenderism, and other dark matters. The apostle Paul spoke of these days of apostasy:
2 Timothy 4:3-4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Our focus is not to be on the things of this world:
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Our focus is to be on the things of the kingdom of God, which means being conformed to the image of Christ. This requires changing the way we think and what we focus our attention and desires on.
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by he renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Carnal lusts will profit nothing in the end; only what is built in Christ will have any value; and that is eternal value.
Romans 13:14 – But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The apostle Paul labored to this end.
Galatians 4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
The apostle Paul speaks of the true riches; the wealth that is in, and of, God’s kingdom, with Jesus Christ as LORD:
Colossians 1:27 – to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Now much of the church is just like Israel was in their apostasy: “Why, because the Israelites not only stopped believing, but they also became disobedient and ceased walking the power of His presence. Thus the heathen no longer saw any evidence of the power of the true God in Israel.”
Does the world see the power and presence of God in most of the church today? The apostle Paul goes on to describe what the world sees in the church in these last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Paul is talking about conditions in the church, because where do you find a “form of godliness”, but in churches. Then note what He says we are to do about it: from such turn away. You do not want to be a part of such APOSTASY!
Don’t be enticed by preachers pushing the success and prosperity doctrines. As you submit yourself, your needs, and your situation to the LORD, He promised to meet and supply all your needs; so you don’t need seek after worldly riches.
Matthew 6:32-33 – (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
