The Expansion of Apostasy
Part 1
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 9/6/03
Introduction
The famous Baptist preacher of London, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote an
article in the late 1800’s titled, Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?
In this article he said…
"The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church
that part of her mission is to provide entertainment of the people, with
the view of winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did, the
Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked
at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated
them in her boarders, now she has adopted them under the plea of
reaching the masses…. Providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken
of in the Scriptures as a function for the Church. If it was a Christian
work, why did not Christ speak of it? ‘Go ye’…into all the world and speak
the Gospel to every creature. This is a clear enough. So it would have
been if He had added, ‘and provide amusement for those who do not relish
the Gospel.’ No such words are to be found…. Jesus pitied sinners, sighed
and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them."
What Spurgeon saw blossoming in his day is in full bloom today. Today’s
seeker sensitive churches seek to amuse goats with "Christian" rock and
rap bands that blare out their worldly music to pump up the people and
"worship" leaders that seek to stir up the emotions of the people with
their mindless repetitive choruses. Then there are the drama team actors
who present their Broadway like productions with choreographed accuracy.
But, what about the preaching? Well, if there is time, the "preacher"
gives short motivational talk, being sure to steer around anything
controversial. He wants the audience to leave "feeling good." Oh yes, be
sure to note the self-esteem, inner healing group classes. Then there is
jazzercise at the church to keep your muscle tone. Oh, one more things;
tolerance training groups meets later in the week,
The modern "church" is not emphasizing teaching & preaching focused on
the Word of God and Jesus Christ, but rather open-mindedness and tolerance
of whatever anyone believes so they won’t be offended. Few churches today
will call sin, sin because that would be offensive! The result is that
churches are not preaching against rape, sexual promiscuity, cohabitation,
teen pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, adultery, divorce, remarriage,
stealing, lying, drinking alcohol, drug abuse, disrespect of the law and
more.
Is this what our Lord intended? Certainly not! The Apostle Paul
gave instructions to a young preacher. Turn to 2 Timothy
4:1-4 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and
his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. 3 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; 4 And they shall turn
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
We are living in a day when many who profess to be Christians "will not
endure sound doctrine!" They will not listen to the truth but prefer
fables or myths of their own making. What we are talking about
is apostasy. What is in focus in this message is
APOSTASY! In this message we will look at 1) the definition of
apostasy and 2) the development of apostasy.
The English word the apostasy is not used in the King
James Bible, but it is a legitimate word. The English word 'apostasy'
is derived from the Greek noun apostasia. Turn with me to
2 Thessalonians 2:3 "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;" The word falling
away is a translation of the Greek word apostasia.
So, what is apostasy? The Greek word means "a defection;
a renunciation; to depart." Another author defines it as "a deliberate
act of repudiation." The Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives a good
definition – "An abandonment of what one has professed; a total
desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion." To put it
simply, when you use the word apostasy in association with
the Christian faith it is a renunciation and abandonment of the
Christian faith. It is the act of departing from the Christian
faith. An apostate is a person who once professed to be
a believer in Christ and Christianity but now has turned from that faith.
The word apostatize means to forsake the principles of the
Christian faith one has professed.
- The Development of Apostasy
There are two streams of "Christianity" operating during the
Church Age (Age of Grace). First, there is the true Church, the
Christianity of the Apostles. This is the faith we are to struggle to
keep. Jude 1:3 says, "Beloved, when I gave
all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
It is this stream of true Christianity that our Lord promised that the "gates
of hell " would not prevail against (Matthew
16:18). But, it is also true that those who follow this stream
of Christianity will be hated (John 15:18-19),
despised (1 Corinthians 4:10), and
persecuted. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 3:12-17
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child
thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works."
Then there is the second stream of so-called "Christianity" is
the apostate churches, which will increase in number and grow worse
and worse as the centuries pass and ultimately culminate in the
Tribulation Church, Mystery Babylon.
When did the apostasy begin? It began in the foundation
years of the church. Turn to Acts 20:29-30.
Paul warns of coming apostates after his departure – "For I know this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
Did you know that the "worst corruptions to which the New Testament has
ever been subjected, originated within a hundred hears after it was
composed" (Introduction to the New Testament; F.H.A. Scrivener).
Did you know that there were apostates corrupting the Word of God in
Paul’s Day. 2 Corinthians 2:17 "For we are
not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." There were
apostates who were even counterfeiting Paul’s letters. 2
Thessalonians 2:1-2 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto
him, 2 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."
Apostasy has snowballed to gargantuan proportions in our day. But that
should come as no surprise because the New Testament said it would be that
way.
2 Timothy 3:13 "But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
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; 2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which
believe and know the truth."
2 Peter 2:1-3 "But there were false prophets
also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall
follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be
evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words
make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not,
and their damnation slumbereth not."
We are living in an age of apostasy. Will you capitulate (surrender) to
it as so many others are or will you stand for Apostolic Christianity?
In our next message we will begin by looking at…
The Dimensions of Apostasy.
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"Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved."