The Expansion of Apostasy-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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