What All Christians Should Know about Apostasy
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Every industry or academic subject contains specific language and terminology. These terms serve as shorthand to bigger ideas, keeping people from having to spend a half hour explaining an idea. Early within the first couple of centuries of the church, Christian theological language began to develop, especially due to the Greek and Roman philosophical culture and focus.
These academic terms can have value, but they also serve to cause separation. It can part the knowledgeable from those who may not be familiar with the words. For some subjects, we can give some leeway. With Christianity, we must be careful with things that could separate. It’s important to understand theological ideas and truths with few obstacles.
The word “apostasy” proves one of those terms. It sounds religious and important, even negative, but many Christians might not know the meaning. Yet the meaning matters to Christians, especially when you see the clear patterns and messages in the Scripture.
What Is Biblical Apostasy?
Apostasy means an intentional falling away from the faith or a rebellion against God, especially after once declaring a belief in him. This term isn’t dealing with a doubt or a struggle, common to all who believe. Apostasy describes a person or community who chose to come into covenant with God, whether the old or new, and then denies the Lord, Christ, and the truth of Scripture regarding the holistic worship of God. The Bible warns against such falling away, carrying dire consequences.
The word apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, which means departure, defection, and rebellion. It’s constructed from apo (away from) and histemi (to stand), literally meaning to stand away from or defect from. Acts 21:21 uses apostasia when the Jews accuse Paul of teaching his people to “forsake” the law of Moses. Paul himself cautions against a future “falling away” from faith in the Church when the “man of lawlessness” is revealed, the two events tied together (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
In the Old Testament, apostasy generally aligned with worshipping other gods, idols of other nations, although moral and doctrinal issues usually happened at the same time. For the New Testament, while the apostles addressed idolatry, the usual warnings of apostasy centered around false teachers leading people in the churches away from the true Christ and Gospel. Hebrews 6:4-6 describes the consequences for those who fall away after once receiving the truth of Jesus.
Biblically, apostasy goes beyond the private. It often includes influencing others to rebel, to worship other gods, or to follow a false doctrine. The devil doesn’t limit his influence. Being committed to Christ involves speaking the Gospel; believing lies twists in the opposite direction, teaching false doctrines to others, making apostasy especially serious.
Where Can We Find Examples of Apostasy in the Old Testament?
One of the first examples of apostasy happens in Exodus 32. God had just delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, through the Passover blood of a lamb. After being saved through the parting of the Red Sea, they come to Mount Sinai. While Moses ascended the mountain to get the Law from God, the Israelites built an idol, a golden calf, and worshipped it. They even called the idol the god who delivered them. This apostasy leads to God’s wrath and Moses’ intercession.
Ironically, Moses received the Ten Commandments directly from God upon the mountain, written by the hand of the Lord. The first two commandments address how Israel should have no other gods and make no idols, the two rules from which the rest flow.
In 1 Kings 11, King Solomon falls into apostasy. Although God gifted David’s son with unparalleled wisdom and peace, Solomon’s heart turns to idols as he marries foreign women, among his hundreds of wives. The king builds altars and homes to their gods, abominable and violent idols like Chemosh and Molech. This apostasy leads to a divided kingdom (Israel and Judah) after Solomon’s death. Even supposedly wise leaders can fall away from faith.
Idolatry marks much of the two kingdoms as God’s people are divided between Israel and Judah. Israel especially never has a righteous king, each one falling into apostasy. The prophet Jeremiah accuses Israel of spiritual adultery. “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns … that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).
The prophet Hosea’s life symbolizes Israel’s apostasy. God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a former prostitute who then leaves him, becoming unfaithful with other men. Gomer becomes a sign of Israel’s idolatry. God’s message reveals how apostasy is like getting married and then committing adultery, breaking a sacred covenant. However, Hosea’s book also shows how God desires to redeem and bring his people back into right relationship.
The Old Testament reveals apostasy through individuals like Solomon, but mostly through whole communities and nations. Apostasy results from the temptation of compromise, sin, and other cultures toward idolatry. Salvation isn’t only about an initial conversion to the Lord but an enduring faithfulness to the end.
Where Can We Find Examples of Apostasy in the New Testament?
The New Testament directly teaches against apostasy and also shows narrative examples. Jesus consistently warned that apostasy would increase as time went on, culminating in a great falling away in the last days. As we read through the Gospels, the apostles show us how Jesus lost large groups of followers as his ministry went on (John 6:66). Jesus not only taught about apostasy, his followers saw it in action during his earthly time of healing and teaching.
As one example, Judas Iscariot walked closely with Jesus, heard his teaching, and saw miracles. Despite all this, Judas betrayed Christ to the Jewish leaders for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Even intimate association with Christ doesn’t guarantee enduring loyalty. Unfortunately, Judas never attempted to repent. His despair led him to take his own life, symbolizing how any betrayal of God leads to spiritual, eternal death, as well.
Moving into Acts 5, two disciples (Ananias and Sapphira) lie about a sizeable donation they made to the church, which Peter interprets as lying to the Holy Spirit. Both lie, and both are struck dead for their sin. Their lying reveals how even early believers could fall into serious disobedience leading to judgment. While not full apostasy (they didn’t teach or lead others away), their rebellion reminds us of the dangers.
Paul directly teaches about the same apostasy Jesus spoke about in 1 Timothy 4:1: “The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Paul describes how apostasy will involve false doctrine, naming people like Hymenaeus and Alexander as people who fell away from following Jesus, and how their “shipwreck” could corrupt others.
2 Peter 2 and Jude both include warnings about false teachers and “apostates” who infiltrate the church and spread their lies. They compare such false teachers to Balaam and Cain, describing their greed and how they divided the church. It’s interesting to note how greed and money play a big part in the New Testament apostasy. Paul equates greed with idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
For the New Testament, apostasy generally means willfully rebelling against the truth and spreading lies, often for personal financial gain.
Can Apostates Find Redemption?
Even though God seriously warns against apostasy, he offers restoration. The Father seeks reconciled relationship; it is his highest priority, even giving his Son for it. Therefore, while people willfully rebel, the Lord gives opportunity for change.
In the Old Testament, Israel repeatedly falls into apostasy through idolatry, injustice, and rejecting God's covenant. However, God continually calls them back. Through prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, God urges His people to repent. In Jeremiah 3:12-14, God pleads, “Return, faithless Israel… I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful.” Though they had betrayed Him like an unfaithful spouse, God still invites them to return and receive healing. In the Old Testament, God punishes apostasy, but it’s never final. Repentance would give opportunity for mercy and restoration, if not greater blessings than they had before.
Within the New Testament, the warnings appear stricter. Hebrews especially has a couple of passages in chapters 6 and 10 discussing the awful consequences for those who fall away after receiving the truth. In Hebrews 6, restoration particularly seems impossible. With this verse, some Christians argue apostates can’t return. However, Hebrews also urges believers to restore others who drift away from faith, suggesting some level of change is available.
And the teachings in Hebrews, while harsh, should be viewed within the larger biblical teaching. Not only did God allow and call for repentance to apostate Israel and Judah, Jesus taught a powerful message of redemption in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). In the story, the son rebelled, calling for his inheritance early, essentially wishing his father’s death. The prodigal leaves the house and squanders the whole inheritance and lives with pigs, symbolizing being unclean. But when he realizes his sin and returns in humility, the father welcomes him back. The parable shows how God not only accepts repentance, he takes great joy in restoring those who once knew and rejected him.
Ultimately, Scripture teaches apostasy is dangerous, leading to hardened hearts. But God can soften any heart, and when there’s willing and conscious repentance, God’s mercy can reach anyone. Redemption isn’t guaranteed but it is always possible while the sinner still lives.
How Can We Guard Against Apostasy?
Apostasy usually begins with little compromises, drifting in our total commitment, and beginning to believe lies about people and God, undermining the Gospel. The Bible gives clear ways to remain guarded in Christ.
First, we hold fast to the person of Jesus and the Gospel. Hebrews 3:12-14 says, “Beware … lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” The writer gives the solution, “hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Disbelief differs from unbelief. Disbelief says God doesn’t exist. Unbelief admits God exists but won’t keep his promises. We resist unbelief by holding fast, clinging tightly to the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection, how he fulfilled his promises in the past and will today in the future.
Second, we abide in Christ through spiritual disciplines. Our drifting often coincides with dismissing spiritual disciplines like prayer, reading Scripture, praise, and fasting. These and other biblical disciplines declare the unseen is more real than what we see, helping to keep our faith and renew our mind to grow more in truth. Neglecting these disciplines (or doing them as obligation) means we will pay more attention to the things of this world than Christ.
Third, we test the spirits behind other teachings. The apostle John commands the church, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). False spirits influence false teaching; they go together. God gives us his Spirit not only to stand in truth but discern the evil spirits behind behavior and words. We must measure each message against the Bible, the Gospel, and the Spirit.
Fourth, we must not forsake gathering with the saints. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to stir one another to love and good works, meeting together “all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Isolation from the Body of Christ leads to unbelief. We draw away from God and others after an offense or unforgiveness. Remember to forgive and make peace quickly to guard against giving the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:7). Proper and right Christian community helps to build our faith and guard us against deception.
Apostasy means intentionally rejecting God, generally due to offenses and slippage over time. We must be intentional with disciplines, discernment, and spending time with our faith community to grow in faith, keeping us from falling away.
Peace.
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