The Apostasy Bandwagon

At long last, now that much of what passes for Christianity has become so patently absurd that hardly anyone can fail to see it, we are beginning to hear an uproar of protest arising from every corner of Christendom. Everyone is vying for position and trying to outdo one another in their denunciations of whatever they think the problem is and whoever they think the culprits are. Unfortunately, and as it is with most bandwagons, this whole "denounce the bad-guys" routine is quickly becoming just the latest fad and hobby for those who think that they shall be ultimately saved by defending their creeds. Of course they would deny this, but they nonetheless will continue to campaign against the heretics and apostates, as if by doing so proves that the Apostasy has nothing to do with them.

In one corner, we have the Brownsville, Toronto Blessing, and laughing revival denouncers. Yep! That's the Apostasy all right! They are right to denounce these things of course, but a little historical research will reveal that movements of this sort are nothing new. The only thing that makes the new wave of "heresy leading to apostasy" so much more virile is that mass communication brings it into every living room that has a television. And now, mass transit has made it feasible for anyone who wants to know what it's like to be pinned to the floor by the demon they call the Holy Spirit, to fly, drive or take a bus to the nearest Hoopla Center, and get their buzz.

In another corner, we have those who like to denounce the Religious Big-Shots, and they never run out of new scandals to report and describe. But of course, these big-shots can be counted on to provide us with a steady supply of things to be offended at; and even when they don't, it is always possible to extrapolate a molehill into a mountain. Just this past week a Methodist Pastor performed a marriage for a couple of lesbians, as if you haven't already heard about this, and as if you aren't going to continue hearing about it from the ever-growing crowd of "defenders of the Faith." Don't get me wrong: I am glad that there are people out there who are hollering about all of these debacles, but there is a distinction to be made between expose' campaigns and what it means to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints.

Some of the most experienced apostasy denouncers are the ones who have been harping on the invasion of Christendom by the New-Agers, and their brothers-in-arms, who have been sounding an alarm over the ever increasing incursion of Roman Catholic theology into the inner sanctum of Evangelical, Protestant Christianity.

All of these defenders of the Faith, and all of you who are so ready to hop onto one of their bandwagons, are operating under some seriously false presumptions. The first false presumption is your concern that many truly saved and sincere believers are being captivated by these apostates and heretics, and that "these poor souls" need you to rescue them. The second false presumption is that this Apostasy in Christendom is being foisted upon us by our leaders. A third false presumption is that something can be done about it. The fourth and most serious false presumption is that the Apostasy has nothing to do with YOU, or YOUR church.

(Jer. 5:30-31) A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

This contradicts false presumption number two. All of our sooth-sayers and apostate clergymen have risen to their positions by democratic consensus. They are, like it or not, faithful representatives of their constituencies: they embody the hopes, fears, and ideals of those who pay their salaries. This notion, that the chief administrators, and the highly paid and popular Televangelists are anomalies among the throngs of the faithful, is a denial of logic, reality, and the testimony of Scripture. These men, who are representing Christianity to the world are there because the majority put them there, and is paying them to stay there.

The false presumption that something can be done about the trends that we see growing around us, or that the "millions " of "faithful Christians" can be rescued from the clutches of these wicked and corrupt ministers of Satan, denies the abundance of prophetic Scripture, to which we have been admonished to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. Nowhere in the New Testament have we been led to believe that this trend will ever be reversed, nor does the Bible suggest, as so many like to say, that most people are eagerly searching for the Truth. Faithful Christians, that is to say, the elect, have NOT been deceived by the lies of Apostate Christendom. And by now, you are not likely to find this remnant within the walls of your local synagogue.

This brings me to the fourth and most perilous of your false presumptions: that the Apostasy has nothing to do with YOU or YOUR church. We are warned against comparing ourselves with others, and we are offered no safety for being less apostate than THEM. Contending for the Faith once delivered unto the saints is much more than just a campaign against flaming heretics and miscreants who call themselves Christians. Some of history's greatest atheists have done that, but what did it gain them? Just because they were atheists does not mean that they weren't right in a great many of their criticisms of popular christianity, but I doubt that you would disagree with me when I say that their truth was insufficient to save them. I would say that they were lost and eternally doomed if they died without faith in Jesus Christ, wouldn't you? Now, it is precisely here, that we run smack into the rub that begs the question: What is the fate of a "christian" that dies without faith in Jesus Christ?

You protest, "That's an oxymoron, there's no such thing as a Christian without faith in Christ Jesus." Well, that depends on what you want to call faith. What do you think of that brand of faith, so popular today, that calls Jesus, Lord, but which never includes the first intention to obey whatsoever He has commanded us? Now please bear with me because I'm getting ready to tell you what the Apostasy has to do with YOU AND ME, and not just with the "christian " disguised lunatic that thinks that hissing like a snake or howling at the moon is Spiritual.

The Jesus who said: Woe unto you that laugh now! Also said:
(Luke 6:30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Now, either you wince at the reading of this command but realize your obligation to obey it in simplicity, or you are one who immediately begins arguing for exceptions until there is nothing left to obey. Contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints is a real and personal struggle for the simplicity which is in Christ. That means bringing yourself under subjection to the One you call Lord, by receiving His commands as the rule of your life.

Jesus said,
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, and, Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

Are you are one of us who resigned from our first hope and let slip our first confidence because we could not believe that our Lord would really meet our needs if we spent our time and energy seeking the kingdom of God? Or are you one of those oxymorons that never ever intended to let something like the kingdom of God interfere with your worldly wisdom about what it takes to "get by" in this world? If you are in the first group, contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints, means making some hard decisions, repenting, and planning your escape from this wicked and perverse generation. It means believing that Jesus told you what to do, expecting to be obeyed. He has warned us how He will regard those that say "Lord, Lord", but will not do as He says.

Jesus also said:
(John 15:7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Do you believe this? Do you believe that fulfilling the conditions of this promise means that you can ask what you will and it shall be done unto you, even while a lack of actual fulfillment of this promise calls YOUR faith into question? Or do you have your list of excuses why we should not expect a literal fulfillment of promises like this? Most people will not look for conspicuous answers to their prayers because failure repudiates their Faith, and they know it. But, this Bible that we all have describes a life in Christ Jesus full of virtue, glory, privilege, and victory. Most who like to call themselves Christians have never really believed these words, and they consider these words of Christ as no more than the proverbial carrot on the stick; thereby disbelieving Jesus, and also accusing Him of exaggeration. Do you still want to argue that there is no such thing as a christian who does not believe Jesus Christ? Will you continue to deny that the Apostasy has anything to do with YOU?

It would be easy to go on to prove to you that MOST of the teachings and commands of our Lord Jesus Christ are routinely being ignored, contradicted and explained away in Christendom today, and even by those who consider themselves "faithful" Christians. The reality and substance of your personal religion is what you need to contend for, striving for the Truth: the faith once delivered unto the saints.

(Jer 6:16-19) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

{17} Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

{18} Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

{19} Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

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