What Causes Apostasy?
David S. Hill

Apostasy is defined by the New American Webster Dictionary as "total desertion of one's professed principles, faith, or party." So the question is: what causes apostasy? Specifically, what causes an individual to desert his faith or more specifically "the Faith"?

In life how does one desert a marriage after years of sharing the joy, troubles, the blessings of children and especially the security and love of a family? How does this happen? Or, how does a Christian who has obeyed the gospel of Christ and enjoyed the purity and simplicity of New Testament worship leave such purity for manmade worship and its vain practices which "perish with the using" (Col. 2:22)? Moreover, how does a gospel preacher, who trains for years to preach the Word of God, sacrificing time and money to be the best preacher he can be, then desert the Lord and His precious gospel? How does an elder who has prayed with the sick, suffering and dying, and who has enjoyed the great blessing of leading a soul to Christ with the thrill of baptizing an individual into Christ to wash his sins away (Acts 22:16), then leave the Lord and all that He has given along with all that He has promised? How can such desertions happen? That is what is under consideration.

Well, king David in the long ago recorded the progression of sin in Psalm 1:1 when he wrote, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Notice (1) man shouldn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, (2) man should not find himself stopped and standing in the pathway of sinners, because the result of listening to bad counsel and seeking company with sinners is (3) sitting in the seat of the scornful. So, falling away or apostasy is a slow step-by-step process.

The Bible is replete with those who left God. Paul said that the Old Testament is for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Israel fell away from God and murmured just a few days after God had worked the great wonders of deliverance from Egyptian bondage. By Numbers chapter 13 they had drifted so far away that they were viewing themselves as "grasshoppers" and cried all night long wanting to return to Egypt (Num. 14:1). They had to wander in the wilderness paying a year for every day that the spies were in the land of Canaan which equaled 40 years. The people were stiffnecked (obstinate, stubborn) having their heads set on their own way and not regarding the counsel or the will of God (Ex. 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9; Deut. 9:6, 13; 10:16; II Chron. 30:8). So, we may learn from the Scripture that refusing to submit our will (Matt. 5:3) to the will of God will cause apostasy.

In I Samuel 8 the children of Israel refused to allow God to be their king (I Sam. 12:12), but wanted a king "that we may be like all the nations" (I Sam. 8:20). Such an idea progressed over a period of 700 years until the people said "we will be like the heathen" (Eze. 20:32). The idea of being like the nations around us has permeated the thinking of many in the Lord's church today. When Israel followed through with the thinking of being like the world, no standard of right and wrong was in use and they did what was right in their own sight (Judg. 21:25). A study of the prophets reveals that idol worship was common and sexual immorality was common. Murder, drunkenness and lying all were a part of the society when Israel fell and later when Judah fell. Why? Because they had become exactly like the nations about them and no longer honored God. So, apostasy comes when individuals seek to please man rather than God, and when individuals pattern their lives after mankind rather than patterning their lives after instructions of God (Heb. 8:5-10).

The people of God were "destroyed for a lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:6) in the long ago, and the same is true in the Christian age (II Tim. 2:15). Staying approved by God is a daily process (Acts 17:11), and everyone must stay alert to his/her own standing with almighty God (I Cor. 9:27). If all Christians would dedicate themselves to remaining in the love of God (Jude 21), then apostasy would not be as prevalent as it is today. The challenge is ever before us.

Remember
Malcolm L. Hill

"Too, there is something merciless in our ability to forget the heroes of the past, and their battles for the truth. This is what Sir Thomas Browne calls, 'the iniquity of oblivion.' The author feels some satisfaction in lifting some of the outstanding pioneers from an engulfing darkness. Most historians have brushed aside men like David Lipscomb, Moses E. Lard, Ben Franklin, and Jacob Creath, as inconsiderate legalists who lacked true spiritual attainments. On the contrary they were men who deeply loved the truth, and accepted the chastisement of others rather than renounce their convictions." (The Search For The Ancient Order, Vol. 2, p. xii of the introduction.)

These words should speak loudly to all lovers of the truth. The same thing that happened to David Lipscomb, Moses E. Lard, Ben Franklin and Jacob Creath is taking place today right before our eyes. So often members of the Lord's church fail to see what is taking place. We have men today that love the truth just as much as one can and yet they are castigated for standing up and speaking out.

Editorial
Malcolm L. Hill

The church is divided into so many factions at the present that it is hard to mention them all. There are the left-field liberals that want to fellowship anyone and everyone but they still want to be known as the church of Christ. There are the right-field conservatives, too conservative, and they bind on the Lord's people things that God has not bound. There are "the middle of the roaders" that want to fellowship the liberals and those who are still following the truth but they want to be known as the solid brethren and the non-extreme brethren. They can preach a good sermon to both sides and most of the time do so in a sermon or lecture. These people are killing the church of Christ. To my opinion, they are the worst enemies we have before us today. They are indeed the Lord's enemies (Matt. 12:30; Rev. 3:14-17).

The middle-of-the-road people think of themselves as balanced. While they claim to be balanced they are really extremists. Is it not extremism gone to seed when people can fellowship the left wing and the right wing at the same time? To thinking people, it is more than extreme and I will leave it up to thinking people to figure out what I mean, and I do not think they will have any problem figuring this out.

It is very aggravating, to say the least, to see brethren write strong material and then turn right around and transgress what they have written. One brother writes about hundreds of strong and faithful brethren taking a stand in an open way against one of the rank liberals in the church of Christ and he calls such "stupid." But this same brother writes an entire review of this same liberal brother for the whole world to read, if they so wish, but, of course, it is not "stupid" for him to do so. Be assured I am not calling him stupid, but only using the word that he used to emphasize his inconsistency. By the way, this brother that called these faithful and loyal brothers in Tennessee "stupid," believes that women should wear a doily on their heads when they pray and worship God. Is this extremism? Where are the brethren and churches that agree with him on this issue? Do you believe this doctrine dear brother? But someone says, "He does not bind this on others." Well, go to the church where this brother has preached for years and see if the women wear little doilies on their heads when they pray and worship God. For a brother to call hundreds of faithful Christians "stupid" for standing for the truth of the Bible is a very serious thing. It gets very close to what Jesus condemned in Matthew 5:22. It may very well be, in principle, what Jesus condemned.

Years ago Carl Ketcherside and LeRoy Garrett were removed from the campus of Freed-Hardeman University by law enforcement agencies. At the time this happened, they were "anti" everything. But through the years they became the most liberal brethren to be found anywhere. Brethren in those days would have nothing to do with them by and large. They knew them to be extremists in all directions except the right direction. Today their kind is welcomed on just about every campus of our so-called Christian colleges and universities. Their kind is fellowshipped by a large segment of our brotherhood. What has happened brethren? Were we wrong in those years or were we right? Has the Bible changed or have some in our brotherhood changed? LeRoy Garrett's kind is fellowshipped across our brotherhood, and that by some who claim to be faithful, loyal, and true. When faithful brethren open up on those who fellowship these Bible rejectors, some who claim to be faithful to Christ cry aloud and call them extremists. It so happens that I happen to be one of those who believe faithful brethren should not have fellowship with those who would wreck the church of our blessed Lord. Men can call us what they want to, but we will never turn loose of the truth of the Bible. Time will prove who is right and who is wrong. If God be for us, who can be against us? God still lives and all is well!

How Apostasy Comes
Glenn B. Ramsey

Apostasy, "the renunciation of a religious faith, defection" (Webster), has always been the goal of Satan. He has diligently sought to cause God's people to fall snce his first success in the Garden of Eden. Although some seem indifferent to this danger, that does not lessen the threat to the church of Christ today. If you listen to some "preachers" in the church of Christ today you would believe that there is nothing wrong—except that "extremists" are alarming people with unfounded claims that all is not well! When consideration is made of the congregations where these men preach, it is easy to see why they refuse to believe that something is wrong. In many congregations the public condemnation of sin is seldom, if ever, heard. When have these preachers preached the Word on such subjects as: divorce and remarriage, the work of the Holy Spirit, the sins of adultery and fornication, the sin of social drinking, immodest dress, the sin of belonging to a fraternity like the Masonic Lodge, etc.? When people are fed a diet of "watered down milk," instead of a proper milk plus meat diet, you expect the spiritual anemia that is apparent in many places.

Yet God's Word warns us of the dangers of apostasy. The Word tells us the causes of apostasy. The Word tells us the cure for apostasy.

Apostasy comes when the watchmen sleep! All who are faithful to God are made "watchmen" unto spiritual Israel, the church (Eze. 3:7). The watchman is charged with the obligation of warning the people of danger (Eze. 33:6). God, through the apostle Paul, charges preachers of the gospel to "watch thou in all things" (II Tim. 4:5). All Christians (including preachers, elders, and teachers) are to: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong" (I Cor. 16:13). Rather than sleeping, as do others, we are commanded to seriously watch for the welfare of the church (I Thess. 5:6).

Elders, especially, are charged wtih watching for the souls of Christians (Heb. 13:17). Instead of watching and warning the flock (the church) about the wolves in sheep's clothing (false teachers, see Matthew 7:15; 10:16), many elders are inviting the wolves into their congregations so that they can devour the flock. Other elders fellowship these hireling leaders by encouraging their own congregations to attend meetings, lectures, and seminars where false teachers spew their venom. These men fit the description our Lord gave of "blind leaders of the blind" (Matt. 15:14). There is no hope for those who blindly follow blind guides. There is no hope for the blind guides unless they use the eye salve of repentance and start seeing and "guiding" clearly again! Although such are "unkind" and "unloving" things to say (according to the sophisticated preachers of today), our Lord called these "blind guides" and "fools and blind" (see Matthew chapter 23).

This apostasy occurs so gradually that many are totally oblivious to its incremental stranglehold on their spiritual lives. They awaken only when it is too late to help many! The cure for apostasy is to "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:3). The lure of apostasy is the same today as it was in the days of Peter. He wrote: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error" (II Pet. 2:18). These who "walk after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 16), are quite popular with the devil and his crowd today. But what does the Lord think of such? We have been warned that such apostasy will come from within and from without (Acts 20:26-31). The sordid picture of those "without" in Revelation 22:15 would also describe the "apostates within" the church today!

Apostasy comes because men leave the Word of God and its holy directions. Apostasy infects small congregations and large congregations. Just because a congregation is small in number does not mean it is faithful to God! Just because a congregation is large in number does not mean it is liberal and apostate! Any church, great in number, or small in number, that does not follow the Word is in the throes of apostasy! Let us get back to the Bible. The devil hates that idea. Jesus defeated him with the Word (Matt. 4). So can God's people today!

Alan Highers vs. Spiritual Sword
Holger W. Neubauer

Good King Asa of Judah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (I Kings 15:11-14). However, as King Asa grew old he contracted a league with Syria and was corrected by Hanani the Seer (II Chron. 16:7). Asa grew angry with Hanani and had the prophet arrested. Asa also oppressed some of the people of the kingdom at the same time. Even in suffering a terrible disease in his feet Asa did not seek the help of the Lord but trusted earthly physicians. Though Asa's life was generally characterized by goodness his latter years were lived in arrogance and pride. Well does Ecclesiastes 4:13 apply to Asa's last years: "Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished."

Brother Alan Highers, editor of the Spiritual Sword, whose life has been productive of much good, has now lashed out for the second time against me in the pages of the Spiritual Sword. Just as Asa would no longer be admonished, so brother Highers wields his dictatorial pen against those who would dare to question any league he makes with any writer or with any institution. Though he labels me as a negative right-wing extremist, it is brother Higher's own inconcsistency that is negative and extreme.

In my recent article "Where is Freed-Hardeman Heading?" published in the November/December 1997 edition of the Living Oracles, I discussed Freed-Hardeman's use of false teachers and those guilty of fellowshipping evil. Though brother Highers labels my writings as right-wing extremism, upon closer examination my stand is in agreement with the Spiritual Sword publication itself. We can only conclude then that to follow the teachings of the Spiritual Sword is to be guilty of right-wing extremism or that brother Highers has now moved away from his own teachings. Notice every item I mentioned in the Living Oracles and the Spiritual Sword position which supports my conclusions.

I have demonstrated that everything I wrote against in the Freed-Hardeman article was also written against in the Spiritual Sword. Many of the quotations have come from brother Highers' own pen. Then why does he label me an extremist? Perhaps brother Highers no longer agrees with the Spiritual Sword, at least before it became a "kinder and gentler" Spiritual Sword as brother Highers announced in the 1990 January issue. Or perhaps brother Highers now disagrees with brother Highers. Perhaps he does not want anyone criticizing Freed-Hardeman by name. Perhaps brother Highers is so enamored with Freed-Hardeman University he is overly sensitive to any criticism against Freed-Hardeman. Perhaps conducting the "Open Forum" for many years at Freed-Hardeman has helped to blind brother Highers to what was taking place right under his nose. Brother Highers should take his own advice when he wrote about why problems arise in his article "Christian School - Positives and Negatives": "There is a reluctance to criticize the schools. One may criticize the church, preachers, elders, and journals, but there is a genuine apprehension about speaking a word of criticism toward the schools. Perhaps there is a fear of being ostracized by the school, or of being banished from its lecture programs. We may fear offending graduates of a particular school who feel loyalty because it is 'my alma mater.' But, criticism is a safety valve. It is a means of identifying problems and avoiding bigger problems. Sincere, meaningful criticism should never be suppressed, and the schools should not assume a defensive posture that precludes their willingness to examine any legitimate complaint or question."

I contend that my concerns are legitimate. Brother Highers suppresses my criticism and yet he says in the above article that criticism "should never be suppressed."

Brother Highers labeled me as a radical extremist and yet I am simply in agreement with what has been written within the pages of the Spiritual Sword. Consequently, anyone who consistently follows the writings of the Spiritual Sword would most certainly become a radical extremist. The legs of the lame are certainly not equal.

I am willing to discuss these matters with brother Highers anytime he has the desire to do so. Until then, let him restudy his own writings and leave brethren alone who have already learned what he has taught. One such comment is found in the 1990 April issue of the Spiritual Sword where brother Highers said, "To manifest greater kindness does mean.... that we do not attribute base and ulterior motives to those with whom we disagree in the absence of evidence to support our conclusions. Let us work together where we can, disagree when we must, but be conscious always that we are brethren." Amen, brother Highers. Amen.

How to Stop Apostasy
Ronald D. Gilbert

One cannot stop apostasy unless he can identify apostasy. It is sad but many Christians have not grown as they should (Heb. 5:12-14). The Lord's church today is in great need of more men like Timothy (II Tim. 3:15). I recall several years ago visiting a church that helped support me in another work. In an elders' meeting two of the four elders tried to defend the use of instrumental music in worship as a matter of opinion. It is a regular occurrence to read in church bulletins the announcing and encouraging of members to attend such functions as Jubilee, Tulsa Workshop, Winterfest, Mid-American Evangelism Workshop, and other similar events. The main thrust of these functions seems to be to lead the church into apostasy. Paul warned that men would depart from the faith (I Tim. 4:1-3; Acts 20:28-31).

In the field of medicine, dotors look for symptoms that will help them find the real problem. The same is true in the spiritual realm. There are several signs that may indicate that one is on the road to apostasy. One of the first steps seems to be a lack of respect for the Bible. Many of our preachers have gone to denominational schools where the Bible is ridiculed and rejected as the inspired word of God. As a result of their training they seek to make truth subjective and not absolute (Jn. 8:32; 17:17). Next, there seems to be a desire for them to change and restructure the church. They seem to be dissatisfied with the church, the plan of salvation, worship, and just about everything else they read about in the Bible. Those headed for apostasy seek to extend fellowship beyond the scope that God enabled it to be extended. They pervert passages and teach that there are saved folks in all the church. They try to convince people that as long as one believes Jesus is the Christ, the only Saviour of the world, then he is my brother.

We see the reality of apostasy on every hand. What can be done? Paul charged young Timothy to "Preach the word" (II Tim. 4:1-5). There is a tremendous need today for preachers to "declare all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Many preachers today seem to be afraid to deal with the issues. If apostasy is to be stopped it will not be done by the cowards who refuse to preach anything negative or controversial. It is a sad commentary today on some so-called gospel preachers. They refuse to warn the brethren of apostasy and sin in so doing (Eze. 3:18-19; Acts 20:26-27). Not only do they refuse to warn the brethren, they stand against and fight with those who do warn the brethren. Let me give you an example of what I mean. Within the past year or so, the Jefferson Avenue church of Christ here in Cookeville invited F. LaGard Smith to come for a meeting. Faithful brethren in the Cookeville area took out a full-page ad in the local paper warning people of Smith's apostasy. Some who did not warn of Smith's false doctrine openly or privately criticized those who tried to warn concerning Smith's error. As far away as California, one preacher who was writing a review of Smith's material wrote: "Chapter 11 is titled 'False Teachers or False teaching?' It begins with an account of a weekend that LaGard had scheduled in Tennessee. He tells of brethren in that area who purchased a full-page ad in a local newspaper charging him with advocating several errors, two of which involved his views on baptism, articulated in the book Baptism: The Believer's Wedding Ceremony, and his position on hell."

Brother Smith is certainly correct when he characterized this episode as 'bizarre.' Frankly, there was no excuse for the sort of stupid conduct initiated by certain brethren in that region (the Cookeville area)." If publicly warning brethren of apostasy is wrong, then what was this brother in California seeking to do in his review of Smith's work?

The Bible is very clear on how to deal with false teachers and those seeking to lead the church into apostasy. Consider these passages:

1. Mark and avoid them (Rom. 16:17).
2. Have no fellowship; reprove them (Eph. 5:11).
3. Do not bid them God speed (II John 9-11).
4. Paul delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:20).

I believe it is safe to say that people usually get what they want to hear. God's people in the long ago were rebellious; they did not want to hear the truth. This fact can be seen in the writings of Jeremiah: "The prophets prohesy faslely, 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?" (Jer. 5:31). Some seem to be like the people of Hosea's day: "And my people are bent to backsliding from me..." (Hos. 11:7). Apostasy can be stopped! However, brethren must want it stopped.

Apostasy: Lessons from Paul's Warning
Kerry Duke

Christians live in a world that is filled with sin. They must fight it and try to change the world, and this duty is the particular obligation of preachers. In his last epistle, the elder Paul encouraged Timothy to brace himself against the impending storm of apostasy. His warning in II Timothy 3:1-4, 8 is packed with valuable lessons concerning the nature of apostasy—lessons for us as well as for Timothy.

Apostasy in character accompanies apostasy in doctrine (3:1-6). There is a mutually corrupting influence between the two. Carnal living demands that the doctrine be softened, and weakened doctrine allows worldly living. The followers in an apostate movement want more freedom and more fun. They are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (v. 4)! The leaders of apostasy are often "lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud," (v. 2). Yet these leaders have "a form of godliness" (v. 5) and thus deceive many! How well these verses describe the church in many places today!

Apostates are learned but ignorant (v. 7). This trait is especially found in apostate preachers. They are often highly trained in pseudo-spiritual disciplines such as psychology, sociology, philosophy, and denominational theology, and they do not hesitate to show their knowledge and confidence in these fields. However, they have little genuine understanding of God's will. Their teaching is shallow and entertaining, with little Bible exposition and application. Of course, they claim that their teaching is more spiritually insightful!

Apostates will be exposed; sincere truth seekers will be vindicated (vv. 8-12). Jannes and Jambres were apparently magicians of Pharaoh who tried to duplicate the miracles of Moses. But their tricks were eventually exposed. Apostates and hypocrites come out of sheep's clothing eventually. Time has its own way of showing the character of men. At the same time, sincere Christians, though persecuted and mocked, will be victorious. And honest outsiders will be able to see the difference.

Apostates will grow worse and worse (v. 13). The course of digression is away from truth, not toward it. The apostasy in the church today is proof of his this truth. From the seeds of liberalism planted just a few decades ago has sprung an apostasy beyond the expectations of even the most seemingly radical alarmists of the last generation. Unless circumstances change, it will only get worse.

In spite of apostasy, we can be faithful (3:13-4:2). The key word in this section is the first word of verse thirteen: "But..." Perilous times will come and apostates will grow worse and worse, but you, Timothy, must continue in the Word which you have been taught. That Word will make you wise unto salvation (v. 15). It will furnish you unto all good works (vv. 16-17). So, Paul charges Timothy, preach the Word (4:2). And notice Paul's exhortation hold on to the Scriptures you learned as a child (3:14-15)! Instead of looking for something new, instead of demanding change, just believe the same truths you were taught as a child—even if people accuse you of being a traditionalist!

Many will not endure sound doctrine (4:3-4). Apostates do not like what is to be preached (the Word; the Truth), and they do not like how Paul said to preach ("reprove, rebuke, exhort"). As apostasy grows more widespread, the demand for watered-down sermons increases. Large congregations pay nice salaries for "good words and fair speeches" (Rom. 16:18). Meanwhile, people remain in sin and feel good about their condition.

If we endure, a reward awaits us (4:5-8). God's people have always struggled with periods of apostasy, many of which were large in number and extremely perverted in doctrine. They have always been like fish swimming upstream against a strong and seemingly incessant current. But fighting against the current makes one strong and leads one to appreciate the reward even more. Paul endured hard battles with apostasy in the first century, but now he is at peace. Likewise, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9). We are facing a serious crisis in the church today, but let us take courage from Paul's words, from his example, and from the promise of a crown of righteousness which will be given "unto all them also that love his appearing" (II Tim. 4:8).