What does it mean to backslide?

Answer

The term “backslide,” in a Christian context, signifies moving away from Christ rather than towards Him. A backslider is someone who is heading in the wrong spiritual direction. They are regressing instead of progressing. The backslider had previously shown a commitment to Christ or maintained a certain standard of behavior, but has since returned to old ways. Backsliding can manifest in various ways, such as withdrawing from church, losing enthusiasm for the Lord, abandoning a ministry or family, or reverting to old habits.

Some individuals interpret “backslide” as meaning a person has lost their salvation. However, since a saved individual is secure in Christ (John 10:28-29)—God will not cast out His children—we do not use the term in that manner. Rather, when referring to backsliding, we simply imply that someone is growing distant from Christ. A backslidden state could suggest the individual was never truly saved initially—revealing their true nature as a backslider. Yet, it is also plausible for God’s children to temporarily backslide.

The Bible employs the term “fall away” instead of “backslide,” although the concept is similar. In the Bible, “fall away” can have two meanings. In one scenario, the person is saved but going through a temporary phase of doubt, which could be termed a “crisis of faith.” In the other scenario, the individual was never saved but briefly behaved as if they were. This situation is akin to testing out Christianity.

The Crisis of Faith in Backsliding:

In Mark 14:27, Jesus informs His disciples, “You will all””Fall away.” What He meant was that when He was arrested, they would experience a crisis of faith, a life event so shocking that they would run from Jesus and question the very core of their beliefs. It was a night of offense, a night of stumbling for them. But this was a temporary condition. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples. Their faith and hope were restored, stronger than ever.

The apostle Paul tells us how to handle a fellow believer who is backsliding: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” «Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. », (Galatians 6:1). James concurs: “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth . . . someone should bring that person back” «Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; », (James 5:19). The backslider has wandered from where he should be and is “stuck” in sin, but the church will work to restore him and set him back on the path of righteousness.

There are events in life, such as the death of a loved one, that may cause us to question God. This is okay, as long as we go to God with those questions rather than using them as excuses to live in rebellion. The result of a crisis of faith is often that we come to know God more intimately than before. In times of trial, we should delve into the Word, pray with persistence «And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; », (Luke 18:1), and surround ourselves with those whose faith.is strong.

The Backslide Test Drive:

We observe a different form of “falling away” in Hebrews 6:4–6 and Luke 8:13. Hebrews 6 portrays the apostate, an individual who had merely “tasted the goodness of the word” (verse 5) and subsequently rejects it. In Luke 8:13, Jesus uses the analogy of apostasy with the rocky soil—some individuals fall away or backslide because “they have no root.” In both of these instances, a person outwardly appears to be a Christian, at least temporarily, but has not fully dedicated themselves to God. This individual may attend church, read the Bible, listen to Christian music, and socialize with Christian companions. They enjoy the positive environment and companionship that being around Christians provides. However, their heart remains unchanged; they have never experienced spiritual rebirth. Eventually, they backslide or apostatize. They had experimented with Christianity but decided it was not for them.

Salvation is attained through a sincere confession of Jesus as Lord by a heart that believes in Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). If an individual who has genuinely been saved later backslides—that is, they regress into spiritually harmful attitudes and behaviors—this decline will be temporary. The discipline of the Lord will guide them back (see Hebrews 12:4-13). The Good Shepherd will search for the wandering lamb (Luke 15:3-7).

If an individual who was never saved but only pretending backslides—that is, they abandon the facade and reveal their true nature—their final state will be worse than the initial one (Hebrews 10:26-31). How can we distinguish between these forms of backsliding? Often, we cannot, unless given time, and even then, we do not know how long God will take to restore them.

The person who turns back to sin is a backslider. Only God can see the heart.