What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?

Answer

Apostasy, derived from the Greek word apostasia, refers to “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.” In ancient times, apostasy denoted political revolt or defection. Similarly, spiritual apostasy poses a threat to the Body of Christ in contemporary times.

The Bible cautions against individuals like Arius (c. AD 250–336), a Christian priest hailing from Alexandria, Egypt, who received his education in Antioch during the early fourth century. Around AD 318, Arius accused Bishop Alexander of Alexandria of adhering to Sabellianism, a false doctrine positing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were merely roles or modes assumed by God at different times. While Arius aimed to underscore the unity of God, his teachings on God’s nature went too far. Arius rejected the concept of the Trinity and introduced what seemed to be a minor distinction between the Father and Son.

Arius contended that Jesus was not homoousios (“of the same essence”) as the Father but rather homoiousios (“of similar essence”). The two were separated by just one Greek letter—the iota (ι). Arius articulated his stance as follows: “The Father preceded the Son. There was a time when the Son did not exist. Hence, the Father created the Son. Consequently, although the Son was the most exalted of all creatures, he was not of the essence of God.”

Arius employed cunning tactics to garner support, even composing songs that propagated his theology, which he endeavored to impart to all who would listen. His charismatic demeanor, ascetic lifestyle, and esteemed position as a preacher furthered his cause.

Respecting Apostasy, it is crucial that all Christians comprehend two significant aspects: (1) how to identify apostasy and apostate teachers, and (2) why apostate teaching is so destructive.

The Varieties of Apostasy

To effectively recognize and confront apostasy, Christians should grasp its different forms and the characteristics that define its doctrines and teachers. Concerning the varieties of apostasy, there are two primary types: (1) a deviation from essential and true doctrines of the Bible towards heretical teachings claiming to represent the genuine Christian doctrine, and (2) a total rejection of the Christian faith, leading to a complete abandonment of Christ.

Arius exemplifies the initial form of apostasy—a rejection of fundamental Christian truths (such as the divinity of Christ) that initiates a downward spiral towards a complete departure from the faith, which constitutes the second form of apostasy. The second form typically originates from the first. A heretical belief evolves into heretical teaching that fragments and expands until it corrupts all aspects of an individual’s faith, ultimately achieving Satan’s ultimate goal of a complete defection from Christianity.

A study conducted in 2010 by Daniel Dennett and Linda LaScola titled “Preachers Who Are Not Believers” documents five different preachers who, over time, embraced heretical teachings about Christianity and have now entirely abandoned the faith. These pastors either identify as pantheists or covert atheists. One of the most alarming revelations from the study is that these preachers continue to serve as pastors of Christian congregations, with their followers unaware of their leader’s genuine spiritual condition.

The Characteristics of Apostasy and Apostates

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and a prominent figure in the early church, provides guidance on how to identify apostasy in his New Testament letter. He strongly encourages members of the body of Christ to vigorously defend the faith «Beloved, when I gaveAll 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.” (Jude 1:3). The Greek word translated “contend earnestly” is a compound verb from which we get the word agonize. It is in the present infinitive form, which means that the struggle will be continuous. In other words, Jude says that there will be a constant fight against false teaching and that Christians should take it so seriously that we “agonize” over the fight in which we are engaged. Moreover, Jude makes it clear that every Christian is called to this fight, not just church leaders, so it is critical that all believers sharpen their discernment skills so that they can recognize and prevent apostasy in their midst.

After urging his readers to contend earnestly for the faith, Jude highlights the reason: “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4). In this one verse, Jude provides Christians with three traits of apostasy and apostate teachers:

First, Jude says that apostasy can be subtle. Apostates have “crept” into the church. In extra-biblical Greek, the term Jude uses describes the cunning craftiness of a lawyer who, through clever argumentation, infiltrates the minds of courtroom officials and corrupts their thinking. The word literally means “slip in sideways; come in stealthily; sneak in.” In other words, Jude saysIt is rare that apostasy begins in an overt and easily detectable manner. Instead, it resembles Arius’s doctrine—only a single letter, the iota, differentiates the false teaching from the true.

Describing this aspect of apostasy and its underlying danger, A. W. Tozer wrote, “Error is so skilled at imitating truth that the two are constantly mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to discern which brother is Cain and which is Abel.” The apostle Paul also speaks to the outwardly pleasing behavior of apostates and their teaching: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). In other words, do not expect apostates to appear bad on the outside or speak dramatic words of heresy at the beginning of their teaching. Instead of outright denying truth, apostates will distort it to suit their own agenda, but as Pastor R. C. Lensky has noted, “The worst forms of wickedness consist of perversions of the truth.”

Secondly, Jude describes apostates as “ungodly” and as those who use God’s grace as a license to commit unrighteous acts. Starting with “ungodly,” Jude lists eighteen unflattering traits of apostates: they are ungodly, morally perverted, deny Christ, defile the flesh, rebellious, revile angels, ignorant about God, proclaim false visions, self-destructive, grumblers, faultfinders, self… (Jude 1:4).-satisfying (verse 16), individuals who use haughty language and insincere praise (verse 16), scoffers of God (verse 18), those who create discord (verse 19), focused on worldly matters (verse 19), and ultimately (and unsurprisingly), lacking the Spirit/unconverted (verse 19).

Third, Jude mentions that apostates “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” How do apostates accomplish this? Paul explains in his letter to Titus, “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are corrupted and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him, being abhorrent, disobedient, and unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:15-16). Through their unrighteous conduct, apostates reveal their true nature. In contrast to an apostate, a genuine believer is someone who has been rescued from sin to live righteously in Christ and who refuses to persist in sin (Romans 6:1-2).

Ultimately, the indication of an apostate is that they eventually drift away and deviate from the truth of God’s Word and His righteousness. The apostle John indicates that this is a characteristic of a false believer: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” «They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. », (1 John 2:19).

Ideas Have Consequences

Every New Testament book except Philemon includes cautions about false teaching. Why is this? Simply because ideas have consequences. Correct thinking and its outcomes yield goodness, while erroneous thinking and its resulting actionsResult in undesired penalties. For instance, the Cambodian killing fields in the 1970s were the outcome of the nihilistic worldview of Jean-Paul Sartre and his teachings. The Khmer Rouge’s leader, Pol Pot, embodied Sartre’s philosophy towards the people in a distinct and alarming manner, as expressed in this statement: “To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss.”

Satan did not approach the first couple in the Garden with external armament or visible weapons; instead, he presented them with an idea. It was this idea, embraced by Adam and Eve, that led to their condemnation and that of all humankind, with the only solution being the sacrificial death of God’s Son.

The significant tragedy is that, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the apostate teacher condemns their unsuspecting followers. Addressing His disciples about the religious leaders of His time, Jesus remarked, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, emphasis added). Alarmingly, it is not only false teachers who face destruction, but their disciples also follow them into it. Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard expressed this concept as follows: “For it has never yet been known to fail that one fool, when he goes astray, takes several others with him.”

Conclusion

In AD 325, the Council of Nicaea assembled primarily to address the teachings of Arius. Much to Arius’s dismay, the outcome was his excommunication and the inclusion in the Nicene Creed of a declaration affirming Christ’s divinity: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one s

Substance with the Father.”

Arius may have died centuries ago, but his spiritual descendants are still present today in the form of cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who reject Christ’s true essence and person. Unfortunately, until Christ returns and every last spiritual enemy has been removed, weeds such as these will be found among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). In fact, Scripture indicates that apostasy will only worsen as Christ’s return nears. “At that time [the latter days] many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another” «And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. », (Matthew 24:10). Paul informed the Thessalonians that a significant falling away would happen before Christ’s second coming «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; », (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and that the end times would be marked by tribulation and deceitful religious impostors: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5).

It is crucial, now more than ever, that every believer prays for discernment, opposes apostasy, and earnestly defends the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.