Radio Transcript

Anatomy of Apostasy

Broadcast Date – March 10, 2002 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

The American Heritage Dictionary defines apostasy as "Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause." To fall into apostasy in matters of religion is to leave the path that leads to God’s blessings and instead go down the path that leads to destruction.

The problem of apostasy is not new. Consider the following words from Jeremiah 8:5-12: "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."

Jeremiah had repeatedly pleaded with the people to repent and turn from the error. But notice how Jeremiah described these people. A people who engaged in perpetual backsliding. A people who held fast to their backsliding and refused to return.

When we understand some of the reasons for apostasy in Jeremiah’s day, we are better able to understand the reasons for apostasy in our own day. First, people often abandon their faith because of a failure to consider the consequences of their actions. Notice the following from verse six, "every one turned to his course, as a horse rusheth into battle." Friends, it’s sad but true that men often exercise better judgment in secular matters than they do in the area of religion. For example, if a person is traveling on a journey and finds that he is on the wrong highway, he changes his course. When he knows the road he is on will not take him where he wants to go, he changes roads! Unfortunately, many people are on the road to spiritual ruin. And yet they are speeding down that troublesome road, giving little or no thought to where it will take them.

Friends, we must consider the eternal consequences of our actions. Consider the following from Proverbs 6:26-32: "For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." Solomon is writing here of the consequences of committing adultery. But friends, no one can deny that any and all sin has its consequences. The consequences of sin are sometimes experienced in this life. But friends, don’t let anyone mislead you. Those persons who refuse to repent of their sin will experience the consequences of their sin throughout all eternity. The apostle Paul wrote, "Be not deceived, God Is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Second, people often abandon their faith because of their carelessness with the scriptures. Notice the following words from verses seven through nine, "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?" Friends, Judah had possession of the law. Yet their knowledge of the law was woefully inadequate.

"How sad that is," you say. "How terrible." And yet the situation in Jeremiah’s day was not unlike the situation in our own day. The majority of people today possess a copy of the Bible. And yet, many people have little or no knowledge as to what is contained therein.

Friends, we ought to possess a willingness to become familiar with the Bible’s teachings. We ought to pay heed to Paul’s admonition to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Friends, two thoughts from Paul’s words are especially significant. First, we are to study the Bible, as opposed to reading the Bible in a superficial manner. Second, the word "workman" indicates an effort must be put forth.

Listen to how the actions and attitude of the Bereans were contrasted with those of the people of Thessalonica. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Notice the Bereans did not blindly accept what they were told. No friends, they had the wherewithal to investigate what they heard. I encourage you to take what you hear and investigate it. Take what you hear and lay it alongside the scriptures. Compare what you hear with the scriptures to see if it is true.

Third, people often abandon their faith because of their covetousness. Listen to Jeremiah’s words from verse ten, "Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for everyone from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely." Friends, did you notice the extent of their covetousness? Their covetousness was not limited to a few within their ranks. Jeremiah’s words indicate that everyone, from the least to the greatest, from the prophets to the priests, was guilty of covetousness.

Many people have been hindered from living a life of faithful service to God because of their love for their possessions and their eagerness to accumulate more. Consider the following account from Matthew 19:16-28. A young man came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus told the young man that in order to have eternal life he must keep the commandments. When the young man asked, "Which," Jesus replied, "Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The young man replied, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" Listen to Jesus’ response, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." But friends, notice the young man’s sad response. The young man went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.

Sadly, many today have failed to do those things they ought because they are more concerned about their physical well being than they are their spiritual well being. Paul wrote, "For the love of money is the root of all evil" (I Timothy 6:10).

Fourth, people often abandon their faith because they have little or no care for the truth. Notice Jeremiah’s words from verse eleven of our text, "For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, Peace; when there is no peace." Friends, Jeremiah had preached concerning the need for repentance. Jeremiah had warned of the troublesome times the people would face if they failed to repent and turn back to God. And yet, all the while Jeremiah was warning of what lie ahead, false teachers were proclaiming "Peace, Peace," when there was no peace.

Isaiah wrote of a rebellious people who refused to hear the law of the Lord. Isaiah described these people as a people who say to the seers and to the prophets, "Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits" (Isaiah 30:10).

Apparently, many in Paul’s day possessed a similar attitude. Paul asked those of the church at Galatia, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth" (Galatians 4:16).

Many today seem to deny that the truth exists. Or they deny that we can know the truth. But friends, the Bible teaches we are to buy the truth and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23). Jesus told those Jews who believed on him, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Many people will be lost on the day of judgment because they do not possess a love of the truth (II Thessalonians 2:10).

Fifth, people often abandon their faith because they have grown morally callous. Notice the following from verse twelve of Jeremiah, chapter eight, "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord."

Judah’s heart had become hardened to the extent that the people were no longer ashamed of their sin. They were no longer ashamed to sin. The people had reached a point where they could not blush. Friends, a departure from God always leads to moral decay, without exception. This is true for an individual and it is true for a country.

Jeremiah’s words could just as accurately be applied to our own day and time. Many of the things that were once considered shameful by our society are no longer looked down upon. The sinful homosexual lifestyle is increasingly accepted and considered by many to be just another lifestyle. Don’t be deceived friends, such a lifestyle is still an abomination before God. Many in our society still support a woman’s choice when it comes to having an abortion, never mind the fact that a woman who does so is choosing to take the life of an innocent child.

Friends, we ought to maintain sensitivity to sin and a willingness to call it what it is – sin. Isaiah wrote, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20).

What are some of the characteristics of apostasy? A person’s failure to consider to consider the consequences of his actions. A carelessness with the scriptures. An attitude of covetousness. Little or no care for the truth. A and a heart that has grown callous in matters of morality.