Sincere and historical statements of creed or purpose are of little real value if not maintained in practice.  Many individuals, churches and groups, who in the past have made much over separation from the APOSTASY, are finding their official commitment in jeopardy, by their participation in and approval of activities that clearly include apostates.  Even more serious are those, who "with tongue in cheek", call themselves Fundamentalist, but have given approval to apostate doctrines in churches and institutions.

        Giving credence to apostates, or apostate doctrine, is a serious matter and should not be lightly defended.  One must not  get lost in the debate over who and what an Apostate is.  A fuller definition such as given in the book of Jude is a healthy way to approach the subject, but it appears to most that an Apostate could not be a believer.  On the other hand we need to quickly note that believers can hold or support an Apostate doctrine.

        Some defend this compromise by seeing just "how close you can get to an apostate" without being disobedient.  This view is particularly held by those who ridicule the Biblical doctrine of Holiness, that they identify as "secondary separation".

        I am looking at a picture of some 60 "clergy" from a nearby city.  It is a mixture which includes men who call themselves, fundamental or evangelical or conservative.  However about every stripe of religion is represented in the group.  Included in the picture is at least one person,  if not more who have openly identified themselves as apostate.
Being unsaved themselves  they have turned from the truth.  Many, if not most, of the men in the picture have embraced apostate doctrine.  These men joined together for a fellowship journey to a major clergy conference.

        The movement and organization of the group they participate in is very much involved in apostate doctrine and apostates.  There are no excuses that can make such an alliance Holy, from Gods point of view.  If "man" is central in a movement then he is more important than God and this can not be justified by some "good" that comes out of their disobedience.

        No Biblical Christian has ever argued that the World Council and National Council of churches are anything but an apostate organizations. Yet "professing" fundamentalist and evangelicals now identify and give approval to the apostasy with speakers parading across their platforms having no conscience about the fact that they are part of those apostate organizations.  They have in practice embraced the apostasy.  To those who passionately seek ways to give place to this "New Liberalism", identification and relationships are of little concern.

        Embracing apostate doctrine is even more dangerous than those compromising relationships.  The race to "modernist" positions is hectic these days.  It is reflected in the NEW "Buzz word", Progressive.  There is progressive Dispensationalism, Creation, Liberalism and a dozen others.  The interesting part is that not one of these popular views are
new at all.  They are simply repackaged errant doctrine from the past.  Much of it represents the move to old covenant theology.  That road was traveled by many, long ago, on the way to higher criticism and modernism.  At the same time some who have been masquerading as conservative are now coming out of the closet.  Many professors who taught such error, quietly, are now publishing it blatantly without fear of dismissal.

        One example is the phenomenal rise of covenant theology as it relates to Eschatology.  Without apology, or concern for Biblical Hermeneutic, they deny a literal heaven or hell while using words that are meant to decieve the average believer.  A clear denial that Revelation 21 teaches a literal city is justified with an emphasis on the "new earth".  The same
writer says he is not sure what "literal" is.  But hell and heaven are "places is some sense of the word".  At the same time he and his colleagues think it is "orthodox" to believe that hell is simply where God is not and Heaven is Gods presence.

        A brief historical review of liberal doctrine will reveal that a non literal eternal existence is not a new view, no matter how much one plays with the words.  That view is exactly what the Apostate modernist have held.  It is an apostate doctrine.

        This teaching is coupled understandably with their unbiblical view of Israel, the church and the gentiles.  It makes them all one, despite the fact that all of Gods' Word clearly separates them.  In the end their "reinvention" of the covenant theological scheme makes one people, one judgment, one resurrection and one eternal state.  This theory also appears in the  doctrinal platform of the apostates.  It is exactly what the modernist taught.  It is apostate doctrine.

        These matters are only the tip of the iceberg.  Their relationship with apostates is seen in Evangelical Ecumenism, at a major city crusade, with apostates on the guiding council.  The same council includes "professing" fundamentalist and evangelicals. This gives approval to the compromise by participating with speakers, organizers, institutions, etc. who hold
apostate doctrine.  This is embracing the apostasy.  The movement abounds with people who deny the saving value of the blood of Christ, attack in subtle forms the deity of Christ, reject salvation by Grace through faith alone and by many ways add to the word of God.  In doing so they deny the authority and sufficiency of the Bible.  To join with those who turn from
the Word of God is to embrace the apostasy.

        Individuals, churches, movements and institutions give approval to, as well as aide and abet the apostasy when they participate at any level  with these evangelistic crusades, educational involvement,  or religious effort no matter how well intended they may be.  This is true even if the temporary end seems to help people in any way.  Biblical Christianity is
about God.  His person and word are the first standards not emotional intentions or responses.

        It matters little what written statement a group has about their intention to avoid the apostasy,  if it condones the apostasy by participation.  If their member churches or institutions embrace apostate doctrine and apostates without rebuke from those in charge, the leaders have embraced the apostasy as well.
 

Return to Main Page
Return to Bible Truth Home Page