What is an apostate? How does one become one? Are you one? 532-1 - 10 - 2

With thanks to e-Sword:

H7726

שׁובב

shôbâb

sho-bawb'

From H7725; apostate, that is, idolatrous: - backsliding, frowardly, turn away [from margin].

H7728

שׁובב

shôbêb

sho-babe'

From H7725; apostate, that is, heathenish or (actually) heathen: - backsliding.

In the Book of Revelation we read the letters to the seven churches dealing with the churches since and including the earliest church, the apostolic church also known as the Way. At this point in history we certainly are in the seven church age, the church of the Laodiceans. Jesus had little good to say about this apostate church. In Revelation chapter 3 we read:

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

As with the man blind from birth and chapter 9, here Jesus also is coming to/seeking people to bring into the kingdom. While an apostate often is referred to as being a backsliding Christian, perhaps it’s someone who calls himself/herself a Christian while not opening the door to Jesus.

Somehow timing always seems to be right on in my life; during fellowship last night pastor was summarizing reasons people don’t come to church and/ or stop coming to church. Gossip was cited as a major reason people stop coming to a attending church. He reminded us of what Paul said in Romans chapter 14:12-13, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”

Given the propensity of the tele-evangelists with their “name it and claim it” message I can understand why many are turned off from religion. Also many of the complaints I hear leveled at the church have to do with the history of the atrocities of the Roman Catholic Church in the past and their obsession with raising money. The selling of masses for the dead and of indulgence to spring somebody from purgatory are beyond the pale. As a matter fact, the church I’m attending does not take up a collection, rather has a donation box at the back of the church. That said, everything we have really comes from God and is only right that we should return at least a percentage to his work. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

As for the question am I an apostate; absolutely not.