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We may distinguish two types of apostasy. There is that which is found within the Church and that which involves leaving the Church. The first involves giving up the doctrine and practice as found in the New Testament but still maintaining a Christian profession. The army still marches, so to speak, under the flag of Christ. It is still Christian in name if not in reality. The second involves openly giving up Christianity, say, for Judaism or Heathendom. The result of both forms of apostasy is similar in that Christianity in its essence is either way given up. We may say that Paul contends against the first type of apostasy in Galatians where the name of Christ was still maintained but fundamental error had been introduced. The second type of apostasy is rather found in Hebrews where Christianity was being given up by some who were returning to Judaism. Thus we have in Galatians Paul saying: “I wonder that ye thus quickly change from him that called you in Christ’s grace, to a different gospel” (chapter 1 verse 6) The substance of the epistle deals largely with this problem. In Hebrews however we have the writer speaking of those who had: “fallen away, crucifying for themselves [as they do] the Son of God, and making a show of [him]” (chapter 6 verse 6). The epistle contains other passages in a similar vein. Some in this epistle were giving up the faith and returning to Judaism. |
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Today we are faced with a situation where there is both perversion within the Church publicly as there has been for many years, but there are also those who are leaving the Church and giving up the profession of Christianity. Church going in the Western world (certainly in Europe) is declining whether we are speaking of the Catholic Church, the Anglican communion, dissenting bodies or mission halls. Churches are closing down rather than opening. People so often get fed up with the wishy-washy teaching in some Churches, the emotional services in others and the deadness in others. In the 19th century Christians who found the established Churches out of accord with the Scriptures in their doctrine and practice left them and found fellowship with such as the so-called Plymouth Brethren. Those who are leaving the Churches today are more often giving up Christianity altogether. |
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The word apostasy does not appear in the Authorised version of the Bible, but Mr. Darby in his |