Apostasy is such a strong word; however at its core it simply means a defection from the faith.
So the first thing we must do is define the term “the faith”. The faith is used repeatedly in the New Testament to reference what we believe. The faith is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Christ’s atoning work on the cross, His burial and subsequent resurrection from the dead is in totality -the Gospel.
The Lord Jesus Christ (being the Second Person of the Thrice Holy God was virgin born) lived a sinless life and accomplished His foreordained purpose....which was to be the sinless substituted sacrifice of which the entirety of the Old Testament spoke of and unmistakably pointed to. On the cross, Jesus said "It is finished" at which time the veil in the temple was torn top to bottom. On the cross the price was paid and God’s justice was thoroughly and unequivocally satisfied. It is of utmost doctrinal importance to understand where and when the price was paid. The work was totally finished at the cross. If one does not believe it was finished at the cross and teaches otherwise, they’re flirting with apostasy.
The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t enter hell and fight demons before His resurrection to secure redemption. Neither was He held by Satan and tortured in hell for three days to pay for our sin. He wasn’t suffering in the torments of the underworld waiting until the Father spoke a word of faith to release Him. These statements are actual teachings concerning where and when Christ paid the price for our sin. They are unscriptural and thus are to be considered false doctrine. The proponents of such teachings are some of the most popular teachers i.e. Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Fredrick K.C. Price, it is called the "Jesus Died Spiritually doctrine" and it is a doctrine of demons. To teach that Jesus Christ needed to do more than the cross is flat out false, it’s heresy. The problem is for twenty years all anyone’s cared about was me, me, me. The itching ears of the people have been satisfied by the strong delusion of false teachers -who appear as angels of light and are transformed right before our eyes into ministers of righteousness. The modern church sells books, vitamins, herbs and spices, food, anointing oil, jewelry, candles, etc. etc. but has virtually abandoned the preaching of the cross.
Our pastors are now "life coaches", our evangelists have become "motivational speakers", and our prophets are nothing more than "entrepreneurs" who’ve gone the way of Balaam. It’s rare to hear full expository preaching on justification, sanctification, atonement, imputed righteousness, and other foundational doctrines in the modern church. Instead you hear it’s time for your harvest, a new level, a higher dimension, greater anointing, prosperity, wealth and to this self help cesspool I say puke, puke, and more puke! These ear candy sermons are a symptom of the apostasy, the outright defection from truth. But, it keeps the ca$h (seed) flowing.
*Are they staying in context?
*Are they promoting a new revelation?
*Are they using scripture to interpret scripture?
If you’re involved in a charismatic/word of faith style church, you already understand that your "submission to the vision and the man of God" trumps all sound judgment and thus ALLOWS you to dismiss all the clear truth -you’ll discover as you pray and study the Bible. In such churches those who question are "Pharisees" or sons of "Korah". In reality those who question are exercising I John 4:1.
I’m NOT advocating questioning whether the pastor should wear a suit or other trivial matters -I’m speaking of looking into the teachings as to whether they’re scripturally accurate or not. Having attended a 12,000+ member charismatic church and graduating from Bible College 16 years ago, I’ve had to examine all I was ever taught. The experience has been freeing to say the least. As you begin to study, just simply keep your faith in Christ and Him crucified.
Your salvation and your everyday living for God isn’t based on your performance and it’s not based on your submission to a vision or a leader -it’s based on Christ and His great love for you. Much of the modern church is adrift in the sea of apostasy and is no longer holding fast to right doctrine. If you’re involved, I encourage you to jump ship and swim to shore.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 1 Timothy 4:1
