Apostasy

"Apostasy, from the Greek word apostasia, means "a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith." In the first-century world, apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection. And just like in the first century, apostasy threatens the Body of Christ today. ....

..... "With respect to apostasy, it is critical that all Christians understand two important things:
(1) how to recognize apostasy and apostate teachers; and
(2) why apostate teaching is so deadly. .....
..... "To fully identify and combat apostasy, it is important that Christians understand its various forms and the traits that characterize its doctrines and teachers. As to the forms of apostasy, there are two main types: (1) a falling away from key and true doctrines of the Bible into heretical teachings that proclaim to be "the real" Christian doctrine; and (2) a complete renunciation of the Christian faith, which results in a full abandonment of Christ. .....

..... "That God takes apostasy and false teaching seriously is evidenced by the fact that every New Testament book except Philemon contains warnings about false teaching. Why is this? Simply because ideas have consequences. Right thinking and its fruit produces goodness, whereas wrong thinking and its accompanying action results in undesired penalties. .....

..... "The great tragedy is, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the apostate teacher dooms his unsuspecting followers. One of the most frightening verses in all of Scripture comes from the lips of Jesus. Speaking to His disciples about the religious leaders of His day, He said, "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit" (Matthew 15:14, emphasis added). This verse is alarming because Jesus affirms that it is not only the false teachers that go to destruction, but their disciples also follow them. Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard put it this way: "For it has never yet been known to fail that one fool, when he goes astray, takes several others with him." .....

..... "Sadly, until Christ returns and every last spiritual enemy has been removed, tares such as these will be present among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). In fact, Scripture says apostasy will only get worse as Christ's return approaches. "At that time [the latter days] many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another" (Matthew 24:10). Paul echoes Jesus in his inspired writings as well. The apostle told the Thessalonians that a great falling away would precede Christ's second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and that the end times would be characterized by tribulation and hollow religious charlatans: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these" (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5).
"This being true, it is critical, now more than ever, that every believer pray for discernment, combat apostasy, and contend earnestly for the faith that has once and for all been delivered to the saints."

Source:
Summarized from the Got Questions entry on "What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?" © Copyright 2002-2010 Got Questions Ministries