Are They Apostates?
W. Carl Ketcherside
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As an example of what we mean we cite the word "apostasy." The Anglicized form of the Greek apostasia does not occur in the King James Version. It is found twice in the original. In Acts 21:21 it is translated "to forsake" and in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 it is rendered "a falling away." The term originally had a political overtone and appears in the papyri as a designation of those who rebel against the government or plot its overthrow. It carries with it the idea of defection from the existing order based upon revolt against it.
It is our opinion that it conveys the same implication in the sacred scriptures. In Acts 21:21 the elders of the congregation in Jerusalem inform Paul of rumors circulated concerning his teaching. It is pointed out that thousands of Jews believe but they are all zealous of the law. They have been told that the apostle is teaching Jews of the Dispersion to forsake Moses, that is, to fall away from him, or apostatize. Note the means by which it was alleged this was being done. It was by "saying they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs." Since circumcision was the seal of covenant relationship and that relationship bound upon the Jew the necessity of keeping the law (verse 24) it is evident that "forsaking Moses" would constitute outright rebellion.
But the Jews never did regard differences of opinion or interpretation as "apostasy." Judaism was very tolerant in the days of Jesus and the apostles. Even a twelve year old lad could sit in
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In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the falling away (apostasy) will be characterized by open revolt. The man of sin will oppose God and exalt himself above God. He will usurp the temple of God and proclaim himself to be Deity. His coming is after the power of Satan and he will use fake miracles, deceitful signs and lying wonders. Thus the apostasy is rooted in rebellion and will result in the elevation of "the mystery of iniquity." Those who are involved in it have not "received the love of the truth that they might be saved."
Today the charge of "apostasy" is hurled against every person who cannot subscribe to the partisan tests of fellowship created by various factions growing out of the restoration movement launched in the early years of the preceding century. Since each of these parties has a different criterion of "loyalty" a person who is an "apostate" to one group is "faithful and sound" in the eyes of another. The word "apostate" is a reproachful epithet used as a brand or stigma for every person who does not wholly agree with "the powers that be." Every man who thinks for himself is guilty of apostasy in the current party vocabulary.
Those who contend for one container to be used in passing "the fruit of the vine" in the Lord's Supper regard those who use individual cups as apostates. Those who oppose Bible classes regard those who have them as apostates. An apostate may be one who endorses colleges or opposes them, one who indorses instrumental music or opposes it, depending upon what faction he is allied with at the time of such endorsement or opposition. It makes no difference how sincere one may be in his expression of conviction. If he is "not lined up with the faithful brethren" he is an apostate.
We believe that such use of language is unworthy of God's children, detrimental to the cause we profess to love, and inimical to the welfare of the church of God. It is indicative of a desire to place others of the saints in the worst possible light. It is unfair, uncharitable and unscriptural. Not every person who differs with us on some point of controversy has apostatized. No person who is in Christ Jesus, who loves the Lord and seeks to do his will out of a pure fervent heart is an apostate. To call him such a name is to reveal not only a sad lack of love but a considerable degree of ignorance.
Apostasy is a falling away from the faith, a deliberate revolt against Jesus and his authority. Unfortunately such expressions as "the faith" are also loaded terms in these days. "The faith" not infrequently means the traditional interpretations placed upon the new covenant scriptures. "The faith" is that unwritten body of opinions in each party bound as a law upon the members and constituting the test of "loyalty." Since each party has an "infallible interpretation" the slightest deviation from this creed is looked upon as rebellion against Jesus and the one who can no longer condone the narrow and intolerant spirit is assailed by his accusers with, "The Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith."
We do not doubt that many will depart from the faith, but we do doubt that the Holy Spirit meant by "the faith" an opinion related to cups, classes, or colleges, or any of the host of other things which loom so great on our partisan horizons in these days. The symptoms of those who do depart are specified as "giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron." Not every person who reads a passage and comes up with a different viewpoint than ours is heeding seducing spirits or under the influence of demons. There is not a congregation in
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Then how shall we label those who differ from us? Why label them at all? Is not the attitude which encourages such labeling sectarian in nature? Do we not brand men as "liberals," "conservatives" and "antis" to include or exclude them from our number? Is that not the essence of the party spirit? Are we not all liberal in some things and conservative in others? Are we not opposed to some things, and if so. are we not "antis" with regard to those things? If God's children are our brothers why not call them brethren? Those in Corinth who were at such odds they were suing each other in heathen courts were not given special distinction by the apostle. He simply said, "brother goeth to law with brother."
If asked how I regard those who oppose Bible classes my reply is that I regard them as my brothers. If asked how I regard those who favor instrumental music in their corporate worship my reply is that I regard them as my brothers. I have no half-brothers or step-brothers in the Lord. The fact I do not agree with them does not make them apostates. If it did, every other person in the church would be an apostate in my view, for I do not agree with any person I ever met upon every point of interpretation. My ideas today on many points differ from my ideas of twenty years ago. I have learned a few things by study of the Word but I am not a self-made apostate because I disagree with my former views. I trust that I am maturing spiritually.
I do not think that the Holy Spirit in using the word apostasia meant to imply or inaugurate something that would make God's family disintegrate into warring segments with each group blasting away at the others as "apostates." It seems to me that it is about time that some of God's children grew up. While they are accusing others of falling away from the faith they are in danger of falling out of their spiritual cribs.