Thirty years ago, the signs of apostasy were not nearly as apparent as they are today. That is not to say that the Last Days Apostasy only then began to occur. As long as a century and a half ago, there were some discerning Church leaders who perceived and who warned against the Apostasy, in its earlier stages. They were men such as: John William Burgon (d. 1888), who warned against the apostasy that would follow upon the introduction of multifarious Bible "versions," so-called; and, John Gresham Machen (d. 1937), who warned against encroaching liberalism in the field of Theology; and, A.W. Tozer (d. 1963), who accurately prophesied that the Apostasy amongst Evangelical denominations (mainstream Protestants) was such that, in the then not too distant future, Evangelical churches would eventually become devoid of true, Spirit-filled Christians. More recently, Francis Schaeffer (d. 1984) labored intensely to turn the Protestant churches back to God, as he sorrowfully described the signs of what had by then (mid- to late-twentieth century) become widespread apostasy amongst the Protestant churches.
But this present generation in one that from its infancy has been nurtured on a spiritual diet consisting of huge portions of (Postmodern) secularism commingled with large amounts of religious deception. The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) was founded in 1973. According to Wikipedia, "TBN was the third largest over-the-air television station group in the country as of 2010, besting the station groups of CBS, Fox, and NBC" (link to source). One of the more notable signs of how deep is the Apostasy into which the contemporary churches have gone, is reflected in the very large number of professing Christians who evidently are incapable to discern the blasphemous nature of so much of what TBN broadcasts around the world, and who thus have enabled TBN to become the multimedia behemoth that it is.
In its earlier stages, the then nascent Apostasy was much less overt, less obvious, and less confrontational (the devil works mainly by subtlety). The fact that the Apostasy has come to be full-blown and in-your-face, during this present generation, is extremely important for understanding the relationship of the true Church (consisting of individual Holy Ghost-filled Christians) to the much larger and more visible Apostate "Church." Apostates do not consider themselves to be apostates; but they are deceived to believe they are actually "Christians," notwithstanding their unscriptural and even anti-Christian beliefs and practices.
Thus~because that most churchgoers (in this generation) are not truly born-again Christians, it is now the case that the vast majority of purportedly "Christian" churches and organizations are in fact apostate. They do not believe the Bible; as demonstrated by the fact that their teachings and practices do not accord with Bible doctrines. Yet, it is widely albeit uncritically accepted that such churches and organizations are nevertheless part of the Christian Church (capital 'C'). Therein lies not the dilemma but the deception.
The question posed in the title of this essay, "Should Christians leave apostate churches?" is not a sensible question, from a Biblical perspective. For, an apostate "church" or organization, by definition, is not Christian. What is it, then? Why do such entities persist to identify themselves as "Christian?" It is a Satanic ruse intended to deceive and thus to subvert souls who either do not know enough to be capable to discern such deception, or, who because of some darkness in their own hearts they are willing to be deceived. Scripture clearly reveals that Satan's strategies are designed to infiltrate and subvert the Christian Church, especially, by deceptive means: and, then, to perpetuate the deadly masquerade in the name of Christ!
A fundamentally important question thus arises, namely: What is meant by "apostate church"? A careful reading of Christ's message to the "seven churches which are in Asia," which message appears in Revelation 1:9 - 3:22, reveals that apostasy initially entails a process (involving defection from the Truth) which occurs incrementally over a period of time.
An "apostate church" is an organized group of persons who profess to represent the Church of Jesus Christ and, yet, whose teachings and practices are substantially at odds with the doctrines of Scripture.By that definition, every major "Christian" denomination in America is apostate; as I have often asserted is the case. The battle for supremacy of ideology (whether Biblical or otherwise), amongst the leadership of the major Protestant denominations, was fought in former generations (as above suggested), and was decisively concluded in favor of Liberalism (which is apostasy).
The following is by no means an exhaustive list of factors which constitute an "apostate church," although, they are among the more important characteristics of such churches. An "apostate church" typically:
- Demonstrates little or no real concern for soul-winning. Notwithstanding, there is oftentimes a strong emphasis on numerical and material 'church growth.' Few if any genuine converts are regularly added to the church.
- Does not submit to the Authority of Scripture; as evidenced by numerous teachings and/or practices which are contrary to Scripture. Does not inculcate reverential fear toward the Word of God. Bible-substitutes are commonly endorsed. Most members substantially lack Bible knowledge.
- Places little emphasis on prayer. Prayer services are either non-existent, or they are not well attended. There is widespread lack of knowledge regarding principles of prayer. Prayer is generally treated superficially, as a formality or as ritual. Alternatively, prayer may be treated as a kind of spiritual exercise whereby to achieve an emotional and/or mystical "experience."
- Allocates financial resources to benefit a small handful of paid staff including the pastor, in addition to paying building expenses. Otherwise, a meaningful commitment to provide financial assistance to members is absent or insubstantial. Funded "foreign missions" programs notwithstanding (which are increasingly rare), significant funding for local ministries is even rarer. (See my essay, "Giving to the devil," at this link.)
- Operates on the lines of a social club with an open-door policy. Everyone is invited to "come as you are" to attend "services" which are essentially designed to be conveniently timed (once or twice a week, for about 90 minutes or so), and aesthetically appealing (with carefully staged music, lighting, and occasional performances and/or special speakers). Instead of the church being comprised of born-again persons~what the Bible calls, in 1 Peter 2:9, "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (all of which are 'collective' terms); apostate churches embrace, as normative, a "mixed multitude," that is to say, a mixture of 'saved' and unsaved persons together in the church. (In my considerable experience, individuals who conduct themselves according to true holiness are not really wanted in apostate churches.)
- Is apolitical (to protect their tax-exempt status), and otherwise "culturally sensitive," avoiding or treating lightly issues which have the potential to offend some of the mixed multitude. Preaching and teaching related to sin, judgment, eternal damnation, and most other ideas associated with holiness of life, are generally avoided. It is practically taboo to expound upon the wickedness of certain things such as: public schools; greed; Catholicism; Islamism; Feminism; resistance to tyranny; and a host of other important topics.
- Places little or no emphasis on discipling (beyond anything like a "new believers" class).
- Promotes any number of activities inside and outside of the church, which activities in many cases are demonstrably antichrist in nature (as are many if not most so-called Youth conferences and/or concerts).
- Substitutes a "social gospel" (doing good works in society) in place of the true gospel of Christ; and self-improvement-feel-good-about-yourself messages, instead of soul-searching messages which expose and convict of sin.
- Does not plead and prevail with God for heaven-sent Revival.
Does God have fellowship with apostate churches? He does not.
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear .... Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. (Isaiah 59:1-10)
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
Are those passages of Scripture not plain enough to understand? Apostate churches with their "mixed multitude" have many in the midst who, though they profess to be Christians, yet they are whoremongers (some of which are pastors), fornicators, unclean persons, covetous, idolaters, drunkards, railers (use abusive language), and/or extortioners. According to the commandments quoted in 1 Corinthians and in Ephesians, above, it is forbidden for true Christians to "keep company" with those who profess Christ while continuing in such sins.But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:3-11)
It has been objected that the Apostle Paul never withdrew from fellowshipping with the Jewish synagogues~which were the equivalent of "churches" in Paul's time. But that was not the case. It is true that Paul continually reached out to his own people the Jews. It is also true that Paul visited Jewish synagogues right up until the time of his death. But it is not true that Paul never ceased to fellowship with any particular synagogue/s. In fact, there are several examples recorded in Scripture, where that Paul ceased from visiting those (apostate) synagogues which rejected Paul and his message: see, Acts 13:46; 18:6; and 28:23-31 (note, that Paul used his own house for meetings).
Just as Paul ceased from visiting the synagogues of apostate Jews; though he did not cease from visiting other Jewish synagogues. Likewise, though true Christians ought to cease from fellowshipping with apostate churches; yet, that is not at all to say that Christians should therefore cease from fellowshipping with Christian churches. It is to say, however, that true Christians must distinguish between what is holy and what is profane, and to honor God accordingly. As the Holy Ghost said, in Ezekiel 22:26:
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
As I said, above: the question, Should Christians leave apostate churches? is not a sensible one. The image I selected, at the top of this post, depicts the truth of the matter. Which is to say: "The Church [capital 'C'] has left the building." That "building" where gathers a mixed multitude of compromising, half-hearted, sin-ridden, backslidden, professing Christians ~ together with unregenerate persons who use "church" for a variety of their own reasons: that "building" does not represent a Christian church, but a group of people who are apostates concerning the Truth of God.
Should Christians leave that? Christians should never have been a part of that, in the first place. Those churches did not become apostate last night.
It has also been objected that Scripture nowhere commands Christians to leave any sort of "church." Let's consider the hypothetical case, for example, of a contemporary Presbyterian church. The Presbyterian denomination was one of the most conservative, Bible-believing organizations in America, until just over 100 years ago. Today, that denomination (PCUSA: the largest segment of Presbyterianism) not only endorses homosexuality within the Church but, in fact, allows for the ordination of homosexual ministers! Whoever believes that Christians have no mandate from God to dissociate themselves from such organizations and their churches, I do not believe that such a person knows Christ.
The Roman Catholic Church professes to represent Jesus Christ and to hold the keys to the kingdom of God. Is it therefore "Christian?" Even the Catholic hierarchy itself differentiates between Catholicism and Christianity. The Presbyterian USA churches with their homosexual pastors profess to represent Jesus Christ. Are they therefore "Christian?" The Mormon churches profess to represent Jesus Christ. Are they then "Christian?" Where shall we draw the line?
We can and we must draw the line right where God has drawn it ~ in His Word.
And, yes, Scripture does explicitly command Christians to come out of apostate churches:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her [spiritual Babylon] my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)
The name "Babylon" is derived from the Hebrew word "Babel," which means: a confused noise. Babylon thus is the City of Confusion. The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion. Then, who is? Why, the devil, of course.
What an apt description of apostate churches is "Babylon."
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