This falling away is gaining momentum Christians, and at an ever more alarming rate. In the Greek text, the word "apostasia" means: to forsake, a falling away, defection, apostasy. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
How sad it is, that so many people today have forsaken God's order of government and care for the Churches of the world. Still, this is exactly what we are seeing at every turn. Who then, is to blame?
More important though, is what are we, who claim to be Christians, going to do about it?
There are three main areas of our lives, in which Satan can gain a controlling foothold on us dear hearts - Ego, Sex, Money. No one, minister or lay person, is exempted or excepted. For all of us who draw the breath of life shares equally in these temptations. Only Jesus, did not succumb to any of them. It would be a good thing then, to remind ourselves of the passage that closes the Book of Judges, for our contemporary society, is duplicating the conditions that prevailed at that time too.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. ASV
We see this today, in the increasing numbers of people who stray away from God's plan for the church's governments don't we? Some "Home Churches" are springing up with an agenda of "ministers not wanted or needed." Many of today's ministers do not maintain an attitude of Holiness. Neither do they uphold their office's requirement for respectful attitudes from the laity.
Love, as taught in 1 Corinthians 13:4-10 is being lost by both members of the clergy and the laity. The god of self, fed by leanings toward the analyst's couch, is beginning to prevail in society in general, and even in many of today's Seminaries, Bible Schools and Colleges. Secular Humanism's god of self has successfully invaded even these institutions, under the guise of being an important educational requirement.
Divine guidance has begun to take a back seat to Secular guidance. Self
respect and respect for others are being relegated to a scrap heap of anarchy.
Can we correct these things? Yes we can. How? As a beginning, we must return
to the criteria of what the Bible says to us below:
For ministers
2 Corinthians 10:8 For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.
For the Laity
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.
We are clearly shown, that there is a divinely governed mandate of authority and responsibility. There has always existed a God ordered set of responsibilities and line of authorities for both the laity, and clergy, who have a stricter code of ethics to follow. It remains, even today, whether or not we care to believe it, or respond properly to it. Authority always carries additional levels of responsibilities
God, is a King! Jesus has been named the King of Kings. Before leaving this earth, he established by appointment, the overseers of His Church. Never did Jesus teach that there should be any other perception of Church rule. It is apostasy, ushered in by egotism, that has brought about terms such as "We are a democratic church". Terms such as this foster the conditions that have weakened and divided the Church into so many divisions of Catholics, Protestants, and their myriad numbers of denominations, sects and cults. That is factious and rebellious. That is against Biblical principles. This is then, the apostasy or great falling away of the church. Where do you stand?