From apostle to apostate
Apostate. It’s an foreign word to many. The English word is based on the description we find in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Here it is a noun and is translated “apostasy”. In the context it means to turn away from the faith to total unbelief and a distortion of the faith you previously held. In Thessalonians Paul writes about the apostasy of the last days, and how people who once lived in the faith have abandoned their faith. Those people believe the lie of erroneous teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:11) and are judged for it (verse 13). From saved to damned.
How far are you from the point where you will desert your faith?
If you think it can’t happen, here is a lesson. It is so relevant to our time today, now, and this week. We have been taught in the traditional churches about “Holy Week” which begins with Palm Sunday – the entry into Jerusalem. We are currently in the same Holy Week. This week is the most important on the Christian calendar. Two events stand out in this as recorded in the gospels. Let’s get the background of both.
- Jesus tells the disciples of his entry as predicted by Zechariah. See Zechariah 9:9. Matthew quotes it in Matthew 21:4-5. Go read it carefully. Totally enraptured, the crowd cheers: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 21:9) These people share in the expectation of the kingdom of the Messiah. Not even a week later, they are screaming for Him to be crucified. See Matthew 27:22-25. They are going from being co-owners of the benefits of the Messiah to being co-murderers who turn their backs on the Son of David. What do we have here? The word “apostle” means someone who is sent to do an important job. In this case, the crowd had expectations of a better future. However, when they did not get their way, they rejected Him and turned their backs on Him. They are going from apostle to apostate in less than a week.
- The second example is on a more personal level. We read in Matthew 26 (go look for the parallels in the other gospels) how a woman takes a jar of expensive ointment and pours it on Jesus’ head to anoint Him. The disciples do not like this. All four gospel writers mention this. However, three do not mention the full details. See Matthew 26:8. They refer to “the disciples.” Only John has the courage to name the culprit and what he did. See John 12:3-6. He calls him “Judas Iscariot, the one who would betray him.” Remember this: Jesus’ twelve disciples would be given the task of apostles after his ascension. They are no longer just “disciples” (followers), but “apostles” who have the task of going out to tell the Good News and establish the church. Judas was also meant to be in this group, but he would never move from disciple to apostle, because his focus was short-sighted. He progresses from apostle to apostate in one day. From saved to damned, forever.
Judas’ problem was his focus. Rather than looking at the meaning of what the woman who anointed Jesus did, he looked at how much the poor could get. The reason, as we read in John 12:6, was not because he was concerned about them, but because he had begun to serve Mammon. His focus was on money, and he stole. His future prospects were long gone. He traded his long-term benefits for short-term gains, and he lost everything.
Where is your focus?
How easily do your and my thoughts wander? One moment we are still fighting the good fight for the gospel, or so we think, and the next moment we are falling into sin. I must emphasise the following: there is no longer an office of apostle today, and anyone who wants to convince you otherwise should come and talk to me so that I can teach him the Word properly. What I want to stress, however, is the original story that shows how easy it is to wander. From apostles who were chosen by Jesus himself (bearers of good news) to apostates/falling away, who fall away from the faith and the good news. The line is very fine.
I ask again: Where is your focus? Are you thinking for the now, the pleasures of the world, or do you see the bigger picture and long-term planning?