Apostasy Goes Mainstream

To the average "dumbed-down" Christian, (most of us were or are), it is incomprehensible that the broad spectrum of "Christianity" is not what Christ had in mind when He told Peter "Upon this Rock, I will build my church".

Scripture gives many examples of what "apostasy" is, (as in Jesus' earthly ministry -John 6:66, the apostate religious leadership of Israel, King Saul, and Cain are others), and that a GREAT "falling away" would take place in Christianity in the "last days". 

  2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a 1.falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
for clarity, we define our terms:

     1. Apostasy: ἀποστασιìα apostasia Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), ("apostasy"): - falling away, forsake.

What is "defection from truth? 
Simple. It is teaching things not given in God's Word, especially as relating to the New Covenant.  Whether it be from tradition, a pastor or other leader, or twisting of scripture.

Need an example or two?  Tithing. -not a single verse was given to any church or Christian disciple in all of the New Testament. NOT ONE VERSE.  Or this: any passage giving a pastor sole authority over a group of Christians.  NOT ONE VERSE. (see the "NOT in Scripture List"). 
 -Your homework is to go prove the truth or falsehood from the Bible on these "outrageous" statements. 

Do you need a reason NOT to trust the words of your priest, pastor, religious leader, or me?

In 4 years, after having given free copies of our book to many pastors, prophets, bishops, and clergy, refuting their robbery of God's people in the name of tithing, not one has offered to correct us from scripture.  (Actually it is pretty tough to do so when you have not even one single verse giving any church authority to take tithes....) 
The truth is that EVERY pastor or minister that takes tithes (or a salary) from God's people is corrupted with the "leaven of the Pharisees" as they have no God-given authority from scripture to do so.

This brings us to our next term used in scripture, the word "many".  As used in:
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying (confessing Christ i.e.), I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
 Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt (means "retail, or peddle", as in exchange for lucre) the word of God.

2Peter 2: 
1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, ...... ...... bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you
 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world

Here is an astounding truth, when we read those verses we usually thought something like, "Oh, that's the many cultists, New Agers, or the Catholics"... 
So when Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at", we need to understand He is speaking to US. 

Here it is, dear brethren, and we tremble at His Word, The word "MANY" used in each of these scripture references is found as: G4183  From Strong's Greek def.: πολυìς, πολλοìς  polus polos
Including the forms "pollos"; much or many; largely; often, mostly, largely: - abundant, + altogether, common, long, much, plenteous....

 Jesus was not talking to the cultists or pagans. He was speaking to the  mainstream chosen people of Israel, supposedly walking in the light of the Word of God.  He was talking to the "many" in the last days of ancient Israel, and He is NOW speaking to an even larger group of the "many" that call themselves "Christian" but bear no resemblance to the Christianity of the disciples in the book of Acts. 

Today the "many" are found sitting in comfortable mainstream church buildings on Sunday mornings, sadly, have never even been converted.  They have merely been conformed to a religious organization.

If you are a pastor or church goer, you look at many of us who left your institution, 501c3 organization and ministry as part of those "fallen away" folks, just as we once did to those who left before us. 

But many of us walked away from your institutions in order find God again. 
We became cognizant of our great need of returning to our Shepherd, JESUS. 
We attended the services, we went to the staff meetings, we paid our tithes, we funded the overhead, we worked the programs and supported our church, but "church" does not make one a disciple, no matter how busy you are working at a church position or job.

May you and I "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate" and walk in the light of His Word. May we learn to "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

If you are not repenting of malice, unforgiveness, greed, materialism, selfishness, and the fleshly sins so common in "Christianity", start repenting and asking the Lord for the grace to do so. He will abuntantly pardon according to His great mercy.

Grace, peace, and mercy be unto you.