Apostate churches?

I would guess an apostate church would be defined by the departure from apostolic traditions, first. The violation of the marraige contract as you point out, is more a symptom of a greater problem. Before the bible was compiled, the apostle was telling us to hold fast to the traditions we were given because power craving unbelievers (i.e ravenous in biblical description) would enter and attempt to scatter and destroy.
Secondly, the bible has been dissected, marginalized, mythologized,psychologized, re-interpreted and feminized, criticized historically, and reduced to metaphor and symbology.....whew! These would be secondary characteristics of an apostate church - a church that strips the gospel of supernatural reality and purpose, which of course reduces, if not rejects, the divinity of Christ.
Thirdly, with the above two agenda in place, an apostate church would naturally gravitate to 'ecumenism' - not to witness but to compromise - as they have already compromised the essentials of their own faith. Thus an apostate church is essential to the growth of a one world religion. And if you were to look at the state of Christianity in the U.S., you would find apostacy more of the norm than the exception...........................peace

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them, for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. (Rom 16:17-18)

You have a responsibility to assist other seekers of God in finding a church with right preaching, ordinance, and mission. Failing to discourage attendance and membership in unacceptable churches is a disservice to your brother, for whom Christ died.

If you believe that salvation can be lost you can understand the importance of the influence of a local church. A church that influences its members to sin, whether by actively supporting and encouraging sin or failing to discipline, is not a church of Christ. Only the fantasy of once saved always saved doctrine could lead to the current prevailing idea of one church being as good as another.

any church which rejects the doctrines of the Nicene, Calcedonian, etc creeds would be apostate. a church may not actually say they abide by the Creeds but their understanding of the Trinity, deity of Christ, etc. are in line with the creeds nevertheless. These churches are in accord with the creeds even though they may not even know what the creeds say. But any church that rejects the Trinity, the Deity and humanity of Christ, etc., can be considered apostate.

shanethetheologian said:

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them, for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. (Rom 16:17-18)

You have a responsibility to assist other seekers of God in finding a church with right preaching, ordinance, and mission. Failing to discourage attendance and membership in unacceptable churches is a disservice to your brother, for whom Christ died.

If you believe that salvation can be lost you can understand the importance of the influence of a local church. A church that influences its members to sin, whether by actively supporting and encouraging sin or failing to discipline, is not a church of Christ. Only the fantasy of once saved always saved doctrine could lead to the current prevailing idea of one church being as good as another.

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I am perplexed by your snide attack on OSAS. It is my opinion that a very large number of Arminian churches which thoroughly reject OSAS also perceive other churches as being of equal value. An example that comes to mind is the United Methodist Church. OSAS is a different issue than the one being discussed and it is quite open to debate as to its possible influence in the current apostasy of some demoninations.

Some of my Catholic friends attribute it all to the first Apostate - Martin Luther.

Apart from the obvious: A departure from the orthodoxy of the Creeds, I often feel convinced more and more each day that the religious syncretism that exists in the Religious Right constitutes a pervasive, corrupting cancer in Christianity here in the West. So there's that.

"I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." - Rev. Billy Graham, Parade, 1981

-CryptoLutheran

To speak very broadly, any church that would present a Christ other than the One who was proclaimed in the Councils (Ecumenical Councils - OrthodoxWiki). That can happen a lot of ways.

Departure from the Christianity of the Creeds & Councils, rejection of traditional theology, and scorning of traditional understanding of Scripture - these provide a quick way to apostasy.

ViaCrucis said:

Apart from the obvious: A departure from the orthodoxy of the Creeds, I often feel convinced more and more each day that the religious syncretism that exists in the Religious Right constitutes a pervasive, corrupting cancer in Christianity here in the West. So there's that.

"I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." - Rev. Billy Graham, Parade, 1981

-CryptoLutheran

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While i agree with your assessment of Billy Grahams perceptions, how do you leave out the blatant aggressive anti-Christian determination of the left?? You mention a 'pervasive, corrupting cancer' from the syncretism of fundamentalists with the political right; what is your take on the marraige between liberal bishops, priests, ministers, etc and New Age-ism, pro abortion Obama-ism, pro-homosexual promotionism, pedophilia tolerance, gay bishops, syncretisim with pagan religions, and a host of other issues...... I think the 'hard left' has no use for the church other than to force it into submission, as in the soviet union, for worshipping the state. peace

placidus said:

While i agree with your assessment of Billy Grahams perceptions, how do you leave out the blatant aggressive anti-Christian determination of the left?? You mention a 'pervasive, corrupting cancer' from the syncretism of fundamentalists with the political right; what is your take on the marraige between liberal bishops, priests, ministers, etc and New Age-ism, pro abortion Obama-ism, pro-homosexual promotionism, pedophilia tolerance, gay bishops, syncretisim with pagan religions, and a host of other issues...... I think the 'hard left' has no use for the church other than to force it into submission, as in the soviet union, for worshipping the state. peace

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"The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Strength to Love, 1963.

-CryptoLutheran

You have a responsibility to assist other seekers of God in finding a church with right preaching, ordinance, and mission. Failing to discourage attendance and membership in unacceptable churches is a disservice to your brother, for whom Christ died.

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This statement is one of the most insidious lies which is put forth by the enemy. The thing which is wrong with this statement is the fact that proselytes are told to seek A church with right preaching, ordinance and mission. When in truth it should be stressed that we, when we accept Christ become the church, the Holy spirit is our teacher and it is He who directs us in our mission/purpose which God has created us for. When this true teaching begins to take hold on the body of Christ, then look up for our redemption draws nigh.

Need I say more. Hear what the spirit is saying. The day will come when there won't be a congregation to fellowship with so if your indoctrinated into that, what will you do to stand and who is your strength to keep you in perfect peace. It most surely isn't the congregation.

Next time invite them to come to Christ and let them know that he is the true and living God, faithful to his word where man is not. It isn't about a physical temple but of our spiritual temple, our minds. God is not a man that he should lie and he will never fall short in what he has told us he will do if you only believe and walk by faith.

hismessenger

To me this would be those individuals (whether corpporate or no; after all we are this habitation of God) who preach the other gospel that is not another gospel.

Hismessenger said:

This statement is one of the most insidious lies which is put forth by the enemy. The thing which is wrong with this statement is the fact that proselytes are told to seek A church with right preaching, ordinance and mission. When in truth it should be stressed that we, when we accept Christ become the church, the Holy spirit is our teacher and it is He who directs us in our mission/purpose which God has created us for. When this true teaching begins to take hold on the body of Christ, then look up for our redemption draws nigh.

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I'm sorry, but the far more insidious heresy is the suggestion that "all you need is the Holy Spirit," in exclusion of the Body of Christ. Fellowship in the Body of Christ is not a nice "perk" of Christianity; it's not a luxury or add-on. It is vital and central to the Gospel. Millions of people swallowing the half-truth that the Spirit will individually "guide them into all truth," to the exclusion of the Body, is what has led to the pervasive denominationalism and every-man-for-himself mentality within Protestant Christianity. Individuals don't independently decide what is "right preaching, ordinance, and mission" for them as Christians. We are to submit to the Church as the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Need I say more. Hear what the spirit is saying. The day will come when there won't be a congregation to fellowship with

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What makes you think that? The Gates of Hell will never prevail against God's Church. (Mt. 16)

cajunhillbilly said:

any church which rejects the doctrines of the Nicene, Calcedonian, etc creeds would be apostate. a church may not actually say they abide by the Creeds but their understanding of the Trinity, deity of Christ, etc. are in line with the creeds nevertheless. These churches are in accord with the creeds even though they may not even know what the creeds say. But any church that rejects the Trinity, the Deity and humanity of Christ, etc., can be considered apostate.

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I don't think the Oriental Orthodox would quite agree with that...

[duplicate]

KyrieEleison87 said:

I'm sorry, but the far more insidious heresy is the suggestion that "all you need is the Holy Spirit," in exclusion of the Body of Christ. Fellowship in the Body of Christ is not a nice "perk" of Christianity; it's not a luxury or add-on. It is vital and central to the Gospel. Millions of people swallowing the half-truth that the Spirit will individually "guide them into all truth," to the exclusion of the Body, is what has led to the pervasive denominationalism and every-man-for-himself mentality within Protestant Christianity. Individuals don't independently decide what is "right preaching, ordinance, and mission" for them as Christians. We are to submit to the Church as the pillar and bulwark of the truth.


What makes you think that? The Gates of Hell will never prevail against God's Church. (Mt. 16)

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I would agree with this. The scriptures state that the Church is the pillar and ground of Truth.

Ecumenism is the gateway to apostasy. When you begin to see "christianity" merging with Roman Catholicism, Islam, eastern philosophy, Hinduism, etc., then you know. Oh, btw, we are there! A list of apostate practices permeating the church today; Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, Witchcraft, Labyrinth, health wealth, psychology, and last, but not least...drum roll please... A DEPARTURE FROM THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE!

A Church not upholding the Creeds. A Church refusing to preach against sin and warn of the damage sin causes. A church that exclude certain scripture as it goes against their ways. A Church teaching "oneness (denying the Trinity). A Church teaching prosperity (you'll get rich by giving money to the pastor). A Church teaching Law keeping or works as a means to salvation. A Church bashing other denominations or sects out of bigotry and using untruths. A Church causing discord between or among the brethren. A church teaching hatred.