What is Apostasy?
Based on "How to Find a Courageous Church" - Pages 3-4
Key Definition
Apostasy is when a person or group who once professed to be Christian rebels against Christ and starts doing the work of the anti-Christ by deconstructing Christianity.
The Military Origin
The book explains: "The original Greek word for 'apostasy' was derived from treason in battle. A military term, it referred to war when a soldier abandons their nation, betrays their king, and joins the enemy side of the battle."
Think of it this way:
An apostate is like a soldier who deserts to the enemy. They once wore your uniform and knew your secrets. Now they use that knowledge to fight against you. This makes them more dangerous than someone who was never on your side.
The Example of Judas
The Most Famous Apostate
"The most famous apostate is Judas Iscariot, who spent three years as a leader in Jesus' ministry, stealing from Him the entire time, and plotting with enemies to murder the King of Kings by the power of Satan, whom Judas welcomed to possess him."
Judas's pattern reveals key characteristics of apostasy:
- Insider Status: He was one of the twelve, trusted and given authority
- Hidden Sin: He was stealing from the ministry's money bag the entire time
- Gradual Betrayal: His apostasy developed over three years
- Demonic Influence: He eventually "welcomed Satan to possess him"
- Active Opposition: He didn't just leave - he actively worked to destroy
Apostate Denominations
The book states: "Many formerly Christian denominations are apostate, as demons love to run denominations and turn them into abominations."
Denominations Identified as Apostate:
- United Methodists
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- United Church of Christ (UCC)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
- Some Mennonite churches
- Church of England
- Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA)
- Episcopal Church (ECUSA)
- Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
"They may have beautiful buildings, but the Spirit of God is not there, and the Word of God is not honored. Their buildings are nice coffins for people with dead souls."
Apostasy vs. Non-Christian Religions
Apostate Groups
Once professed Christianity but have abandoned core doctrines. They use Christian language and meet in church buildings, making them deceptive.
More dangerous because they appear Christian while teaching false doctrine.
Non-Christian Religions
Groups like Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians are "not Christian but are pretending to be Christian." They have "a different Jesus and a different gospel."
Easier to identify because they openly hold different beliefs.
Signs of Apostasy
How to recognize when a church or denomination has become apostate:
1. Abandoning Biblical Authority
Treating the Bible as a human document that can be reinterpreted or overruled by modern culture.
2. Denying Core Doctrines
Rejecting the Trinity, deity of Christ, virgin birth, physical resurrection, or exclusive salvation.
3. Affirming What Scripture Forbids
Celebrating abortion, same-sex marriage, transgenderism, or other sins as good.
4. Interfaith Worship
Participating in worship or prayer with non-Christian religions as if all paths lead to God.
5. Prioritizing Culture Over Scripture
Changing doctrine to match current cultural trends rather than standing on biblical truth.
What Scripture Says About Apostasy
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared."
- 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (ESV)
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
- 1 John 2:19 (ESV)
The Deconstruction Movement
The book describes apostates as "doing the work of the anti-Christ by deconstructing Christianity." The modern "deconstruction" movement often leads to apostasy when people:
- Question not to understand, but to undermine
- Reject biblical authority in favor of personal experience
- Abandon historic Christian beliefs as outdated
- Redefine Christianity to exclude its essential doctrines
- Publicly renounce their faith while claiming to be "more enlightened"
What To Do
If you're in an apostate church:
- Recognize the danger: Your spiritual health is at risk
- Leave: "Stay clear of anything in mainline, progressive Protestant denominations"
- Find a faithful church: Use the seven criteria in the book to find a Bible-teaching church
- Pray: For those still in apostate churches to find the truth
How We Use This
On Righteous Fellowship, we identify apostate churches and denominations based on:
- Denial of essential Christian doctrines
- Affirmation of what Scripture forbids (LGBTQ+ leadership, same-sex marriage, etc.)
- Abandonment of biblical authority
- Woke indicators and virtue signaling
Churches and denominations marked as apostate receive the lowest courage ratings and are listed on our Churches to Avoid page.
