Apostasy begins with a Apostasy begins with a change in attitude – change in attitude –

Apostasy is fueled by a Apostasy is fueled by a change in conviction -change in conviction -

Apostasy demands a Apostasy demands a change in the application change in the application of scripture!of scripture!

Apostasy often reacts to Apostasy often reacts to criticism in a negative way criticism in a negative way further hardening the further hardening the heart!heart!

The children of Israel – The children of Israel – Judges 2:7-10; 2 Chr. Judges 2:7-10; 2 Chr. 36:15,1636:15,16

The danger of apostasy The danger of apostasy faced the early church - faced the early church - Acts 20:29-32; 2 Thess. Acts 20:29-32; 2 Thess. 2:3, 7 2:3, 7

Apostasy occurred - Apostasy occurred - 1 Cor.; Rev. 2-3; 1 Cor.; Rev. 2-3; HistoryHistory

Recent History – Recent History – Today . . . Today . . .

Emphasis of style over substance – Emphasis of style over substance – Rom. 16:17,18; Mat. 7:15; 2 Cor. Rom. 16:17,18; Mat. 7:15; 2 Cor. 11:14,15; 1 Cor. 4:611:14,15; 1 Cor. 4:6

Preaching less Bible and more Preaching less Bible and more touchy-feely stuff . . . 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 touchy-feely stuff . . . 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2Tim. 4:2

De-emphasis of Biblical authority –De-emphasis of Biblical authority –((Traditions; New Hermeneutic; Love Traditions; New Hermeneutic; Love over commandover command) 2 John 1:9; Col. ) 2 John 1:9; Col. 3:17; Lev. 10:1,23:17; Lev. 10:1,2

Equates boldness, confidence, and Equates boldness, confidence, and an uncompromising spirit with an uncompromising spirit with arrogance, while equating a soft, arrogance, while equating a soft, uncertain and compromising spirit uncertain and compromising spirit with humility. – Acts 4:29; 28:31; with humility. – Acts 4:29; 28:31; Gal. 2:5; – Ep. 6:12; 1 Tim. Gal. 2:5; – Ep. 6:12; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3; 2 Cor. 10:3-56:12; 2 Tim. 2:3; 2 Cor. 10:3-5

Can’t understand the Bible alike – (much less Can’t understand the Bible alike – (much less obey it alike) – Eph. 3:3-5; 5:17; John 14:15; obey it alike) – Eph. 3:3-5; 5:17; John 14:15; John 17:20,21John 17:20,21

A reorganization & refocus of the work of the A reorganization & refocus of the work of the church – (becoming “Socially” centered) - 1 Tim. church – (becoming “Socially” centered) - 1 Tim. 3:153:15

Worship styles subjective – (becoming Worship styles subjective – (becoming “entertainment” centered )- John 4:24; Col. “entertainment” centered )- John 4:24; Col. 3:16,173:16,17

Plan of salvation relative – (De-emphasis of Plan of salvation relative – (De-emphasis of obedience & overemphasis of grace - Some in obedience & overemphasis of grace - Some in Denominations saved ) Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Denominations saved ) Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-6; Eph. 2:8-10Rom 6:3-6; Eph. 2:8-10

Accepting Denominationalism (Views Accepting Denominationalism (Views the church as another denomination)– the church as another denomination)– 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 1:3 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 1:3

Moral Compromise - 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:3-11Moral Compromise - 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:3-11

Clamoring for a new Clamoring for a new hermeneutic – hermeneutic – Rejection of “CENI” – Rejection of “CENI” –

Rejection of Rejection of “Patternism” – “A love “Patternism” – “A love letter” - letter” - 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5; Mat. 12:7,8Heb. 8:5; Mat. 12:7,8

Fellowship to be Fellowship to be extended to those extended to those who teach, preach and who teach, preach and practice error – 1 Cor. practice error – 1 Cor. 8; Rom. 148; Rom. 14

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

Where in Corinthians, . . ., does Paul disfellowship , [sic] the Corinthians or tells them he is going to over their failure of "getting it"? The fact of the matter is there is no congregation among the Churches of Christ that I am aware of (including Highland and Woodmont Hills) that is as messed up as Corinth.  Paul excludes the immoral . . . and this is a process that occurred [sic] for several years.  At the end of the century when Clement of Rome writes to the Corinthian church . . . they are STILL havinig [sic] issues.   Shalom, Bobby Valentine restorationscholar@... Milwaukee, WI

Would Paul Would Paul have have

continued to continued to fellowship fellowship

them if they them if they refused to refused to

comply with comply with his his

instructions???instructions?????

Would Paul Would Paul have have

continued to continued to fellowship fellowship

them if they them if they refused to refused to

comply with comply with his his

instructions???instructions?????

1) the Corinthian church was in absolute chaos . . . ethically and doctrinally

2) there is only one person disfellowshiped by Paul in that Corinthian congregation and it was not over doctrinal reasons

3) The TRUTH is that in chapter 8 we have folks who were "unclear" to say the least on the doctrine of monothesism (i.e. ONLY ONE GOD) and yet Paul did not write a chapter on the folly or ignorance of paganism.  Rather he chastised those who "knew the TRUTH of the matter" for destroying one Christ died for.  Thus Paul fellowshipped those who believed idols were "real."  This is amazing. 

Bobby Valentine <restorationscholar@...> Milwaukee, WI

Would Paul Would Paul have have

continued to continued to fellowship fellowship

them if they them if they refused to refused to

comply with comply with his his

instructions???instructions?????

Would Paul Would Paul have have

continued to continued to fellowship fellowship

them if they them if they refused to refused to

comply with comply with his his

instructions???instructions?????

Diversion Tactics- If Identify Diversion Tactics- If Identify Error & Source, Charged with: Error & Source, Charged with: ““Personal Attacks”— Personal Attacks”— ““Traditionalism” –Traditionalism” –““Pharisee-ism”Pharisee-ism”““Legalism” -Legalism” -““Sectarianism!” –Sectarianism!” –

The REAL bad guys – The REAL bad guys – (according to the apostates), (according to the apostates), are those who expose them!!!are those who expose them!!!

Some among us are Some among us are dreaming of the day dreaming of the day when the "watchmen in when the "watchmen in Israel" cease to sound Israel" cease to sound the trumpets at the the trumpets at the sight of approaching sight of approaching danger and present danger and present evils!!! evils!!!

I pray that day never I pray that day never comes!!!!comes!!!!

Apostasy begins with a Apostasy begins with a change in attitude – change in attitude –

Apostasy is fueled by a Apostasy is fueled by a change in conviction –change in conviction –

Apostasy demands a Apostasy demands a change in the application change in the application of scripture!of scripture!

Apostasy often reacts to Apostasy often reacts to criticism in a negative way criticism in a negative way further hardening the further hardening the heart!heart!