Have you ever wondered how a believer can so easily become a backslider? A backslider is one who was near to God but is sliding back into the world and its ways.
I believe that when learning stops, backsliding begins. It won’t show up for a while, but it will eventually. When we stop learning, we stop growing. And, when we stop growing, we begin to die, a little at a time, but it is happening.
A backslider becomes an outsider looking for someone or something to blame. It is never their fault. Backsliders are easily offended and hard to communicate with spiritually. They become very critical and sarcastic. Why do you think this happens? Because they know enough for it to bug them and not close enough for God to bless them.
The Bible describes a backslider as one who crucifies Christ again. They become the enemies of the church and other Christians. They go back to the world in little steps until they are again overcome by sinfulness, as Peter describes.
How sad it is for people to backslide. There is no excuse for it. God provides everything we need to overcome the sinful nature and remain true to Jesus Christ. But, we must all be warned that this condition can happen to any of us.
Gal 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” This is good advice but also shows our responsibility to help restore a backslider. The world cannot do it. The Christian knows God and God will direct him as to how to help restore others.
Backsliding can be prevented and must be for Christ’s sake. So how do we do it?
1. Be aware that it can happen to anyone. It happens to people who have been Christians a long time, and new Christians. It happens to leaders as well as followers. So everyone should beware of the devil’s schemes.
2. Stay in the Word. People who stay in the Word, stay in communication with God. To know God’s Will you must seek God’s Will for you. Each day you will learn more about God and yourself by reading the Bible. It is mandatory for survival.
3. Stay in fellowship with God’s body. You cannot serve God by staying home alone.
The greatest test of your faith is to get along with other saints. It’s impossible to be a Christian and not go to church. God cannot bless you because: you will not tithe, nor praise in public, witness in public, encourage the other saints, volunteer, nor win other people to Christ, etc. If you are not being fed in your church or serving, find another, but don’t quit.
Heb 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
See ya in church,
Bud
I had a sermon once, entitled, “Has America lost her way?” But, the sermon was really about the American Church. The church, may be, of the end time.
What do you think it will take for the American Church to again be a kingdom builder not just an attendance raiser?
The psalmist said, “restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” psalm51:12
The psalmist goes on to say what would happen. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” psalm 51:13
What is the psalmist saying? Simply that Kingdom People reflect the joy of God’s salvation to a rebellious world. They see the victory and peace that only God can bring. Until that happens we are just kidding ourselves with programs and gimmicks.
As a church, we are to win our generation and prepare and equip the next generation. This will not happen until we have a world view of evangelism. Not until we produce transformed disciple who can disciple others to a faithful and submissive life to Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ gave the masses loaves and fishes, but His messages were not ministry-building, but kingdom building. He made demands of people if they were to be in His kingdom. His message was not about keeping them but saving them, and there is a difference We cannot change the masses by making them faith partners, but they must become disciples.
The church needs to take a lesson from the world. The world is lost as far as salvation is concerned but they are not standing still. They are not waiting. They may be hurting and in turmoil but they know what they want. The terrorists are willing to die for their movement. The gay rights people are very aggressive and they are unashamed. The abortionist people drive it down our throats. The liberals out vote us and out flank us in elections.
But, what are the Christians doing? We are waiting for the rapture. God will deliver us. God will save us. So, we huddle every Lord’s day in our safe building and condemn the world for doing what they want and we play it safe. But the truth is, we are selfish, isolated, and incompetent.
We are plugged into the American Church with fads. How many different fads have been the answer to church growth in the last 50 years. The bus ministry, TV ministry, the mega church, and all kinds of technology, new books and tapes from TV preachers who market their wares. “Three principles for success” or “five principles for receiving your harvest.”
Yet, has any of this changed America? You know it hasn’t. It just helps take away some of our guilt while we wait. Not only are we not preparing the next generation but we have failed ours.
The true Kingdom Church of our day must get back to preaching truth, not to entertain, but to transform people who learn it, love it, and live the true gospel.
See ya in church, Bud