Below are some accounts
in the Bible of the churches falling away.
The political
leadership of Israel, for the most part, had almost immediately set
themselves against Jesus for the same reason the unrighteous, who hold
political offices or other "leadership" roles always do. They fear
losing their control and access to other peoples wealth that the office
provides them. However they feared openly killing Jesus and later his
apostles because the people were attentive to hear them. If they openly
took them and put them to death the people might rise and remove them
from their positions of power. So the murder of Jesus and then later
attempted murders of his apostles where done with subterfuge. They
needed to fool the people. Turn them against them. Make it look like
they had to take these actions. It wasn't until the stoning of Stephan
and the mass persecution of believers that followed that the cloak of
deception was thrown away. Now it was open. Most believers were driven
from Jerusalem. They were persecuted internationally. This progressive
falling away from the light of Jesus was driven by the spirit of
anti-Christ and in the end, was part of what caused the destruction of
Judea by the Romans. Who themselves, were now being driven by that same
spirit. There is almost to much to go through to show this. It's just
part the story of the four Gospels and the Book of Acts.
Here is where
we can see the church in Jerusalem falling away. All though there are
many more references to this in other letters. This one in Galatians
should suffice to show how the church in Jerusalem in the book of acts
was falling away. Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen
years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus
with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them
that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them
which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in
vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled
to be circumcised: 4 And that because of
false brothers unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy
out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us
into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an
hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of
these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it makes no matter
to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat
in conference added nothing to me: Now on to the book of acts
where you can see how even the Apostle Paul was pressured into
participating in animal sacrifice. The church in Jerusalem was now
officially sanctioning the idea of the sacrifice of Jesus was not alone
sufficient for the forgiveness of sins and restoration to Gods
government. That would seem to go way beyond the arguments about
circumcision and foods.
Acts 21:17 And when we
were come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 And the day
following Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were
present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what
things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when
they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see,
brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they
are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of you, that you
teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying
that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after
the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come
together: for they will hear that you are come. 23 Do therefore this
that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them
take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that
they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof
they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself
also walk orderly, and keep the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which
believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing,
save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and
from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 26 Then Paul took
the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the
temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification,
until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. 27
And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia,
when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid
hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that
teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this
place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted
this holy place.
Now two stories of the Apostles themselves being
rejected by the very churches they started.
3rd John 1: 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in truth. .... 9 I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to
have the preeminence among them, receives us not. 10 Why, if I come, I
will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious
words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the
brothers, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He
that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.
Here we have the Apostle John, of all people, and his fellow laborers
not being allowed to preach in a church he started! The church
"leadership" is actually kicking people out of the church who allow John
and his fellow laborers into their homes.
We also see the same thing with the Apostle
Paul. Once these organic churches became institutionalized and had
"leadership" positions that needed filled. Those who sought those
positions began to act in their own interests rather than God's.
It is what Paul meant when he said in:
Philippians 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly
unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things
which are Jesus Christ's. Paul was now in prison.
Writing to Timothy, perhaps about this very assignment. He exhorted him
to have courage against what was opposing him and said.
2nd Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all they which are in Asia be
turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. So
here, the very churches Paul and his fellows started. Churches that went
from having elders to help them but became institutionalized and
embraced leadership positions. Now those leaders are taking the
opportunity of Paul's imprisonment to basically kick him out of the
churches they now control. If this is the scenario he is sending Timothy
into. No wonder he spends a lot of time in the first chapter of
2nd Timothy exhorting him to face the afflications ahead of him with
courage, love, and faith.
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