Surely, one of the most troubling and heartbreaking scenarios within our fellowship is to see someone “depart from the faith.” Sadder still, at least to me personally, is when one departs from the faith and then attempts to defend “doctrines of devils” and begins “speaking lies” concerning God’s Truth (1 Timothy 4:1-2). What causes a person to abandon the Truth and to attempt to defend false doctrine and error? While there are most likely many “causes,” consider the following as possibilities.
Insult. One thing that causes some to “depart from the faith” is a bitter experience among brethren. Maybe a person feels he got a raw deal from an eldership or suffered an insult or an emotional injury from another member of a congregation. Sadly, such insults are anything but pleasant. Not every eldership conducts itself kindly, not every preacher is always as tactful as he should be, and not every member is as compassionate and courteous as he or she ought to be either. Even Christ, our example, suffered greatly at the hands of so-called friends (i.e., Judas, Peter, the Jews, et al.). Jesus reminded us that there will be heartaches and offences (Matthew 10:24-25; 16:24). Paul had to write an entire letter to a congregation that was not kind to one another (1 Corinthians). However, we must remember that while sometimes our experiences with other Christians are not always what we wish, we are not attached to the Truth or the church because of other members! We are attached to the Truth and added to the church because of our compassionate, kind, merciful and wonderful Savior (Acts 2:36-47). I do not want to give up eating completely because one food gives me heartburn, and neither do I want to give up what sustains me and feeds me spiritually because an unpleasant situation gives me spiritual heartburn.
Immaturity. Others depart because they have simply not matured in the faith. While we often think of new converts as immature, sometimes immaturity persists in a person who has been in the church for many years. Coming to church in and of itself will never mature one’s Christianity! That is not to disdain or minimize the need to assemble regularly, but we must understand Christian growth comes not because of hearing only but also doing (James 1:22). We must know the doctrine, but we must also put that doctrine into practice. For some, Christianity is simply putting on a front while in the building, but upon exiting they forget that they are to put into practice what they learned. Growth requires effort, examination and a craving to be like Jesus. Growth is not automatic nor is it easy (2 Peter 1:5-9)!
Self-Importance. Pride and arrogance have surely claimed the souls of many who have departed from the faith. People sometimes want to be perceived as wise and knowledgeable. So, the simple Gospel message, that never changes, becomes dull and boring to them. Thus, they attempt to find some new truth to attempt to display their scholarly abilities. Scholarship without the Truth is like a ship without a compass or a rudder! True scholarship is knowledge of the “old paths” (Jeremiah 6:16). I have known some fellow preachers who have succumbed to this temptation. In an attempt to be “wise,” they became as fools (Romans 1:22ff). We would do well to aspire for what Paul aspired. “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). As Christians, the message we proclaim and the lives we live are not about us but rather about Jesus Christ! Our goal is to daily reflect His marvelous light (Matthew 5:16). When we fall into the mental trap that the truth and the church are about us, we have lost our spiritual focus and are on a fast spiral downward.
While some will depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1ff; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, et al.), and as heartbreaking as that is, such does not have to be the case for us. When we suffer insult, let us respond with affection; instead of remaining immature, let us advance; instead of assuming self-importance, let us be abased. In the midst of some who had departed from the faith, Jude’s inspired words are of great encouragement.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 20-25)
