Examples of Apostasy

[Ddavid from NC]

The other thread about an against advice marriage to a non-believer and recent thread about apostasy created some thought for me and brought to recall other situations in ministry that I have had.

Example 1: A lady who was raised in a Christian family, professed Christ, frequented the altar under conviction, attended Christian counseling often, shed remorseful tears, testified and confessed sins before the congregation, and worshipped with ethusaism. Today she is married to a Mormon, has been baptized as a Mormon, and has led her three children to be baptized into that religion. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for her?

Example 2: A man raised a Mormon, comes out of the church and becomes a Christian, eventually is ordained a Pentecostal Holiness Minister and is active in the prison ministry, last Fall he resigns his church and returns to the Mormon faith. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for him?

The verse everyone was choking on says...

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6NKJV

[patricia1]

david,

Are talking about turning away from the Gospel truth or turning away from their indivdual faith/beliefs?

[Ddavid from NC]

david,

Are talking about turning away from the Gospel truth or turning away from their indivdual faith/beliefs?

Are you questioning that Mormonism is not a turn from Christianity to a false religion? Both were adequately instructed that Mormonism is a false religion.

[Richard_yaash]

The other thread about an against advice marriage to a non-believer and recent thread about apostasy created some thought for me and brought to recall other situations in ministry that I have had.

Example 1: A lady who was raised in a Christian family, professed Christ, frequented the altar under conviction, attended Christian counseling often, shed remorseful tears, testified and confessed sins before the congregation, and worshipped with ethusaism. Today she is married to a Mormon, has been baptized as a Mormon, and has led her three children to be baptized into that religion. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for her?

Example 2: A man raised a Mormon, comes out of the church and becomes a Christian, eventually is ordained a Pentecostal Holiness Minister and is active in the prison ministry, last Fall he resigns his church and returns to the Mormon faith. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for him?

Tough questions.

In example 1, I will vote 'confusion'. Based upon what you shared above, it may be possible there was no solid foundation.

In example 2, again I will vote confusion. He simply returned to that which he had known his whole life.

While I do not agree with the Mormon religion, they do have some good... ummm I am searching for the right word here... Anyway, they have a few good things. Oh yeah, like "Family Home Evening". That is something they do which is good.

[Guest man]

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6NKJV

It says what it says........if you knowingly turn your back on the Truth, there's no turning back.

[Guest man]

Example 1: A lady who was raised in a Christian family, professed Christ, frequented the altar under conviction, attended Christian counseling often, shed remorseful tears, testified and confessed sins before the congregation, and worshipped with ethusaism. Today she is married to a Mormon, has been baptized as a Mormon, and has led her three children to be baptized into that religion. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for her?

Example 2: A man raised a Mormon, comes out of the church and becomes a Christian, eventually is ordained a Pentecostal Holiness Minister and is active in the prison ministry, last Fall he resigns his church and returns to the Mormon faith. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for him?

Matthew 15

13 But He answered and said,

[patricia1]

The latter leaving mormonism, going to a christian church and decides to go back to mormonism to me never left the mormon church, a dog goes back to his own vomit. Harsh words I know but I am sorry. That man is by definition a apostate.

The first is more or less is confused and most likely for whatever reason felt a bit more comfortable with mormons. That individuals belief and faith can still grow and she has a greater hope to return than the latter for the word of God is not a lie and will not return void. Her foundation had not been set.

I have seen many rededicate thier lives and remain, staying on fire and fufill their call. (many people not momons lol)

[Guest LadyC]

ddavid, in both cases i think this is a confusion issue. i do believe that apostasy is alive and well in america today, but i don't think your examples indicate apostasy. in both cases, the individuals seem to still be seeking God, they're just really screwy about who God actually is. they haven't turned their back on Him, at least they don't know they have... and while i do believe that a person can become apostate and give up his inheritance, including the gift of eternal life, i'm a firm believer that it doesn't happen by accident, or without that person's full awareness and intent.

apostasy is the willful rejection of salvation. mormons aren't rejecting salvation, they fully believe they will be in heaven... and a higher level of heaven than the rest of us they THINK they are serving God. they WANT to be serving God. they just don't have a grasp of who God IS.

[patricia1]

lady C~~~ I understand your compassion towards them. Yet they believe we Christians are the apostate church. They believe that after the death of christ, and his death was due to being mortal born not atoning for sin, everyone fell away from christianity. Thats why they are 'Latter'

They do not believe in original sin so to speak, no need then for the blood of Jesus once again. It is a deepness of what I write above that thier foundation is not on Jesus. I do not even care about the other three books added to their canon. There doctrine denies the Cross of Christ.

[deut31:12]

The other thread about an against advice marriage to a non-believer and recent thread about apostasy created some thought for me and brought to recall other situations in ministry that I have had.

Example 1: A lady who was raised in a Christian family, professed Christ, frequented the altar under conviction, attended Christian counseling often, shed remorseful tears, testified and confessed sins before the congregation, and worshipped with ethusaism. Today she is married to a Mormon, has been baptized as a Mormon, and has led her three children to be baptized into that religion. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for her?

Example 2: A man raised a Mormon, comes out of the church and becomes a Christian, eventually is ordained a Pentecostal Holiness Minister and is active in the prison ministry, last Fall he resigns his church and returns to the Mormon faith. Is this a true Biblical case of apostasy or confusion? If apostasy, is repentance and restoration possible for him?

Apostasy - Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

Example 1 - This is biblical apostasy because she left the faith for a denomination that is not true.

Example 2 - this is also biblical apostasy as they also abandoned their faith for a denomination that is not true.

The verse everyone was choking on says...

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6NKJV

While we know through scripture that all sin is forgivable, God is going to look at the heart in this situation and probably apply this verse.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

If my heart is willing then God will more than likely allow repentance.