Where

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Where Will It Stop???
Apostasy
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Where Will It Stop???
In its early stages, apostasy is difficult to
recognize.

• Apostasy begins with a change in attitude
• Apostasy is fueled by a change in conviction -
• Apostasy demands a change in the application of
  Scripture.
• Apostasy often reacts to criticism in a negative
  way, further hardening the heart.

Once it begins, apostasy is VERY difficult to
stop.
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Where Will It Stop???
In its early stages, apostasy is difficult to
recognize.

• Children of Israel (Judges 27-10 2 Chronicles
  3615,16)
• The danger of apostasy faced in the early church
  (Acts 2029-32 2 Thessalonians 23,7)
• Apostasy occurred (Revelation 2,3)
• Recent history and today

Once it begins, apostasy is VERY difficult to
stop.
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Apostasy Begins With a Change in Attitude

• Emphasizing style over substance Romans
  1617,18 Matthew 715 2 Corinthians 1114,15
  1 Corinthians 46
• Preaching less Bible and more touchy-feely stuff
  . . . 1 Peter 411 2
  Timothy 42
• De-emphasizing Biblical authority (Traditions
  new hermeneutic love over commands)
  2 John
  9-11 Colossians 317 Leviticus
  101,2

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Apostasy Begins With a Change in Attitude

• Equates boldness, confidence, and an
  uncompromising spirit with arrogance, while
  equating a soft, uncertain and compromising
  spirit with humility Acts 429 529 2831
  Galatians 25 Ephesians 612 1 Timothy 612 2
  Timothy 23 2 Corinthians 103-5

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Apostasy Is Fueled by Change in Conviction

• Cant understand the Bible alike (much less obey
  it alike) Ephesians 33-5 517 John 1415
  John 720,21
• Reorganization and refocus of the churchs work
  (becoming socially-centered) - 1 Timothy 315
• Subjective worship styles (becoming
  entertainment- centered) - John 424 Colossians
  316,17
• Plan of salvation is relative (de-emphasis on
  obedience and overemphasis on grace some in
  denominations will be saved) - Mark 1616 Acts
  238 Romans 63-6 Ephesians 28-10

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Apostasy Is Fueled by Change in Conviction

• Accepting denominationalism (viewing the church
  as another denomination) 1 Corinthians 110-13
  Ephesians 13 44-6.
• Moral compromise 1 Corinthians 69-11
  Ephesians 53-11 Galatians 519-21

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Apostasy Demands a Change in the Application of
Scripture

• Clamoring for a new hermeneutic rejection of
  CENI
• Rejection of Patternism A love letter 2
  Timothy 113 Hebrews 85 Matthew 127,8
• Fellowship to be extended to those who teach,
  preach, and practice error - 1 Corinthians 8
  Romans 14

I Love Jesus
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Apostasy Demands a Change in the Application of
Scripture
Would Paul have continued to fellowship them if
they had refused to comply with his
instructions???
Where in Corinthians, . . ., does Paul
disfellowship , sic the Corinthians or tell
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 having
sic issues.    Shalom, Bobby Valentine
restorationscholar_at_... Milwaukee, WI
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Apostasy Demands a Change in the Application of
Scripture
Would Paul have continued to fellowship them if
they refused to comply with his instructions???
1) The Corinthian church was in absolute chaos .
. . ethically and doctrinally 2) There is only
one person disfellowshipped 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
Milwaukee, WI
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Apostasy Often Reacts to Criticism in a Negative
Way

• Diversion Tactics - If we identify error and its
  source, were charged with
• Personal Attacks
• Traditionalism
• Phariseeism
• Legalism
• Sectarianism
• The REAL bad guys (according to the apostates),
  are those who expose them!!!

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Conclusion

• Some among us are dreaming of the day when the
  "watchmen in Israel" cease to sound the trumpets
  at the sight of approaching danger and present
  evils!!!
• Pray that day never comes!!!!

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Where Will It Stop???
In its early stages, apostasy is difficult to
recognize.

• Apostasy begins with a change in attitude
• Apostasy is fueled by a change in conviction -
• Apostasy demands a change in the application of
  Scripture.
• Apostasy often reacts to criticism in a negative
  way, further hardening the heart.

Once it begins, apostasy is VERY difficult to
stop.
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Where Will It Stop???
Apostasy