The Classification of Apostasy by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 18, 1913

The Classification of Apostasy

By Francis M. Wilcox

Apostasies from the church of God have been varied in their character. The time, the circumstances, the environment, the temperament of individuals, the cause of grievances,—all have had to do with shaping the course of those who turn their backs upon the truth. The record of the church, as brought to view in the Scriptures, makes of these deflections three general classifications, as follows:—

1. Those who apparently shut the truth out of their knowledge, and turn from it and from all religious experience and conviction to the allurements of the world. Of this class was Demas, of whom Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.”

Demas at one time was a fellow laborer with the apostle, and in the epistles to Philemon and to the church at Colosse, united in the salutation with his other fellow workers. But the influence of the world appealed too strongly to his natural temperament. He failed to keep all on the altar. Little by little he yielded to the temptation held before him, until finally he could resist no longer. The record is that in his love for the world he forsook the cause of Christ. From this time forward Demas drops out of sight. We have no record that he opposed the gospel work. He went his way, and permitted the church of Christ to go its way. In this respect his course was certainly more commendable than that of some others who departed from the faith.

2. Those who apostatize from the truth and then turn and openly oppose it. Of this class was Diotrephes, who, while he still maintained his official position, erected the standard of revolt, cast out from his fellowship all who did not harmonize with his methods, and with malicious words fought the apostle John and the work of the church. Of him John in this third epistle writes:—

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

In the apostasy of this man Satan sought to secure double advantage. He not only drew him from the ranks of the believers, but caused him in turn to become the enemy of his former brethren. Diotrephes, however, had one distinguishing characteristic by which his former associates might know the position he occupied. He carried on an open warfare. He did not profess allegiance to the church of God and then secretly undermine it. As far as we are afforded information, his fight against the church and the authority of the church was open and unmistakable. In consequence, his former associates were left undeceived as to his real attitude, and therefore knew how to relate themselves to the new movement.

3. The third classification of apostasy is the one most insidious in its workings and pernicious in its influence. It is represented in the Bible by such men as Hymenaeus and Philetus, of whom Paul writes in his second epistle to Timothy. These men evidently, while yet members of the church of Christ, advocated doctrines entirely subversive of gospel truth. They argued that the resurrection was already past. They struck at the very foundation of the gospel. Their word had its effect. It ate its way into the simple faith of the Christian believers as a corroding canker. Of their work the apostle Paul writes:—

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”

There came a time, however, when the work of these men became manifest to the church, for the apostle speaks of some who had made shipwreck of the faith, “of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

In this third class of opposers were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and others mentioned in the Scriptures of Truth. Posing as conservators of the truth, covertly and little by little they corrupted its simplicity in the minds of the believers. Against those who sought to meet their errors and protect the church of God from their pernicious influence, they raised the cry of persecution. They posed as martyrs to the right. They claimed for themselves loyalty to the cause, and charged the truly loyal ones with apostasy. They regarded themselves as cast out for the cross of Christ, and when Heaven manifested its displeasure of their course by visiting upon them divine retribution, their sympathizers declared to Moses, “Ye have killed the people of the Lord.”

These three classes have had their representatives in every age. Their prototypes exist today. The history of this movement in which we are engaged has seen men separate from the cause of truth and follow in the path of those who have gone before them. Some, like Demas, have left the third angel’s message and gone to the world. They are lost in the great vortex which has swallowed up the thousands. They have given no apparent opposition to their former brethren; they have dropped out of sight as far as this movement is concerned. They have evilly affected the work only as far as the personal influence of their apostasy extended.

Others have left the truth and have come to be its bitterest and most outspoken opposers. They have written and spoken against this movement. They have, of course, accomplished an evil work. They have created prejudice in the hearts of some who otherwise would have listened to the message. In small measure they have drawn off disciples after them. But with this class, the same as with Diotrephes and Alexander, it was known where they stood. Their onslaughts could be met and repelled. The sheep of the fold could be shielded as from a roaring lion.

But others, it is to be regretted, while professing to be loyal supporters of the truth, have opposed it, and secretly worked to undermine its power and influence in the lives of the believers. Claiming they have been misjudged and mistreated, and appealing to sympathy for support, they have sought in the rôle of martyrs to secure a following among their associates.

And in this day, as in the days of the apostle Paul, every effort to unmask these specious workings and preserve the truth in its purity and the church of God in its unity, is looked upon by some as stern and tyrannical. The apostle, however, did not so regard it. Of his attitude toward this class of opposers in his day he says:—

“To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

And of this same class Jude exhorts the church:—

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

It is for the church of God today, even as in every age of the past, to fortify itself against these evil influences. We have been told by the spirit of prophecy that in the closing days of this work some of the brightest lights would go out in darkness. The greatest danger we have to meet is not from open opposition. It is from men and women who profess to be Seventh-day Adventists, but whose teaching and conduct demonstrate that they are endeavoring to tear down the work which the truly loyal believers are giving their lives to build up. Against such deception as this we need to be particularly on guard.

To individuals who are doing this work, however highly esteemed in the past, we must not give support. To do so is to be counted partakers with them in their disintegrating influence. Says the apostle John, speaking of the effort to corrupt the truth of the gospel:—

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

While we seek to manifest toward all classes Christian charity, let us not confound charity with unwise sympathy nor mistake license for liberty. Let us “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” and instead of confirming men in wrong positions by our attitude, show clearly where we stand in the conflict between truth and error. These times and the issues before us admit of no divided or neutral positions. It is as true of this work as of the gospel message in Christ’s day that he who gathers not with it, scatters abroad. Let us see to it that our influence is cast unmistakably on the side of God and his truth. F. M. W.