2222.—The Church and Apostasy.
By W. E. R.
Did the church of Christ ever go into apostasy, and, if so, has she ever been restored again? By whom, and when, and where?
W. E. R. Yes, the church of Christ has gone into apostasy, if by that is meant backsliding. Of course there is utter apostasy, from which there is no recovery. But to go back to the Israel of God, we have several instances. Israel is called, in Acts 7:38, the “church in the wilderness,” when that people started out of Egypt. We have one of these apostasies recorded in the thirty-second chapter of Exodus; the people were restored again by the Lord thru Moses. Another noted apostasy in the days of Samuel is recorded in the first chapters of 1 Samuel; they were restored thru the ministrations of Samuel the prophet. We have another great apostasy in the days of Elijah. See 1 Kings 16-19. Here also God found a faithful remnant who would respond to the call of His prophet. Another great apostasy was at the time of the first advent. Many of those who were in darkness yielded to the preaching of John the Baptist, others to Christ and His disciples. Respecting such movements as that, the apostle Paul calls those who come out of the apostasy the “remnant,” and he cites as illustration the remnant in the days of Elijah, and declares that “Even so then at this present time also [that is, in his day] there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Rom. 11:5. The church apostatized, foretold by apostolic expressions in the writings of the apostle. Even in his own day, Paul declared, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thess. 2:7. In another place he declares that after his departure should men arise speaking perverse things, and drawing away disciples after them. Acts 20:29, 30. And yet there was a great revival again thru the persecutions which came upon the church in the better preaching of God’s word in the second century. Very great apostasy followed that, but at the time of the Reformation, by the preaching of the word thru Luther and other Reformers, God again called out the “remnant” to glorify His name. So it was in the time of the Wesleys; so it will be in the last days. God’s church is continuous. Sometimes she is found in the wilderness; sometimes she is found broken and weary by the way; sometimes strong and faithful, clad in her beautiful garments; sometimes sitting in the dust and mourning; yet is she God’s church. Her existence has been continuous. In all the worst of her backsliding there has been found the true remnant who would heed God’s message and respect His call.