Apostasy | What Does That Mean?

What does it mean to turn away from the faith? And how should we respond when someone we love is struggling to believe?

Pull up a chair in the Providence Room for What Does That Mean? In this episode, we consider apostasy, the seriousness of rejecting Christ, and the mercy that calls us to help one another hold fast to Him.

Watch the full Apostasy video on YouTube.

Scripture gives us reason to listen carefully before placing a label on someone’s struggle. The father in Mark 9 brings his unbelief to Jesus. Peter’s denial is serious, yet Jesus restores him and entrusts him with caring for His sheep. Honest questions and the need for help do not, by themselves, establish that someone has abandoned Christ.

The warnings in 1 John and Hebrews also deserve our attention. Turning away from Christ is dangerous. Romans 11 places warning alongside mercy: there is no room for boasting, and God is able to graft in again those who do not persist in unbelief. Jews and Gentiles alike depend on His mercy.

Read these passages alongside the video: Mark 9:14–29; Luke 22:31–34, 54–62; John 21:15–19; 1 John 2:18–24; Hebrews 3:7–19, 6:4–12, 10:26–31; Romans 11:17–32; John 10:27–29; Jude 20–25; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; and James 5:19–20.

Who needs you to listen, pray, and open Scripture with them? We can speak truth with gentleness, show mercy to those who doubt, and seek the restoration of those who wander. Our confidence rests in Christ, not in our ability to rescue anyone by ourselves.

Subscribe to Time For Providence for more reflections as we keep looking to Christ and encouraging one another.