Apostasy Can Happen Quickly
by Doy Moyer
Among the many lessons we learn from studying the children of Israel is that apostasy can happen within a single generation. Proximity close to the original is no guarantee of holding to the truth. This pattern happened quickly and more than once. The first generation that came out of Egypt under Moses fell into disbelief and couldn’t enter the promised land (Hebrews 3:18-19). The next generation that entered under Joshua was better, but as soon as Joshua and the elders with him were gone, they quickly fell again. The warnings were given. The exhortations were strong (Joshua 1:1-9). But it still only took less than one generation to falter. Again, proximity close to the original is not fail-proof. This is why we must continually reassess where we are and make that commitment of faithfulness to the Lord based on His revealed will. Each one within each generation bears responsibility, and the standard for behavior is the same for each. We don’t measure ourselves by the next generation in close proximity to the original, but by the standard that was to shape the original itself. Even in Scripture, while the apostles lived and taught, apostasy was happening (e.g., Corinth, churches of Asia in Revelation). The appeal was to the standard given (cf. Galatians 1:6-9).
While we appreciate the writings of early Christians from the second century onward and gain important insights (I do profit from reading them), we would be foolish to think that, because they were close to the first century, they were necessarily correct in all their practices. Nor should we think today that we should judge faithfulness by what Christians were doing in the 1950s or any previous decade.
If we follow Jesus, then we need to keep this before us continually: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48).
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
