Wall Paper

Non-Christian seldom have to look far to find a hiding place for their guilty consciences behind a backslidden Christian. The usual refuge sounds like this: "If that is what a Christian is, I want no part of Christianity." Even though such an excuse will sound lame indeed when given at God's judgment, it has enough credence to keep multitudes away from Jesus Christ.

Backsliding is the spiritual condition characterized by broken fellowship with God, an excursion into the actions or thoughts that characterized the previous, unsaved state. It is a malady of the Christian, rather than of the unbeliever, for both the Old and New Testaments speak of backsliding as unfaithfulness practiced by one who has come into a covenant relationship with God. The Hebrew word translated "backsliding" in the Old Testament means "turning aside'" denoting a deviation from proper standards. While the specific word "backsliding" does not occur in the New Testament, warning against its hazards abound.

The prophets forcefully rebuked the nation of Israel for spiritual prostitution with idols, and termed it backsliding (Jeremiah 2, 3). While the individual idolaters evidently were not believers, the nation as a whole was still the object of God's gracious covenant. When the individual believer backslides. God's covenant is not voided. Rather, because He honors His covenant and loves His redeemed, He urges, awaits, and rewards the return of His errant children.

Backsliding is often defined with reference to conspicuous and gross moral infractions. The Bible records the spiritual lapses of even the heroes of faith, revealing David's adultery (II Samuel 11), Abraham's lies (Genesis 12, 20) and Peter's cursing (Matthew 26). As with the man whose blatant immorality earned the church at Corinth the ridicule of unbelievers, so today, backsliders sabotage the testimony of local churches (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

But backsliding most frequently takes more subtle forms. Moses warned the Israelites that affluence would produce pride, and they would forget God's commandments (Deuteronomy 8:11-14). Hosea indicated the covenant nation, conveying God's message, "My people are bent to backsliding from Me….none at all exalts Him" (Hosea 11:7). Backsliding does not require an overt, flagrant act; it can easily overtake someone who allows his priorities to be ordered so as to eclipse God's glory. Also, devotion to God decrease, for the Bible warns that "because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall was cold" (Matthew 24:12). After praising the Ephesian church for their noble Christian example in the past, the inspired Apostle John wrote "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first" (Revelation 2:4-5).

Believers who backslide should be aware that attempts to serve God while disobedient result in no lasting reward. "No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work: If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Otherwise good deeds, when done by one rebelling against God, are seen as unworthy by God who examines men's hearts. Warning of the apostasy in the end times, Peter wrote, "You therefore beloved brethren, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness" (II Peter 3:17).

God promises restored fellowship and spiritual blessing to repentant backsliders. To Israel, He promised, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely" (Hosea 14:4). "They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine" (Isaiah 29:24). God's Word through Jeremiah is unmistakable. "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord,….and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God….and yet have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord: turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you; and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion" (Jeremiah 3:12-14).