Are you Backsliding?

 

 Introduction

When molten lava covered the old city of Pompeii, four prisoners with their feet fast in stocks were overtaken by the flood. They could hear the roar of the lava. Nearer and nearer the wave of death came until it spread to the door of the cell. In his fright the jailor fled, deaf to the cries of the men he had been appointed to guard. There was the door of escape, which the jailor had left open, and on the threshold of the doorway lay the key which the jailor had dropped in his flight. The key would unlock the stocks which held their feet so fast. If only they could reach the key! But it was ever just beyond their reach. It was mockery to their hopes. They fought and shrieked and tore their flesh in madness until the fumes from the distant volcano filled the cell and put an end to it all. And there lay the key just beyond their reach.

How like that old prison cell of Pompeii is sin. Fast in the stocks of evil, men are bound by the devil. They see the fateful approach of death and begin to think of a means of escape. Must they forever remain in bondage? No, there is a way of escape for every man through Jesus Christ our Lord. Faith that moves to obedience is the power that frees us from sin (Rom. 6:17, 18).

~Excerpt from “Admonition to Backsliders” by Ralph R. Givens

The Gospel Guardian, Vol. 12, Number 36, 01/19/1961

 

There may be some confusion today about whether an individual is a backsliding Christian or one that is simply struggling to maintain the faith. Either way, it’s a matter of reaching out to the brethren for assistance and not pushing them away.

As the apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:1-2, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As we have stated before, in previous articles, you do not have to do this by yourself.

 

The Difference between Backsliding and Struggling

A struggling Christian is one who, although they sin; willfully or not, will ask for God’s forgiveness, repent of that sin, and continue to walk the strait and narrow path (Mt. 7:14). Jesus never said that the life of a Christian would be easy as that would be the broad way (Mt. 7:13). Everyone wants life to be “on easy street” once they become a Christian but, in fact, it becomes more difficult as the devil tries harder to win you back.

Paul warns of this in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. When Satan no longer has you as one of his own, he increases his temptation plans to take you back.

A backslider is one who willingly turns his back on The Lord and, becoming unfaithful, won’t doing anything to correct it. The Hebrew writer warns, Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13).

This is a great victory for the devil. Although he already knows that he’s condemned to an eternity in Hell, his goal is to take as many souls with him.

 

Backsliding Israel

One of the early moments of Israel starting to backslide was at Mount Sinai; shortly after receiving the ten commandments. Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:1-4)

They had already forgotten commandments one and two (Ex. 20:2-5) when they did this. Why? Because Moses had delayed in coming back down the mountain after speaking to God. As Jesus stated in Luke 21:19, “By your patience possess your souls.”

Although 3,000 lost their lives that day (Ex. 32:25-28). The rest of the children of Israel repented.

But it doesn’t stop there. In 1 Kings 12 we learn that the tribes of Israel separate into two kingdoms. The Northern 10 Tribes become the Kingdom of Israel and the Southern 2 tribes, The Kingdom of Judah. Both were, eventually, carried off into captivity. The Northern, by the Assyrians; and the Southern, by the Babylonians.

Before Judah was completely carried away to Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah pleaded with them, “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the LORD your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the LORD. Return, O backsliding children, says the LORD; for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:12-14).

 

Remember Lot’s Wife

In the New Testament Jesus gave this warning to those who were listening. The context in Luke 17:31-36, was a warning to the Jews to make haste to get to safety when trouble loomed in the distance (the destruction of Jerusalem). They were not to turn back and gather their stuff but, simply, leave immediately.

In verse 32 Jesus says, “Remember Lot's wife.” This hearkens back to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Lot and his family were warned in 19:17, So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

When they fled, Lot’s wife turned back to look at the life they were leaving; thinking it was something she would forever miss. Of course, in doing so, she turned into a pillar of salt (verse 26).

To the struggling Christian, this is a reminder of not turning back to the world and embracing your former life. You may think of it as easier, but it is the path of destruction. As Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” When you look back at your former life, you may decide to return to it. That is backsliding.

 

Peter Walks on Water

Matthew 14:25 tells of Jesus walking on the sea to catch up with His disciples who were in a boat out in the middle. Though afraid at first, Peter says, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Verse 28) Jesus beckons him and Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water towards Jesus.

In verse 30, Peter notices a boisterous wind and becomes afraid; beginning to sink. He calls out to Jesus to save him. Jesus’ response is found in verse 31, And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When we take our eyes off of The Lord, then we begin to sink. If we do not call out for help, we will drown in sin. Don’t be so full of yourself that you can’t ask for help. As James writes, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

Christ is our anchor (Heb. 6:19) and, if we don’t rely on Him, and the brethren, we’ll drift (Heb. 2:1). That drifting will then turn to backsliding.

 

Conclusion

Going back to the story of the prisoners in Pompeii, Ralph Givens writes,

Suppose those men in the prison cell had reached the key, opened the stocks and set themselves free, what would they have done next? Does anyone think they would have turned back and locked themselves fast again? Then what of the one who having been made free from the bondage of sin by the blood of Christ so far forgets his sense of values that he turns back again to the bondage of sin. Be warned my brother or sister that a fate more terrible than death by molten lava awaits you in that condition.

A struggling Christian can become a backslider if one is persistent in their current state. For the one who says, “Do not contact me”, is a message to the others that you can do this for yourself, which is far from the truth. That’s why Paul speaks of bearing one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).

Don’t think yourself above or beneath in asking for help. The longer you try to fight this on your own, the further you slide away from The Lord. It’s time that you reach out with your hand, physically or spiritually, to be saved.