I read a number of references to apostate Christians and to righteousness in the January edition of Wisconsin Christian News. While I am in agreement I would also say that it depends where you stand as you identify these issues and how to address them.
Remember when you were 15 and 30 looked so old to you? And if you are more long lived, looking back at 30 from, say 70, makes 30 seem so young! (For that matter, even 70 looks young if you are 90!) How we identify concerns is affected by where we stand as we observe.
Anyone who is a serious student of His Word would agree that many institutional church bodies have departed from teaching the Word in its fullness. (“Apostate” means falling away from the standard. “Righteousness” is part of His standard.) I must also add that there is a difference between secular descriptions of what it means to be righteous, focusing on morality, justice, and so forth, while a Biblical definition acknowledges that God Himself is the standard for righteousness, and obedience to His ways is righteousness.
At what point did institutional Christian churches become apostate? When was righteousness no longer considered essential? (See “Free in the Spirit?” SAM article.) What do we need to do to restore righteousness in His sight?
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