What the Bible says about Political Revolt
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Proverbs 24:21 This proverb could cover even those given to political change: revolutionaries. It contains a warning because the desire to change things, to make something more convenient, efficient, or better—to suit ourselves!—is always within us. However, its source is Satan and his desires for change. It comes from the world, and we bring it into the church. It does not point the finger at anybody in particular because this desire is in everyone. Thus, we must possess a measure of restraint to stick to what we have been given until or unless we find a good reason to make a change. A few examples will expose a little bit of the mind of God about this desire to change. Answer this: "What kind of variety did the children of Israel in the wilderness receive from God in the way of food?" Very little. God cares little that we have a variety of things to eat. Why? Because stability is more important to Him than variety. Manna, of course, represents something far greater. Jesus compared it to eating the Word of God. He said, "I am the true manna that came from heaven" (see John 6:32-35, 48-51, 58). What, then, are we supposed to eat intellectually? What does God want us to feed our minds? Many of us like a tremendous amount of variety: novels, television shows, movies, endless entertainments, sports, social media, etc. That variety is influencing us constantly, filling our minds with what is little more than a lot of junk food that fails to build spiritual health. Do we grasp the principle? The same principle is at work in other areas as well. For instance, the only thing that keeps American capitalism working is constant change. Companies must continuously produce new things to spur the public to buy, to spend money. So, they keep changing the shape of automobiles, clothing fashions, food pairings, color preferences, and just about everything else. The typical person is convinced that because Detroit put a piece of chrome here and another there, the new year's model is tremendously better than last year's. Hair styles change. Facial hair is acceptible one year but not the next. Neckties go wide then thin. Pants have pleats in them, then they have flat fronts, and similar changes occur on cuffs and collars. Hats are in then hats are out. You name it—everything just keeps changing. Every change produces a little bit of instability, a little bit of doubt, a little bit of insecurity, and because this principle is working in us, we feel the need to follow the changes to feel accepted in society. We have become ignorant victims of this devilish system. God's pattern, however, is consistent: "I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). The most stable Being in all of the universe does not change. Conversely, we change daily, it seems, and we have a long, long way to go to become consistent. This sort of restlessness and instability led to the changes we experienced doctrinally within the church a few decades ago. Change always produces instability, which is why Solomon gives his warning: "Don't associate with those who are given to change." John W. Ritenbaugh Unity (Part 5): Ephesians 4 (B) Related Topics: Changelessness of God | Consistency | Fashion | Peace and Unity Must be on God's Terms | Political Revolt | Revolutionary

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Biblically, apostasy is rebellion against God or the abandonment of faith in God by those once enlightened by the truth. In the Old Testament, it always relates to rebellion against God. In Israel, apostasy was a capital offense. One who sacrificed to another god was to be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). If an entire city was implicated, its inhabitants were to be killed, and the city and its contents were burned and reduced to rubble (Deuteronomy 13:13-18). Incitement to apostasy was also to be punishable by death (verses 2-12). Anyone who gave his offspring to another god was to be stoned to death (Leviticus 20:2-3). In the New Testament, apostasy picks up the added meaning of "defection from the truth." The Greek word apostasia occurs in only two places: Acts 21:21 as "forsake," and II Thessalonians 2:3 as "falling away." In classical Greek, apostasia is a technical term for political revolt, defection, or rebellion, as in the Old Testament. Other words and phrases in the New Testament also express the idea of apostasy: "fall away," "lead away," "drawn away," "depart from the faith," "follow destructive ways." All refer to rebelling against God and rejecting the truth. God's church is cautioned to beware of the danger of apostasy. II Thessalonians 2:1-3 records Paul's prediction of apostasy from the truth, and Galatians 1:6 contains his amazement that it had begun so soon. A persistent danger to the church, falling away is prophesied to increase in the latter days. Paul warns us not to be deceived by any means, warning that apostasy must come before the return of Christ. Though apostasy occurs constantly, not until recently has it happened so extensively in God's church. I Timothy 4:1-2 warns that Satan's influence can lead to apostasy: ". . . in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." False teachers encourage apostasy by seducing Christians from the purity of the word to other gospels. Peter tells us it was happening in his time: "[T]here will be false teachers among you. . . . And many will follow their destructive ways" (II Peter 2:1-3). Apostasy is encouraged by false brethren. Today, some among the churches of God have their own agendas, promoting false ideas to the brethren and causing confusion (Galatians 2:4). A person who draws people away from the truth is self-seeking and full of pride. Peter also warns us not to be led away by such wicked apostates (II Peter 3:17). Apostasy increases in times of persecution (Matthew 24:9-10). The persecution of early Christians forced many to deny the faith and to offer incense to a heathen deity or to blaspheme the name of Christ. Apostasy can be caused by temptation. The Parable of the Sower mentions how those without a solid foundation in the truth believe only for a while, and in time of temptation fall away (Luke 8:13). Happy with the truth at first, they become discontent when it does not fit their lifestyles. Worldliness brings about apostasy. In James 4:4, James refers to anyone who is unfaithful to their covenant with God by neglecting their duty to Him and yielding themselves to the indulgence of their own lusts and passions. We, in effect, break our marriage covenant with God if we love the world more than we love Him (see I John 2:15). Apostasy due to worldliness consists of setting our hearts on amusement and gratification, in conforming to them, and in making them the object of our pursuit with the same spirit with which the world seeks them. Without a staunch resistance to the world's enticements, it is just as easy for a believer to be a friend of the world as for an unbeliever. Unfaithfulness or unbelief brings about apostasy. Faithlessness leads to an evil heart of rebellion against God. The author of Hebrews refers to this as "an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12-13), and later writes, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Faithlessness, rebellion, and defection from the truth are forms of apostasy. When a person apostatizes, he tramples underfoot his Savior Jesus Christ, who died so that our sins could be forgiven (Hebrews 10:28-36). Faith, obedience, and loyalty to God make it impossible for the seed of apostasy to germinate and develop into rebellion. God encourages us to endure the bombardment of heresy and to stand firm, doing His will and not our own. The faithful listed in Hebrews 11 avoided apostasy by faith and obedience (Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2). We should, therefore, take to heart the advice found in Hebrews 10:36: "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise." And so, as Christian soldiers, we can follow our Captain into battle against the enemy. Martin G. Collins Apostasy and Faith Related Topics: Apostasia | Apostasy | Apostles, False | Defection from Truth | Endurance | Faithlessness | Falling Away | False Teachers | Persecution | Political Revolt | Rebellion | Revolt

 

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