Apostate Christianity, 'true' Christianity

Q Dear Bill, you mention apostate Christianity from time to time. Is there such a thing as true Christianity? Where would one go to find it if there is? Leah.

A. There are several parts to your question, so let’s take the first part. The word “apostate” means to desert one religious faith or party. The term in Hebrew for messiah is “Mashiach”, and the Greek word is “christos” where we get “Christ” from. From these terms we get the word in English “messianic” and from the Greek form we get “christian.”

So, the 1st century believers were called “mashiachim” (christian). Now, Messianic and Christian are really the same word and idea. In the 1st century, if you had a messianic expectation (belief in a coming messiah) you were called “messianic.” When Yeshua came and fulfilled the requirements of the Messiah, and believed in Him, you were “messianic” from the Hebrew perspective and understanding of the word. The Messiah Himself kept the commandments and taught those that believed in Him to do the same.

The “shaliachim” or “sent ones” (apostles) were sent out to tell the world that Messiah had come and to have “emunah” (where “amen” comes from) or faith, in Him. The word for faith in the scriptures is a verb and it means to have action. In other words, if you had faith in something it would be accompanied by action. So, if you have faith in G-d, the accompanied action would be obedience to his Word found in the commandments. Obedience doesn’t save you, it is the result of real faith. We are saved by grace (G-ds action), by faith (our action).

If one has real, biblical faith energized by the Holy Spirit, it will result in obedience to His word. If one says he has faith, but rejects the commandments, there is something wrong. In the Gospels and the Epistles, it is clear that the believers kept the commandments. They all did and they taught them wherever they went. As time went by, false teachers were appearing telling people they did not have keep the commandments (obey G-d actually) and for various reasons I have already explained over the years, this idea caught on.

The so-called “church fathers” , coming from pagan back-grounds and Greek/western thought for the most part, began to incorporate the concepts into their theologies that have been passed down through this system ever since. These thoughts and beliefs, foreign to the scriptures and Hebrew thought, where accepted and codified officially in 325 at the Council of Nicea.

Constantine, who was a sun worshipper till the day he died, brought together these various elements into what was called “Christianity” and the beginnings of the Catholic Church. Protestants are still in obedience to the Catholic Church in such things as Christian holidays, Sunday worship, L-rds supper, and many other theological doctrines. Having been both raised Catholic and trained in Catholic and Protestant educational institutions, I can attest to what is being taught first-hand With that back-ground, the answer to your question is any religious group or institution that does not believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and /or teaches that the Law has been “done away with” is apostate Messianic/Christian.

If you are attending any group that teaches that you are “free from the Law”, that it was “nailed to the cross”, that says Sunday is now the L-rds day, that says you can eat whatever you want (pork, catfish, shell-fish, shrimp. Lobster, bloody meats, etc), that celebrates Christmas on December 25th, Easter, St. Valentines Day, and various other holidays , that has statues and pictures of G-d,“Jesus” or the “saints”(Deut 4.15-19), then you are involved with apostate Christianity because it has departed from what G-d intended in the scriptures.

True “Christianity/Messianic” holds fast to the Word as its rule and guide in faith and practice, is grounded in the Torah and can show how Yeshua is the promised Messiah. There is a true “faith” but don’t look to organizations and churches. True faith is a relationship with the L-rd Himself and He will show you other believers as you walk in faith. The true assembly is not a building or a group, it is individual believers everywhere who know the L-rd and walk in obedience to His word.

There are many out there, a remnant if you will, who have heard the voice of their Shepherd and follow Him. But, to follow this G-d, you must come out of spiritual “Egypt” into the wilderness of Sinai, here that voice that still speaks from that mountain today, following the pillar of fire and the Ark of the Covenant to the Promised Land, where your journey only begins. There you will face the Canaanites( merchants:those in it for money) and you will have to fight for your inheritance the rest of your life and take the land.

The Amorites (false professors) will try to deceive you, the Hittites (terror) will try to put fear into you. The Hivites (livers) who think they are “alive” in the L-rd but are not will try and stop you. The Jebusites (trodden down) will try to walk all over you. The Perrizites (squatters) with no legitimate claim to the L-rd will try to stop you. So, there you have an idea of what I mean by “apostate” and I hope this helps.