8 - 5 Keys to a Biblical Response to Apostasy: Right Motivation, Right Standard

Apostasy is a huge problem in the church today. Many people don't understand that small-scale doctrinal compomises can lead to large-scale disasters. At some point, it may be your duty as a believer to take the initiative to deal with apostasy in your own church.

Are you prepared to do it? To help equip you, right now we're looking at "5 Keys to a Biblically Loving Response to Apostasy."

Today we consider the second key: You must have the right motivation, and you must employ the right standard. The two are tightly linked.

Your motivation must be agape love -- love for Christ, love for His church. That love must be willing to demonstrate itself by taking the often very uncomfortable steps necessary to confront apostasy. Any other motivation -- pride, a desire for vengeance, anything of the flesh -- is the wrong motation.

And in dealing with apostasy, your standard must be the Word of God. "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). Any other standard is the wrong standard. Don't let persons or personalities become the standard. That also is of the flesh. God's truth is the issue.

That's our focus this week as we continue our series, Christ Above All: Studies in Colossians.