Have you ever played the classic game Jenga? In this game of skill, wooden blocks are stacked together to construct a tower. Players take turns removing one block at a time without causing the tower to fall. As blocks are removed and placed on top of the tower, so the structure gets progressively taller and less stable. Finally, the game ends when someone has the unlucky turn of pulling out the key block that makes the whole structure tumble and fall apart.
Many in the church are playing theological Jenga. They are pulling out one doctrinal truth or moral precept after another, leaving gaping holes as the citadel of faith grows ever weaker and shaky. Inevitably, when that critical block is pulled, the whole thing collapses in a jumbled pile.[1] Of course, we know that the true Church can never be fully defeated (Matt. 16:18), but it’s evident that the foundations of The Faith are being destroyed before our eyes (Ps. 11:3).
Consider just a few stats. In the wake of COVID-19, Barna Research president David Kinnaman has indicated that as many as 20% of churches in the US could shut their doors permanently by the end of the year.[2] Several Christian denominations, including Pope Francis, have abandoned traditional views of sexuality, marriage and family in favor of affirming the LBGTQ lifestyle. In fact, the United Methodist Church is on the verge of splitting over the issue.[3] Meanwhile, Millennials are not only the most unchurched generation in U.S. history, but those who are involved in church are the most biblically illiterate – with 65% of church-going Millennials believing that “If you are a good person, then you will go to heaven.”[4]
All indications seem to signal that the Western church is teetering. We should not be surprised because long ago the Bible predicted a great apostacy coinciding with Earth’s last days. In 2 Thess. 2:3, Paul makes it clear that the Day of the Lord, a time of worldwide judgment (Is. 13:6-9; Joel 3:15, Mal. 4:5), will not transpire until two things happen. First, the falling away, or great apostasy, and second, the “man of lawlessness” or Antichrist must be revealed.
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness s revealed, the son of destruction (2 Thess. 2:3).
The Greek word translated “rebellion” or “falling away” in verse 3 is apostasia, from which we get the English word apostasy. It refers to a general defection from the true God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. Every age has its defectors, but the falling away of the end times will be complete and worldwide. Take note of the definite article “the” used in this verse. “The” indicates that there will be a specific and unique apostasy. As the hour grows late, the whole planet will be in rebellion against God and His Gospel, just as it was in the days of Noah (Gen. 6:5; Matt. 24:37).
Paul also wrote to Timothy about the same reality saying, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1). Jesus posed the question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Bible commentator John Phillips adds, “The river of apostacy is rising today. The ‘perilous times’ of which Paul wrote about are upon us. Soon the river will overflow its banks as all the tributaries of delusion and deception join the mainstream. When it reaches flood level, that river will inundate the earth in the final apostacy, which is the enthronement of the Devil’s messiah as god and king . . . Some think we can look for a worldwide spiritual awakening before the Rapture of the church, but this passage in 2 Thessalonians indicates the opposite; a global departure from the faith can be expected. God might indeed send revival before He calls the church home, but the Scriptures do not prophesy one.”[5]
This is a difficult beast
to wrestle with, and I’m not sure there’s any way to tame it. These things must
come to pass in order for God’s will and prophetic plan to be accomplished. We
may not like it, but we can have hope in the midst of it because its confirmation
that the Bible is true. In days of apostasy and apathy we must shore up our
foundation like never before. Like Nehemiah, we must bear the sword in one hand
and the trowel in the other as we build and battle. -DM
[1]
Mark Hitchcock and Jeff Kinley, The Coming Apostacy (Carol Stream, IL:
Tyndale, 2017), 64.
[2] Rudy Gray, “How Many Churches Will Close?” Baptist Courier, 11 October 2020 <https://baptistcourier.com/2020/10/how-many-churches-will-close/>
[3] “With
split over gay marriage delayed, United Methodists face a year in limbo,” Associated
Press, 5 May 2020 <https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/split-over-gay-marriage-delayed-united-methodists-face-year-limbo-n1200236>
[4]
Ken Ham, Gospel Reset (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2018), 27-31.
[5]
John Phillips, Exploring the Future (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2003),
225, 269.
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