10/11/11 FOUR PHASES IN FALLING AWAY

10/11/11 FOUR PHASES IN FALLING AWAY

I have watched new believers, in the wake of their new life, commitment and relationship with Christ move away from their position (relationship) of eager and ready obedience. I have added a comment that follows the faltering steps of a fallen former follower of Christ.

FOUR ATTITUDES...
Disappointed,

Discouraged,

Disgruntled and

Disobedient.

A new believer starts his relationship with Christ by surrendering everything he cares about to God, with the intention of continued surrender.
1- I have watched as the early zeal and commitment begins to fade. As time goes by, God requires something from him that he did not expect and he becomes DISAPPOINTED that he has to either do something or lose something, if he is to continue to walk in faith.

2- This continues over a period of time, and eventually the narrow way becomes narrower, requiring more surrender. But because the habit of negative reaction intensifies, the believer becomes DISCOURAGED. This is because he has allowed the desires of his heart to turn back to the things of this world or because he fears the cost of discipleship. (this is seen in the parable of the sower and the seed, Luke 8:11-14). As in other relationships, we will either draw closer to Christ or move further from Him (1 Corinthians 15:58, Colossians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, James 1:14).

3- The person who does not overcome his disappointment and discouragement will become DISGRUNTLED (Dissatisfied) and will become more overtly antagonistic to the call to discipleship. Notice, the person may be submitting to the commands of God, but their heart is moving further from Him.

4- This disgruntlement finally turns into DISOBEDIENCE. Actually, we can see this played out in Psalm 1, where the negative attitude moves from WALKING IN COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, to STANDING IN THE WAY OF SINNERS and finally, SITTING IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL. The spiritual posturing becomes more settled and defiant (walking, standing and sitting). The person moves from the ungodly to the sinner to the scornful.