A Word to the Backslider
" A Word to the Backslider "
The word backslider has a negative ring to it. Most people cringe
or tighten when the name "Judas" or the word "hypocrite" is mentioned.
So it is with the term "backslider". It's like bad breath--most people
won't tell you if you have it.
Solomon advises that, "the backslider in heart shall be filled with
his own ways (Prov. 14:14). It is important that we realize that a
backslider is one who has lost fellowship, not salvation. The joy and
happiness depart, but not the Spirit.
When King David sinned so grievously and finally came to himself, he
prayed, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Ps. 51:12). He did
not pray for his salvation to return, but his joy.
The prodigal son was still a son and was restored to the fellowship
of the home upon his return.
I recently studied in the book the adventures of Simon Peter. One
chapter in his book was an experience on backsliding. He became self-
confident and boasted, "I will never forsake You, Lord." He was next
seen following afar off and soon was warming his hands by the enemy's
fire. An old Scottish woman said, "Peter had no business among the
flunkies.''
A parrot got loose and flew into the corn field with the crows. When
the farmer began to shoot crows, the parrot was wounded. While picking
up dead crows, he saw the wounded parrot and picked it up. The parrot
began to speak, "Bad company! Bad company! "
When a person lies down with dogs, he's likely to get up with fleas!
Peter's bad company and distance from the Lord's presence soon
resulted in cursing and swearing. Finally, he left the Lord to go back
to his fishing business. How sad, because it influenced several
others to do the same!
- IDENTIFYING SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING
Dr. H. A. Ironside said, "If you were ever closer to the Lord than
you are right now, you're backslidden."
Just this week a young man came to me and said, "Preacher, what's wrong with me? I don't have what I used to have." He had lost his zeal and intent, he had become distracted and was miserable.
There are several identifying signs that reveal a backslidden
condition.
- Loss of heavenly values. When the excitement of Bible truth about
the things of God is weak, worldly pleasures get a grip and claim
our interest and time. The Bible gets dull, prayer is commonplace,
church attendance does not have a pull, and living is hard. The
problem is obvious.
- 2. Loss of conviction of sin. The darkness in a restaurant is not so
bad as our eyes adjust to it. The closer to sin we get, the less we
see wrong with it.
- Lazy in service. Initiative and aggressive action is the theme of
the Bible Christian. A tombstone in an old graveyard stated "Here
rests John Brown. That is all he ever did." There are thousands
like that.
Another read:
Here lies the body of a man who did no good,
and if he had lived, he never would.
Where he's gone and how he fares,
nobody knows--and nobody cares.
- Putting people's word ahead of God's Word. Some are persuaded more
by the opinion and advice of others than the plain, clear teaching
of the Bible. They have a problem called a backslidden condition.
- Loss of testimony. We are to let our light shine. Man's Christian
character is like a tree, and his testimony is its shadow. It all
depends upon his relationship to the Son. Years ago we were having
a street meeting, and several men had given testimony of the joy of
the Lord in their life. Several churches were represented. The
leader asked a man standing on the edge of the crowd if he would
give a testimony. He bluntly answered, "I beg to be excused. I
don't have any testimony."
A lot of others don't have one either, but they don't realize it. I'm
sure there are many other signs, but let's move on to the...
- INSIGHT INTO THE CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING.
Sin for the Christian falls into two categories--sins of omission and
sins of commission. One leads to the other. Most of the causes of
backsliding are sins of omission.
- Evil thinking. When a person's heart is not pure, he will begin to
think evil. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Paul tells us
to "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." A
Christian would do well to post a guard at the doors and windows of
his mind, lest "that which entereth into a man defileth him."
- Worldly attitude. This problem is not just involvement in worldly
pleasures or desire for possessions. It is an attitude or spirit of
worldliness that may subtly creep into our lives.
- Root of bitterness. How sad to see a bitter person! They have
usually slammed the door on a lot of people who love them and are
concerned for them. Oh, the misery of a heart filled with grudge and
an unforgiving spirit!
- Self-centeredness. Some live only for themselves. Number One is all
that matters! They have never learned the blessing of living for
others. Jesus said, "Love thy neighbour as thyself."
- Prayerlessness. Dr. Leonard Ravenhill said, "If we are not praying,
we're playing." A spiritual, victorious person will delight to talk
to God in prayer and will do it at every possible opportunity. As
one preacher said, "I love to preach, and I'll preach at the drop of
a hat. If necessary, I'll drop the hat." It should be that way with
us when it comes to praying.
- Gossip. Surely no one will argue that the gossip is backsliden.
"Let all...evil speaking, be put away from you" (Eph. 4:31). Like
leaven through bread and a drop of ink in a glass of water, gossip
will spread out over the whole area and have its dread effect.
- Unbelief. To doubt is to drift. A person who is unsure will not
boldly charge ahead and accomplish things for God. Where seeds of
doubt are planted, backsliding begins to grow.
III. INSTRUCTION TO THE BACKSLIDER.
If a Christian sees signs of backsliding and understands the cause
of backsliding, he surely will be interested in the pathway home.
There are some things you can do.
- Confess your sin to God. We must come to ourselves like the
prodigal and say to the Father, "I have sinned." "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).
Solomon said, ""He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but
whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy'' (Prov.
28:13).
- Forsake your sin. It is necessary to break with sin. Let every man
be fully persuaded in his own mind. There must be a humbling and
seeking after God. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin, and will heal their land" (II Chron. 7:14).
My friend, if you find yourself backsliden and out of the pathway
of God's blessing, heed the call of Hosea, "Come, and let us return
unto the Lord." (Hosea 6:1).