What Does it Mean to Backslide?

Dear family,

In the Christian world, you often hear talk about backslidden Christians. This even though the word never appears in the New Testament. It is an Old Testament concept meaning to fall away. In Zephaniah, chapter 1 we read of judgment being called down on Judah because they have forsaken the ways of the Lord to embrace false gods and idolatrous ways, That I believe is what backsliding is about. It is more than just changing churches or doing as I have done going from being a Charismatic /Pentecostal to an independent Catholic church from out of the Old Catholic faith. Yet I still love the Lord and think more now than ever. I am more at peace with God than I ever was before. Not necessarily for everyone but is the path the Lord has led me on.

So can Christians backslide? Some would say no, never, once saved always saved. Therefore you can never backslide as that would imply a denial of the Lord which is either impossible or immaterial as were saved and nothing can change that. In Matthew 13th chapter we have the parable of the sower who scatters seed in many places. Some of it sprouts but never grows to full maturity. Satan or the things of this world steal what was sown. Therefore it never grows to maturity. I would say since they never got to know the Lord fully, therefore could not have backslidden. How about those who fall away in times of war or other things in which they fear for their lives? Later they come and want to be restored and given all the rights privileges and entitlements of church membership. Backslidden possibly if they denied the Lord for whatever reason. However, I believe they can and should be welcomed back into the church and forgiven. Jesus welcomes all and forgives all who confess their sins and ask for his forgiveness, and the church can do no less. Can one be backslidden and still attend church or be a member of one? One may attend church out of habit or have joined a church at some point but now their hearts have grown cold toward him. However by listening to the word of God being preached the Holy Spirit can move on him, and convict him of his sin so he repents and accepts and makes a decision to follow Jesus.

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul speaks of two men who were workers with him who forsook him and returned to the world.. If they were working with Paul then I think we can presume they were believers. In forsaking Paul they may well have forsaken Christianity for the allurement of the world. That for me describes a backslidden person. It is one who made a profession of faith in Jesus, started to follow him but then gave up along the way quit following to pursue other interests. It would be like a Christian leaving the faith and becoming an atheist. Possibly they renounce Christianity to join some other religion. Perhaps they have gotten indifferent in their relationship with the Lord doing nothing to nurture and maintain their faith. In any case, they are backslidden because they no longer care about their relationship with Jesus and God. For most of us who are Christian backsliding is something we will have to worry about. If we sin we confess it, get forgiven, and go on in our journey to God and ultimately eternal life in God’s new kingdom here on earth. We avoid backsliding by staying focused on Jesus and following him.

Any comments welcomed

Brother Lawrence Damien

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