The discussion dives into the provocative question of whether salvation can be lost, probing biblical interpretations and the concept of apostasy. It touches on the rising number of 'nones'—those with no religious affiliation—and the growing trend of faith deconstruction. Delving into the emotional toll of loved ones losing their faith, the hosts emphasize the importance of compassionate dialogue for reconnection. The conversation also highlights salvation as a personal journey of acceptance and the vital role of perseverance in one's spiritual life.
The podcast discusses the concept of apostasy, highlighting that individuals can consciously reject their faith despite salvation being unloseable against one's will.
It emphasizes the importance of compassionate engagement and active listening when addressing the struggles of loved ones who have turned away from Christianity.
Deep dives
Understanding Salvation
From a Christian perspective, salvation encompasses being saved from sin and its consequences while being restored to a relationship with God. The concept is illustrated through the 'Roman road,' a sequence of biblical verses from Romans that outlines the process of salvation. It begins with the acknowledgment that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, emphasizing the seriousness of sin as a conscious separation from God's will. Salvation ultimately offers the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, who paid the debt of human sin through his death and resurrection.
Accepting the Gift of Salvation
Receiving the gift of salvation is described as more than just accepting an idea; it involves a genuine, relational commitment to Jesus as both Savior and Lord. This commitment requires an open declaration of faith, where individuals recognize their sinful state and turn towards God for forgiveness. The process includes acknowledging one's need for rescue, a willingness to change, and a belief in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Ultimately, this means reaching out to accept the gift, which is largely a matter of personal action rather than mere intellectual assent.
Possibility of Apostasy
The podcast addresses the complex issue of apostasy, which refers to individuals who once professed faith but later consciously reject it. It is argued that while salvation cannot be lost against one's will, individuals possess the free will to walk away from their faith, leading to a state of apostasy. Biblical references demonstrate that abandoning faith is a documented phenomenon, with examples of people who shipwrecked their faith. This reality is underlined by frequent warnings in the New Testament about remaining steadfast in faith until the end of one's life.
Responding to Loved Ones Who Leave the Faith
When individuals encounter loved ones who have turned away from Christianity, it is advised to take their struggles seriously and engage them with compassion. Effective evangelism begins with active listening and understanding their journey, as many who leave do so because of personal crises or unmet expectations. Christians are encouraged to steer conversations back to Jesus, addressing the fact that the issues often stem from hurt or disappointment rather than a true rejection of Christ. It is important to remain hopeful and diligent, as efforts to restore these relationships can bring individuals back to faith, reflecting God's enduring love and willingness to forgive.
In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a question that has been debated quite a bit within the church: Can someone lose their salvation? While there are some Christians who would say, “once saved, always saved,” the Bible clearly points to cases of apostasy, defined as “the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.” Jesus Himself even said that, at the end of time, “many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other” (see Matthew 24:10, NIV).
Episode Links
As Alexis mentioned at the top of the podcast, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Dr. White's book The Rise of the Nones. The “nones” represent people who, when asked to define their religious affiliation, simply respond by choosing "none of the above". Since the release of the book, the nones have only continued to rise. This was the topic of a past podcast episode that we'd encourage you to go back and listen to: CCP32: On a Non-Christian America. There has also been a growing trend with people “deconstructing” their faith - the process of rethinking foundational stances related to lifestyle, associations and beliefs, and usually in relation to a previously held spiritual faith. For more on this topic, again we'd suggest that you listen to CCP28: On Deconstructing or check out a series delivered by Dr. White at Mecklenburg Community Church called “The Deconstruction Zone.”
Many who argue against the possibility that people can lose their salvation point to the idea of election - that God has decreed already those who will (or will not) be saved. This is one of the central doctrines of Calvinism, yet another past podcast episode. In fact, this has been one of the most popular episodes of the Church & Culture Podcast, and you can find CCP59: On Calvinism HERE.
Finally, if you know of someone who has walked away from the faith, someone who has essentially returned the free gift of their salvation, Dr. White encouraged us to continue to try to evangelize them. There are a number of series that Dr. White has given at Mecklenburg Community Church that may help you to be able to share with someone wrestling with their faith. They are gathered under the category of “Evangelism & Apologetics” HERE.
For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.
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