Often times, when confronting someone who has different beliefs than ourselves, we can lose sight of the real issue, they don’t share our beliefs! There are many wasted hours dealing with disagreements because the real issues are never addressed. Some even purposely erect smoke screens or straw men to avoid dealing with the real issue as to why disagreement exist.

A man who was intent on being unfaithful to the Lord once told me, "I'm not hurting anyone but myself.  Leave me alone, and quit bothering me about attending the services of the church."

The Devil has really convinced many irresponsible brethren that they have to go to Hell "unbothered" by others who wish to rescue them.  Never mind the admonition of Scripture to the faithful that "if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentlenss" (Gal. 6:1). The easy course for the faithful is to ignore the unfaithful.  Some churches do this as a matter of policy, in fact.  Some brethren want to be a part of a "fellowship" which quickly looks the other way if sin and unfaithfulness is the path a brother or sister is taking.  But both brethren and churches who operate in such a fashion have completely missed what the church is all about.

A famous line from a song, is “I Want To Go To Heaven But I Don’t Want To Die”, reflects the mindset of so many today. People want the maximum results with the least amount of effort. People are told they can get rich quick and easy, they can lose weight quick and easy, whatever they desire they can accomplish quick and easy. It has also been said, “Nothing gotten easy is worth having”. This was David’s sentiment regarding Ornan’s proposal after David had sinned against God in numbering the people (1 Chr 21:24). David realized there is a price to be paid for sin. The Hebrew writer, states, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb 9:22). The ultimate price had to be paid for the sins of mankind, the death of God’s Son (Rom 5:10).

The Apostate -- Who Renounces The Lord: -- Apostasy is defined as "A renunciation of faith, defection, turning away from." When one deliberately turns his back on the Lord, deserts the principles the Lord gives him to guide his life, that person is apostate.  Not every sinner falls into this category.  We may fall without falling away (Jer. 3:13; Hos. 14:4; Gal. 6:1).  We are told, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8).  Yet verse 7 declares, "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."  Through either fear or weakness, because of the "pleasure of sin" (Heb. 11:25), or yet for other reasons, we may sin.  But that is not apostasy.