Description
Chapter I INTRODUCTION Statement of the Problem The thesis concerns apostasy which responds to a major religious crisis in the life of a believer by a deliberate alienation and abandonment of faith. This crisis involves a conflict of an intellectual, social, or emotional dimension. The problem of the thesis may be stated as follows: How can an understanding of the dynamics of apostasy benefit gospel workers? To this question the thesis answers in three ways: Biblically by explaining apostasy as a sinful process, which could degenerate into sin against the Holy Spirit if it is not stopped and controlled; theologically, by discussing the main issues implicated in an apostatic process, such as freedom of will, sin, and the sin against the Holy Spirit; and practically, by exploring the dimensions of Christian commitment and defection, factors contributing to apostasy, and solutions suggested as a help in preventing and recovering from apostasy. Within the Christian Church as a body, apostasy is one of the most dramatic crises which can occur. Today, while there never seems to have been a more favorable time for the Church--its sanctuaries full of worshippers, its projects so ambitious, and its budgets so promising-- the crisis still • exists. It might be visible or not, depending on the angle from which we choose to scrutinize the Church. For instance, for
CONSOLIDATION
