Five Observations of Modern Church Liberal Drift and Apostasy

Believers in Christ's atonement are now in declared religious union with those who make light of it; believers in Holy Scripture are in confederacy with those who deny plenary inspiration; those who hold evangelical doctrine are in open alliance with those who call the fall a fable, who deny the personality of the Holy Ghost, who call justification by faith immoral, and hold that there is another probation after death, and a future restitution for the lost. Yes, we have before us the wretched spectacle of professedly orthodox Christians publicly avowing their union with those who deny the faith, and scarcely concealing their contempt for those who cannot be guilty of such gross disloyalty to Christ. —Charles Spurgeon

One of the greatest preachers of all time, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, was caught in the middle of a controversy during his time known as the Downgrade Controversy. Spurgeon noticed a phenomenon taking place within the professing Church and many during his time hated him for it. He saw theological and moral compromise overtaking churches and he was very outspoken about it. It turns out that what he saw taking place back then has now morphed into all-out apostasy in today's Church. Below are five--of many--observations of this "downgrade" that are associated with compromise in the Evangelical Church.

Liberalism

Without question, the Church has experienced a theological decline in recent times. In the past, a plethora of Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations upheld diverse and even often conflicting beliefs—Presbyterians, Baptists, and Lutherans each held distinct views on matters such as baptism and communion. Yet, despite such differences, all were united by the core belief in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, and the authority of Scripture.

These churches were bound together as one in the body of Christ through their unwavering commitment to sound, conservative doctrine in essential matters of faith. The importance of doctrine within the Church cannot be overstated, and even though the Reformers didn't have all the answers, they universally agreed that Scripture was the ultimate authority on matters of faith and practice. To undermine this was to undermine the very authority of Christ (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Regrettably, in many contemporary churches, strict adherence to biblical doctrine has become something of a taboo. The prevailing ethos in these settings is one of "anything goes," which renders nearly any kind of orthodoxy or heterodoxy acceptable. And by far the most disposed of doctrine in the modern church is that of repentance—an essential element of the faith by which without it, one cannot be truly saved.

The call to repentance has been all but erased from the teachings of numerous churches, and a superficial form of easy-believism has replaced it. This is why false churches like Hillsong can permit people with morally bankrupt backgrounds to serve in leadership roles, and pastors like Andy Stanley can declare expository preaching as "dangerous" while promoting homosexuality within the ranks of his own congregation.

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! --James 2:19

Unity

A familiar refrain resonates throughout the Christian community: "The Church must be united." Indeed, it is increasingly evident that the Evangelical Church's focus is gravitating toward unity. The scriptural call for unity is unequivocal and reiterated frequently, with passages such as 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Peter 3:8, and Philippians 2:2 demonstrating the vital importance of harmony among believers. However, the question remains: around what should this unity coalesce?

In contemporary times, numerous churches have diluted the truth to such an extent that little veracity remains in their teachings. They have forsaken sound doctrine in an effort to avoid offending others, opting instead for a superficial form of devotion centered on "love," "tolerance," and "acceptance" for all. It is within this diluted framework that unity proliferates, displacing sound doctrine as the central tenet. Alarmingly, even steadfast churches have begun to align themselves with this trend, forming ecumenical alliances with Rome for political and cultural gain. Compounding the problem, church leaders and pastors shy away from openly criticizing detrimental movements, such as the "woke church" phenomenon, fearing that doing so might fracture their perceived unity.