REASONS WHY PEOPLE BACKSLIDE
Rev Alfred Osafo-Yeboah
Jeremiah 8:5
Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse
to return.
Backsliding is the state where a believer in Christ falls away from the faith or stops believing in God’s word.
He was once a spiritual believer but he has turned his back on Christ and he does not live as a faithful disciple
of the Lord Jesus; he has become carnal and worldly and is not committed to the things of God as before.
It is sad to say that many of our churches today are filled with many backslidden believers. It is hard for us to
admit this, but that is the reality. If one considers the commitment level of many church people today, it is
clear that we do not have the love of Christ in our hearts. Many of us have slacken in our commitments to
God; our minds are no longer on heavenly things but rather on earthly things. Our focus is more about the
material things we can get for ourselves than the sacrifices we can make for the kingdom of God. We go about
our own businesses to the neglect of the Great Commission through which we were saved, and for which we
were made one with Christ. Why do people backslide, and how can they be brought back into fellowship with
the Lord?
People backslide because of the influence from bad company
Many believers backslide because they allow themselves to be influenced by worldly friends, either at work,
in school or in the community where they live. The Bible says ‘bad company corrupts good character’ (1Cor
15:33). Marriage is another institution through which people backslide. If we marry someone who does not
fear God, we are more likely to be drawn back to the world. King Solomon lost his love for God because of
his many ungodly wives. (1Kings 11:4)
People backslide because of the influence from false brethren
Every church has people who are carnal believers; such people lie, gossip and engage in activities that
sometimes divide the brethren. When a spiritual brother or sister gets close to any of such people in the same
church, they are likely to be influenced negatively. Sometimes, very committed believers also get distracted
by the ‘prophecies’ of false prophets or teachings from false teachers they interact with. In the course of time,
this believer who was spiritual becomes lukewarm because he has been made to rely more on the words of
these false prophets and false teachers, instead of following the word of God.
People backslide because they are unable to manage the different phases of life
Life is made up of phases or stages and ups and downs. The various shades of life pose a threat to many a
man’s stability in their walk with God. It is not everyone who is able to successfully manage life’s challenges
and opportunities. Some believers backslide when there is a change in their social status, like a work
promotion, political appointment or marriage. Others suffer a fall in their faith in God when they change jobs
or move from one city to another. Perhaps the major cause of backsliding is when we go through adversities;
many people compromise the faith when they experience job loss, divorce, financial hardship or business
failure.
People with weak Christian foundation are likely to backslide
When a believer’s spiritual foundation is weak, he is more likely to fall away, compared with the one who has
a stronger spiritual foundation. The believer’s spiritual foundation is built through the process of discipleship,
which involves teaching new converts to pray, read the bible and engage in soul-winning. Regularly attending
church services and fellowshipping with other believers also help in building a strong foundation for new
believers. Neglecting to properly disciple new converts is a major cause of backsliding in the church today.
The pastor’s actions and inactions can make some believers to backslide
The pastor’s words, leadership and attitudes can either help in building up the lives of the people or weaken
their faith. A number of believers have backslidden because they got offended by some inappropriate words,
unacceptable decisions or actions that were taken by their pastor. Believers who are not so strong in the faith
may drop out completely when they hear or see pastors commit certain obvious sins like adultery or greed.
People backslide because of worldly attractions
Some believers easily follow the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. Earthly attractions like money,
riches, worldly entertainments, power and fame are easy enticements to any man. Many believers have gone
back to the world because they could not resist the power of these attractions, especially money and riches.
One of Paul’s disciples, called Demas, suffered the same fate. Demas forsook Paul in the ministry and went
back to the world because he loved the world (2Timothy 4:10)
Overcoming the spirit of backsliding
Backsliding is a spirit and it can be overcome. It takes the willing heart of the backslider and also the attitude
and support of other believers around the backslider, to overcome the spirit of backsliding. Firstly, the
backslider has to be ready to return, and the believers must be ready to accept him back into the fold, without
being judgmental. If we want to win back backsliders, we need to show them love; we should also be bold to
instruct and correct them with the scriptures. Galatians 6:1 exhorts us to restore the backslider ‘in a spirit of
gentleness, so that you too will not be tempted’. Secondly, the backslidden believer has to be made to accept
responsibility for his current spiritual condition, without putting the blame on another person; he has to be
made to understand that he was the cause of his own backsliding (James 1:13-15). Once that is settled, he
should be made to repent from his evil ways through his confession and prayer. Lastly, the believers should
counsel the backslider to separate himself from all bad friends and accomplices, and he has to be encouraged
to choose spiritual and God-fearing people as his friends. The point is that the backslider who has returned
will need the encouragement and supervision of the stronger brethren through regular fellowship and the
teaching of the word of God.
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Rev Alfred Osafo-Yeboah is the senior pastor and founder of the Refreshing Word Ministries (Evergreen Church), a
ministry committed to transforming people and directing them towards God’s purpose for their lives. He is a
Conference Speaker, Bible Teacher and Pastor. He is also devoted to ministerial and leadership training. He and his
wife Gloria and children reside in Tamale, Ghana. Email: alfredosafo@yahoo.com. WhatsApp: +233244223510
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