I was recently handed a newspaper clip titled, "Man convicted of murder is beheaded in public." The piece documented a public execution that took place in Saudi Arabia. The report stated, "Last year, at least 49 people, including two women, were beheaded, down from 81 in 2001. Under laws rooted in a strict interpretation of Islam, Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, APOSTASY (emphasis mine - W.D.M.), drug trafficking and armed robbery."
Apostasy is "the abandonment of what one has professed or believed, as faith, principles, or party." Evidently, Saudi Arabians regard such as a serious offense - shouldn’t we?
I’m not suggesting we impose the death penalty on brethren who depart from God (Heb. 3:12). But I am suggesting that we take more seriously their unfaithfulness to the Lord (see 1 Cor. 5). Sadly some act indifferently toward those who overthrow their faith (2 Tim. 2:18), fall from grace (Gal. 5:4), err from the truth (Jas. 5:19), etc.
The possibility of apostasy is real. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). We must not overlook this sin. Brethren may apostatize in the U.S.A. and keep their head, but unless they repent they’re sure to lose their soul.
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