What are the causes of apostasy?

When a person comes to accept Jesus Christ, he is reconciled to God and a new healthy Father-son or Father-daughter relationship is ensured between God and the Christian. The causes of apostasy are those factors that break the Father-son or Father-daughter relationship that exist between God and Christians by causing Christians to deny their faith, or embrace damnable doctrines, or take a wrong course of salvation, or divert their devotion to another object of worship.

Causes of apostasy:

1. Taking offense at God causes apostasy, John 6:25-66.
2. The love of money causes apostasy, 1 Timothy 6:10
3. If you love yourself more than Jesus you cannot continue to be a follower of Jesus; hence apostasy results. Luke 9:23, Mark 8:34, Luke 14:27
4. If you love others such as mother, father, friend, etc. more than Jesus, you cannot continue to be a follower of Jesus; hence apostasy results. Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26
5. Across the centuries, political leaders who do not fear God have led many believers into apostasy. They achieve this through persecution or by simply diverting the devotion of the people away from God. E.g.: King Jeroboam, son of Nebat, caused a nationwide apostasy, 1 Kings 12:25-33. Other leaders such as Joseph Stalin and his socialist government closed down churches, and persecuted and forced Christians into apostasy in Russia.
6. Ignorance of God and His word causes apostasy. Judges 2:10-13; Hosea 4:1-6
7. Not bearing good fruit causes apostasy. John 15:2,6; Matthew 3:10; Luke 13:6-9;
8. Persecution causes apostasy, Matthew 24:9,10;
9. Heretics cause apostasy, Matthew 24:11;
10. Turning from the truth and sound doctrine will lead to apostasy. 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
11. Evil communication causes apostasy, 1 Kings 11:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:33;
12. Living in sin causes apostasy, Titus 1:16; Matthew 7:21–23; John 8:37–44;
13. Unbelief causes apostasy, Hebrews 3:12;
14. The love of the world leads to apostasy, 1 John 2:16; James 4:4
15. Temptation causes apostasy, Luke 8:13
16. Envying the wicked causes apostasy, Psalm 73:1–28

Conclusion

Apostasy is a damnable sin. However, it does not just happen. Any one of the aforementioned factors can cause a Christian to commit apostasy. Avoid becoming a victim to any of these causes of apostasy to preserve your salvation.