Backsliding

Backsliding, also known as falling away[1] or described as "committing apostasy",[2] is a term used within Christianity to describe a process by which an individual who has converted to Christianity reverts to pre-conversion habits and/or lapses or falls into sin, when a person turns from God to pursue their own desire.

[3] To revert to sin or wrongdoing, especially in religious practice, someone lapses into previous undesirable patterns of behavior.

[7][8] In these denominations, it is taught that the backslidden individual is in danger of eventually going to Hell if he does not repent (see Conditional security).

[7][9] Historically, backsliding was considered a trait of the Biblical Israel which would turn from the Abrahamic God to follow idols.

[10] In the New Testament church (see Acts of the Apostles and Christianity in the 1st century), the story of the Prodigal Son has become a representation of a backslider who repented.