Why people leave Christianity

[KingJ]

Hard times!

I was drawing up a list of reasons and ranking them, but it is pointless. The truth is that people leave Christianity / lose their faith because they endure difficulties.

You may say 'people desire sin' or 'people are swayed to another religion'. But the truth is that nobody who desires even mortal sin wants to give up Jesus and heaven. Nobody is swayed to another religion if everything is going well for them in Christianity.

People lose their faith, give up on Christianity because they hold grudges against God. Because they are not healed of an ailment or serious injury. Because they are not prosperous. Because they are not able to find a spouse. Because they are unable to escape an abusive home life.

This thread sole purpose is to shout ''ENDURE!!!!'' to these people.

A human is on earth to find Jesus. A Christian is on earth to 1. Serve Jesus and 2. Grow closer to Him through trials and tribulations.

Job endured suffering. Paul the first ''Christian'', endured much suffering.

God will test our devotion to Him. He wants to know just how close we want to be to Him. He wants to know just how close He is able to be with us. Job wears a crown for eternity that reads ''This man was tested with everything the devil could throw at him and remained faithful to the end''. What will ours read?

Paul's sufferings are best explained in 2 Cor 11:22-33 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Job 1:11-12 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

 

[B-A-C]

So then... after they choose another path... then what happens? Life just merrily goes on? Everyone ends up in the same place anyway?

If this is the case.. why does it matter if they leave or not?

 

[Dave M]

The truth is that people leave Christianity / lose their faith because they endure difficulties.

yet difficulty and hard times is what draws people to Jesus more then anything,

want proof right now the one of the hardest place in the world to be a Christian is in China because of all the persucation, yet it is the fastest growing movement of Followers of Jesus in the world

 

[saginon]

yet difficulty and hard times is what draws people to Jesus more then anything,

want proof right now the one of the hardest place in the world to be a Christian is in China because of all the persucation, yet it is the fastest growing movement of Followers of Jesus in the world

There are far worse than China, which isn't even listed on the top 12. China is ranked around 33. And notice - all but 4 are Muslim dominated countries!

The full rankings of the levels of persecution are as follows:
Extreme
North Korea
Iraq
Eritrea
Afghanistan
Syria
Pakistan
Somalia
Sudan
Iran
Libya
Yemen
Nigeria
Maldives
Saudi Arabia
Uzbekistan
Kenya
India
Ethiopia
Turkmenistan
Vietnam
Qatar
Egypt
Myanmar
Palestinian Territories
Brunei
Central African Republic
Jordan
Djibouti
Laos
Malaysia
Tajikistan
Tunisia
China
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Tanzania
Algeria
Bhutan
Comoros
Mexico
Kuwait
Kazakhstan
Indonesia
Mali
Turkey
Colombia
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Niger
Oman

 

[Sue D.]

I don't know of very many people who Have left Christianity -- sometimes when people experience crises in their lives -- they have to 'blame' someone or something -- and it turns out to be God they are mad at. God doesn't leave 'them' -- the person may wander for a while , but eventually they will return.

People come To Christianity through reading God's Word // through seeing Christ living in other believers.// through the Holy Spirit working in their lives. // through the ministering of missionaries in various countries and home missions.

There are people coming To Christ / Christianity/ that we don't hear about. It's not popular to Come -- it's more popular - newsworthy to hear the negative.

Every so often -- during natural disasters -- people Do help each other -- churches decide to meet outdoors without the advantage of buildings because the buildings are gone.

In the New Testament Christianity Spread because of persecution. As people Ran, they Shared.

 

[KingJ]

So then... after they choose another path... then what happens? Life just merrily goes on?

I feel God takes a knock. Is saddened. Just as we would in a close relationship with someone who leaves us.

God is proud and 'boastful' of followers like Job, Paul and those mentioned by @Dave M and @saginon.

There is a real deep discussion to be had on one's sincerity and true conversion to Christianity. I believe one cannot call Jesus Lord unless they have a real revelation from God as per 1 Cor 12:3 and Matt 16:16-17. Which only takes place when we are able to lay our lives down for Jesus / God as per Matt 16:24.

So, questions like it being a temporary separation or not a true conversion do arise. I feel there is a real space of temporary separation. I know a few that have converted to atheism for example. They are not now in mortal sins. They are simply in a space of absolute frustration with God because of difficulties in life. In that space they do not serve God and their growth to Him is stifled.

Everyone ends up in the same place anyway? If this is the case.. why does it matter if they leave or not?

God is good Psalm 136:1. He honors our free will decision to ''not be with Him''.

Just to clarify my beliefs. I am not a Catholic that believes in Purgatory. Though Catholics also believe in many not making it to Purgatory. I am also not a Universalist.

I believe in eternal separation of hell and heaven as you do. I just don't believe God tortures those in hell as He is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5 and torture is ''always'' evidence of darkness. They are in suffering, due to separation Luke 13:28 and a darkness from being surrounded by only evildoers Luke 13:27, John 3:19.

 

[Dave M]

. I just don't believe God tortures those in hell

@KingJ who do you think created darkness????

Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

[Dave M]

Brother @B-A-C pointed this out to me a while ago and it has stuck, most people do know that is was God who created darkness

King James Bible
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

 

[KingJ]

@KingJ who do you think created darkness????

Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

If you want to discuss this further, please raise the question in this thread What to expect in Hell.

 

[KingJ]

Brother @B-A-C pointed this out to me a while ago and it has stuck, most people do know that is was God who created darkness

King James Bible
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

He creates an environment where evil can take place. We cannot and must not cherry pick that verse.

Correct interpretation = God allows true free will to take place. He gives us hands that can do good or evil.
Wrong interpretation = God makes our hands do evil.

True free will is evidence of a good God. A God that is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5. He is so good that He allows what He ''utterly hates'' to take place to uphold free will. As no free will is wicked.

From your two postings here, unless I am miss-reading you, you have it wrong. Do you believe God ''utterly hates'' what is wicked? Do you want to teach that God has a '''dark side''' to Him?

Psalm 145:17 God is righteous in all His ways.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I feel there are many reasons people leave Christianity, not just enduring difficulties, some of the difficulties can bring people to a church, but not always to Jesus

There are so many
- who do not know what Christianity is, they come into it expecting the world and end up returning to the world
- they do not know Jesus
- they were never born again
- they don't like God's commands
- they want 6.9 days in the world and 0.1 day in Christian fellowship, it is down to the type of soil their faith is in.
- they have swallowed false teaching, not digested the Living Word of God.
- they thought when they come to Christ, as the evangelist said, everything in life will be rosy. As soon as an issue arises their hopes and dreams fade.

- they leave because of pressures from a partner or family that do not believe
- they have an argument with a brother or sister in Christ
- they didn't like what was preached
- they don't like the minister, this can happen when a new one comes in

The list can go on and on, the first list includes those who were never saved, the second they may be saved but other issues caused them to leave.

Saved believers may leave a church/fellowship, the church/fellowships feels they have left Christianity, but they have not, Jesus is still their Lord.

I do feel however when considering why people leave Christianity a line needs to be drawn, separating the truly saved, from the ones that were never saved.

We hear of people falling from or turning away from Christianity almost daily, turning away from Christianity is not an issue, turning away from Christ is!

We should not be surprised, with false teaching in some churches/fellowships, with liberalisation of The Word, people will fall away, if they were ever saved.
The Word died in Three out of four soils in the parable.

I have mentioned it before, but feel it right to mention it again here, I knew of a vicar who retired and left the church, when asked why he said, 'I ran out of things to say'. He was never saved, but he is seen as another Christian leaving the church.

 

[Sue D.]

@ KingJ -- God is the only One who gives / hands out Righteous judgement.

Because Adam and Eve chose to follow satans' deceit , they went ahead and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of both good and evil. Remember -- God told them to Leave It Alone Therefore -- we've observed ever since that man is capable of Both good and Evil.

'We' have control over our own bodies. We Do have free will. And we've had 'this' discussion before.

the only 'dark' side God has is that hell / lake of fire and brimstone/ will exist and those who do not accept / follow His way to stay Out of there Will end up there. The eternal hell is only meant for satan, the beast and the false prophet. THAT is why it's such a horrible place. and lasts forever. Because That's what God has decided that those three deserve.

The only reason that 'we' will end up there is because we don't take the way Out that God has provided for us.

Hell is total darkness because God is Not there. He's in heaven. God created light -- that's why we have light at all. He created the sun and the moon. Light both day and night. Now -- depending on the weather -- there Is light from the moon. And the stars, etc.

God Is HOLY.

'We' need to teach God's word and teach God as He really is. There Are negative consequences to our sinning. A Christian person might have a drinking problem or he/ she simply likes beer but the person is warned to Not go out after drinking and drive. So -- the person decides to go Against those warnings -- goes out driving After having been drinking and has an accident. Maybe that person is killed or is responsible for killing with his vehicle or gets abusive and causes bodily harm to someone else. He ends up in jail or prison or maybe looses a limb or suffers Bad injuries as a result of the accident that He / She causes. So -- the choice To drink is ours and it Does bring negative consequences. And God has allowed all of it. For people to learn lessons.

 

[Sue D.]

I feel there are many reasons people leave Christianity, not just enduring difficulties, some of the difficulties can bring people to a church, but not always to Jesus

There are so many
- who do not know what Christianity is, they come into it expecting the world and end up returning to the world
- they do not know Jesus
- they were never born again
- they don't like God's commands
- they want 6.9 days in the world and 0.1 day in Christian fellowship, it is down to the type of soil their faith is in.
- they have swallowed false teaching, not digested the Living Word of God.
- they thought when they come to Christ, as the evangelist said, everything in life will be rosy. As soon as an issue arises their hopes and dreams fade.

- they leave because of pressures from a partner or family that do not believe
- they have an argument with a brother or sister in Christ
- they didn't like what was preached
- they don't like the minister, this can happen when a new one comes in

The list can go on and on, the first list includes those who were never saved, the second they may be saved but other issues caused them to leave.

Saved believers may leave a church/fellowship, the church/fellowships feels they have left Christianity, but they have not, Jesus is still their Lord.

I do feel however when considering why people leave Christianity a line needs to be drawn, separating the truly saved, from the ones that were never saved.

We hear of people falling from or turning away from Christianity almost daily, turning away from Christianity is not an issue, turning away from Christ is!

We should not be surprised, with false teaching in some churches/fellowships, with liberalisation of The Word, people will fall away, if they were ever saved.
The Word died in Three out of four soils in the parable.

I have mentioned it before, but feel it right to mention it again here, I knew of a vicar who retired and left the church, when asked why he said, 'I ran out of things to say'. He was never saved, but he is seen as another Christian leaving the church.

Unfortunately you are right. And I have a son who might be falling into that catagory. He's a believer from way back when he was a kid -- but life's circumstances have been turning him Away from rather than Closer To. He won't loose his salvation, but he Is a very unhappy man right now and has been for a while.

 

[Brother-Paul]

'We' need to teach God's word and teach God as He really is. There Are negative consequences to our sinning. A Christian person might have a drinking problem or he/ she simply likes beer but the person is warned to Not go out after drinking and drive. So -- the person decides to go Against those warnings -- goes out driving After having been drinking and has an accident. Maybe that person is killed or is responsible for killing with his vehicle or gets abusive and causes bodily harm to someone else. He ends up in jail or prison or maybe looses a limb or suffers Bad injuries as a result of the accident that He / She causes. So -- the choice To drink is ours and it Does bring negative consequences. And God has allowed all of it. For people to learn lessons.

So true sister.

Drinking is a topic that many Christians can take to extremes, God's Word does not say don't drink, God's Word over and over again condemns getting drunk and explains clearly the consequences.

The choice to drink is ours, we may choose not to drink any alcohol, some may drink in moderation, keeping to the law is essential for safety of all, but even at home we should not get drunk or even tipsy. I always look on it in the flowing way, 'What happens if the Lord comes today, tonight, right now.

Bless you

 

[KingJ]

God Is HOLY.

God is holy because He is righteous in all His ways. You believe the word ''holy'' encompasses wickedness?

'We' need to teach God's word and teach God as He really is.

Could not agree more. He is love 1 John 4:8. He is light with no darkness 1 John 1:5. He is righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17.

Many need to stop teaching that He is not love, He is not light, He is not righteous.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Unfortunately you are right. And I have a son who might be falling into that catagory. He's a believer from way back when he was a kid -- but life's circumstances have been turning him Away from rather than Closer To. He won't loose his salvation, but he Is a very unhappy man right now and has been for a while.

Sorry to here that Sue, we join you in prayer for him.

I avoided commenting on 'Once Saved Always Saved' because there are arguments both ways and it would sure set this discussion the wrong way.

There are many who leave the churches, we do not always know the reasons, but I feel there are a bigger percent leaving that were never born again, never saved.

But we have to accept also, there are many reasons a saved believer will leave a church/fellowship, but it doesn't mean they have fallen away from faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and saviour.

Blessings

 

[KingJ]

I feel there are many reasons people leave Christianity, not just enduring difficulties, some of the difficulties can bring people to a church, but not always to Jesus

There are so many
- who do not know what Christianity is, they come into it expecting the world and end up returning to the world
- they do not know Jesus
- they were never born again
- they don't like God's commands
- they want 6.9 days in the world and 0.1 day in Christian fellowship, it is down to the type of soil their faith is in.
- they have swallowed false teaching, not digested the Living Word of God.
- they thought when they come to Christ, as the evangelist said, everything in life will be rosy. As soon as an issue arises their hopes and dreams fade.

- they leave because of pressures from a partner or family that do not believe
- they have an argument with a brother or sister in Christ
- they didn't like what was preached
- they don't like the minister, this can happen when a new one comes in

I am alluding to the more devout 'Christians'. I could not make my title ''Why Christians leave Christianity'' as I don't believe a true Christian can.

The result of ''true Christians'' entertaining atheism and what not else is simply that they stifle their growth to God and become fruitless.

 

[Sue D.]

@Brother-Paul

I'm thinking in the book of Proverbs that 'a little wine is good for the stomach' I've never had any to find out. Handle with great care. There Are those who can't handle even One drink -- so -- when in doubt -- Don't.

There's a Lot of pressure to take part in social drinking. Lots of people drink beer with their pizza. But they do it at home. then again - many years ago -- while in college -- lots of students had p/t jobs either baby-sitting or working at restarants.
I was an older student at the one place and had to serve the beer. I didn't like the 'fragrance' of it -- and I noticed how the attitude of the people drinking would change over an hour or so. Not especially beligerant but slurred speech and 'it was time to leave the restarant and , hopefully , had a designated driver. I guess that That was those businessmens' way of relaxing and having a good time. But, no thank you.

 

[Brother-Paul]

@Brother-Paul

I'm thinking in the book of Proverbs that 'a little wine is good for the stomach' I've never had any to find out. Handle with great care. There Are those who can't handle even One drink -- so -- when in doubt -- Don't.

There's a Lot of pressure to take part in social drinking. Lots of people drink beer with their pizza. But they do it at home. then again - many years ago -- while in college -- lots of students had p/t jobs either baby-sitting or working at restarants.
I was an older student at the one place and had to serve the beer. I didn't like the 'fragrance' of it -- and I noticed how the attitude of the people drinking would change over an hour or so. Not especially beligerant but slurred speech and 'it was time to leave the restarant and , hopefully , had a designated driver. I guess that That was those businessmens' way of relaxing and having a good time. But, no thank you.

When you make the decision not to drink you see everything differently. When I was young I drank a lot, running away from issues was part of it. But you are right, people do not think they can go out without having a drink. You get drawn into the worldly ways, I was a lost soul then. But later when you ask for a pint, or half a pint of fresh orange juice people think you are crazy, as the night goes on you see things as they are, slurred talking yes, but one thing I also noticed was the foolish things they do when they have had a few drinks, the jokes no sober person would laugh at they think are funny.

The drink driving restrictions have helped, but some still take no notice and drink then drive, risking their life, the lives of others, risking disabling a person or themselves. I think it has become more acceptable, with the restrictions, for people to have soft drinks and leave the alcohol alone.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I am alluding to the more devout 'Christians'. I could not make my title ''Why Christians leave Christianity'' as I don't believe a true Christian can.

The result of ''true Christians'' entertaining atheism and what not else is simply that they stifle their growth to God and become fruitless.

The result of 'true Christians' entertaining SIN, I think covers all situations.

The devil comes to steal that which God has given us.

Saved believers can fall away, saved believers can steal, saved believers can commit adultery, saved believers can commit the act of homosexuality, saved believers can SIN, saved believers can leave church fellowships as discussed earlier, for internal reasons in the fellowship, for issues at home, spiritual battles occur all the time.

We are to Trust the Lord always, seek His face, we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, we are to put on the whole armour of God, if we don't we can fall away.

The devil seeks like a hungry lion looking for the next person to devour.

There are many reasons even saved believers fall away, illness, mental illness, disabilities, lost a job, marriage break up, etc, they are all distractions that can cause us to wither, lack of food and water, lack of fellowship with saved believers, but not all that appear to have fallen away have actually fallen away.