it bhaffles and hurts to see people leanve the fold?

[Godislove94]

As my relationship with God grows I find myself feeling surrounded by a wall of protective love and know that I have a best friend and Heavenly Father who I can confide anything to. When I hear stories of ex-Christians and atheists it makes me so sad for them to know that they don't have this, not to mention makes me ask....why? I pray for these people constantly and it just hurts. Anyone else ever feel like this?

 

[Tremic]

As my relationship with God grows I find myself feeling surrounded by a wall of protective love and know that I have a best friend and Heavenly Father who I can confide anything to. When I hear stories of ex-Christians and atheists it makes me so sad for them to know that they don't have this, not to mention makes me ask....why? I pray for these people constantly and it just hurts. Anyone else ever feel like this?

Believe me, you're not alone having these feelings. It's good to know that your Christian instinct is not to ignore them, but instead, pray for them. It's the best thing you can do for them.
I, too, often wonder how these lost souls cope with life without the support and love of God Almighty, especially ex-Christians. Atheists I can understand to a certain extent, but I can't see how there could be such a thing as an "ex-Christian". To be a Christian, as you know, is to trust and love Jesus Christ with all one's heart, as He loves us. Therefore, to be an ex-Christian, one must have decided to reject the love of Jesus Christ, and the only means of entering the Kingdom of God, and becoming a sure candidate for the Lake of Fire. Totally mystifying.
Pray for Athiests by all means, as they still have a chance of seeing the light. However, I'm not sure whether or not it's worth praying for ex-Christians, as, by choice, they've already entered through the wide gate and are probably lost for ever.
God bless you.

 

[1watchman]

Those who are truly "born again" might become carnal and forget God for a time, but will eventually be brought back (having been sealed by the Holy Spirit). That cannot be said for just Christian professors who turn away (note Heb. 6:4-6; etc.). We need to keep praying for souls we know of, and be a faithful testimony whenever we can.

There is much Christian profession in the world, and we can be thankful for that much --Kingdom of Heaven; but one needs to go further and receive and confess Jesus, the Christ --Kingdom of God (Rom. 10:8-10). That is eternal life and the blessings of God.

 

[dhh712]

As my relationship with God grows I find myself feeling surrounded by a wall of protective love and know that I have a best friend and Heavenly Father who I can confide anything to. When I hear stories of ex-Christians and atheists it makes me so sad for them to know that they don't have this, not to mention makes me ask....why? I pray for these people constantly and it just hurts. Anyone else ever feel like this?

While it hurts, I am not baffled by it. I think some people may have the wrong idea of Christianity, those who come to it with the intention of it being centered on either themselves and/or humanity. Perhaps they feel the weight of their worldly problems and, having expected God to take all of it away from them then feel that He tricked them in some way, I don't know (one person I met on the internet described it in that way: that he kept having tragic things happen to him and he felt that the Christian message did not add up so he stopped believing and became an atheist).

Honestly, I really do not think those people were ever in the faith, though of course we have no way of knowing. They may be called of God but be going through a real crises of faith and just have extreme doubt; we can't know their hearts and can only go by what they say. Even then we shouldn't be real hard on such people for it is only by the grace of God that we are not as they are.

I think all who call themselves a Christian should understand what that means first and perhaps it may cut down on those who are actually leaving the faith instead of those who were just saying they were but were actually followers of some imagination of their heart; then they weren't really leaving anything but just going from one worldly thing to another.


I should say though, that those who have experienced dependence upon Christ and submission to God in light of their recognition of themselves as worthy of nothing but His eternal wrath--and have experienced His love in their lives, then for them to turn away from that--that completely baffles me. I can only understand it as God, for some reason known only to Him, having turned from that person for a time--I trust then that whenever it is His purpose to do so He will call them back to Himself for He has promised to never abandon those He has called. That He will turn from us from time to time must not be considered total abandonment.

 

[1watchman]

One needs to receive the Lord Jesus into their heart and make Him their best Friend, then they will be at peace and enjoy walking with Him through this sad world. One day these saints of God will see Him and be with Him in the Father's house forever (see John 14).

A professor of Christianity and going to a church place is not salvation. Religion will not save a soul, but reading the Bible, praying to God, and going to a sound Bible assembly is a good beginning.

 

[asiyreh]

O yes. I just want to scream at ever atheist I see. Noooo wait there really is a God! Oh you're soo wrong...stop .... lol but you can't, it doesn't work

You learn to cope with it. God has given them free will and so who am I to question that decision? We must be careful to give a good defense for the faith, pray for the intervention of the Holy Spirit after that.... Well it's everyones own choice to accept God or not.

They can hear him knock on the door just as much as you once did. However some people willingly choose to turn up the noise, of all the sin this world has to offer and ignore his loving fatherly embrace.

But that's not your fault little sister and don't ever let the enemy tell you it is. Your Father expects you to do your best to defend the faith. To live a life others see and feel drawn toward.
Love them as much as you can, try and show them the real love you have because of the love your heavenly father has shown you. After that be at peace. They have chosen. Pray for them tomorrow they may make a different choice.

 

[Sketcher]

It really depends on the individual, but they fall for some fallacy or another.