Leaving Christianity

One of the requirements for the journey that I have embarked on was to be absolutely honest regarding “Christianity.” But I had never contemplated that the outcome of this honesty would include leaving the same religion, which was not only hard, it was terrifying.

Many, many people are exiting Christianity and this is still happening on a large-scale today. Perhaps the keepers of religion are able to define someone when one leaves “the faith” and as a former “insider,” the reasons will generally be associated with scriptures from the Bible. But for the Bible to carry any weight, it must be infallible and inerrant, which is a doctrine as fresh as the nineteenth century. This is a period where the Pope was made “infallible” and the “Rapture” theory was established as well. But I agree with one well-known writer who quotes “the Bible is covered with human fingerprints.” 

With nowhere to go, people exiting religion throw up their hands and simply just go the way of the world or the “next” religion. Many who have exited the faith are judged as “lost.” A judgement is made. The insider becomes an outsider and what was once a relationship of committed love can become, of this same person, a rejection. The insider continues to focus on the insiders because of the perceived idea that the world is evil and one must not be associated with it nor those who have left Christianity. Why so much fear?

But I have discovered that many who have left religion have a deep abiding faith; a faith that you would never know was there unless you dug a little deeper. I have had several discussions with sworn atheists only to find they have no problem with the simple message of Jesus. In fact, I have a sense that most people don’t really have a problem with Jesus at all. What went wrong with Christianity?

How do we escape religion to find rest from the never-ending debates about doctrine, systems of belief and “truth”? Does one become an Agnostic or become an Atheist? Who is there outside of religion that can help when one cannot accept religion one moment longer for a multitude of reasons?

“Christianity” has created its own stalemate because of the endless debates, a debate that is taking it nowhere fast.

To leave “Christianity” was extremely hard and I had to unwind layers and layers of fear, sometime disturbing my sleep. Some times, I wasn’t sure I had the courage for the next step. My greatest release from fear was to stop fearing God. When anyone fears, including fearing God, some human has a hook that person.

St Augustine said this “Love God and do as you please.” Think about that. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” You can read this two ways with an emphasis on love or commands. People will do amazing things when someone loves. If God is loving and gracious, why would he want anyone to follow him out of fear rather than love? What sort of relationship is that? Is that the kind of relationship we desire with our children? Fear?

For me, the road in my quest for faith has broadened dramatically. I no longer follow God through fear and daily I continue to resist any fear of man. Christianity has no claim on me because I am no longer a Christian. In fact, I have, and will continue to resist all man-made religions. I realise there is no such thing as certainty or satisfaction which once again leaves only faith. Rather than endlessly try to define God, making him a kind of vending machine, I have let Him “go” and I will have to trust in the God I see through Jesus, letting the indescribable be the mystery He is.

For me, I am free to pursue a brand new faith. I will continue in this most simple faith, based on love, that doesn’t need more and more padding to support it. As Saint Paul said “love does no harm to a neighbour therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” I am free to pursue the message of Jesus in all its simplicity without religion experts demanding I obey a Christian perspective for I am not a Christian. I still strongly believe we are in a great transformation and this may be a reformation. But one may need to leave Christianity to see it, even if one maintains going to Church. Would you be willing to leave “Christianity” if God is calling for something new? 

What then is the point to following Jesus? Not creating another religion! As I see it, the only hope is transformed lives and a transformed world through love. Welcome to the impossible. Welcome to the Dream (kingdom) of God.

Graeme