LEAVING CHRISTIANITY: REASONS PEOPLE STRAY AND HOW TO REBUILD YOUR FAITH

Why People Leave Christianity

Many people today leave Christianity when they face challenges or resist the lifestyle Christ requires.

For example, some turn to new-age practices like crystals, embrace alternative lifestyles, and engage in fornication, dishonesty, or gluttony—behaviors that do not align with Scripture.

These individuals often attempt to fit God into their lives on their own terms, rather than allowing Him to transform their lives as He intended.

God’s Purpose for Our Lives

I believe that everything we do is a choice—from when we get up to what we decide to eat and so forth.

God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

God, the Creator of the world, knew us before we knew ourselves. From before the world began, God had a plan and purpose for our lives.

He did not make a mistake with any of us.

We, as humans, allow our dissatisfaction with God’s original design to distort His creation. Believing we are incomplete, we choose to change ourselves in various ways.

If He could create the flowers, sky, stars, and planets with such detail, how could He miss a step with mere humans?

The bottom line is that we were all “born and shapen in iniquity” (Psalm 51:5) due to man’s fall in the garden.

It is this sinful nature that takes pride in making God’s creation feel as though they know better than their Creator.

Hence, Jesus came to redeem us by offering Himself as a sacrifice so that we may be saved and live for Him as He intended (Matthew 1:21).

Each day, we choose whether to give in to our sinful nature or to find satisfaction in Jesus’ plan and design for our lives.

A choice that can be difficult.

Facing Struggles with Faith

Everyone faces struggles in life.

The problem arises when we lose ourselves in the struggle, rather than leaning on Jesus to help us fight daily.

Instead of giving up, we are called to press into God’s presence and trust Him to give us the strength to endure.

Our struggles are not meant to define us—they are meant to shape us and point us back to the One who can transform our hearts.

Crucifying the Flesh Daily

As believers, we must “crucify our flesh daily.”

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) states, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

“Crucify my flesh daily” is a biblical principle of self-denial and constant surrender.

We are called to put aside our selfish desires, sinful nature, and worldly tendencies in order to live fully for God.

It means consciously denying the sinful impulses of our old nature and striving for holiness and spiritual growth. It is a daily act of surrender and transformation.

Defined by Faith, Not Struggles

None of us are defined by our struggle, but we are defined by our will to fight our sinful desires every day.

Through this daily fight, we learn to forge a strong relationship with Jesus through constant devotion, prayer, His Word, worship, and fasting.

If we give in to the struggle, we see no need for God’s transforming power in our lives. He said He would send the Holy Spirit to give us power.

This power gives us spiritual strength to fight and overcome the enemy’s plan for our lives.

Take Action

Start Every Day with Prayer and Scripture.

• Before you step out of bed, surrender your day to God. Pray for strength to face challenges and for wisdom to make godly choices.
• Read a verse or chapter from the Bible each morning. Seek out the lesson or central point in the passage and ask God to help you apply it to your life moving forward. Example: You can begin with Psalm 139:14 to remind yourself that you were made in the image of God and are His masterpiece.

Find a Bible-centered Ministry.

• Seek God’s direction through prayer. Ask Him to lead you to a ministry that preaches His Word and would help your spiritual growth.
• Review the church or ministry’s beliefs to ensure they align with biblical doctrine—Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the authority of Scripture, and salvation by grace through faith.
• Attend services or listen online to evaluate if the messages are rooted in Scripture, focused on Christ, and promote repentance, holiness, and obedience.
• Ensure the worship points to God and not entertainment, encouraging reverence, sincerity, and biblical truth.

Build a Support System of Believers.

• Surround yourself with people who will encourage your faith and hold you accountable.
• Join a Bible study or discipleship group where you can grow and ask tough questions without judgment.
• Avoid environments and influences that pull you away from God’s plan for your life.

Embrace the Journey Back to God

No matter how far you feel from God, He is always ready to welcome you back with open arms.

Do not let struggles, failures, or doubts define your story. Instead, let them drive you closer to God.

Today can be the day you recommit your life, deepen your faith, and step into God’s purpose for you.

Make the decision to surrender your struggles to Jesus, seek His Word daily, and surround yourself with people who will support your walk.

Trust that God has already equipped you with the power to overcome every obstacle.

Now it’s time to act—choose faith over fear and obedience over resistance.

God is calling you home!