Religion & Spirituality > Christianity

Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Can a Christian lose their faith?

Is it possible for someone who was born again to Christianity lose their faith, i know that some say once saved always saved but i don't think so a person can change their views and back slide away from God what are folks views on the subject.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

Faith is, by definition, the belief in something with no empirical evidence to support it.

So those who say they never question their faith are likely either lying or on another plain altogether.

Serpico · 51-55, M

It happens ALL the time. As a matter of fact... the younger generations are showing less and less the desire to follow in their parents footsteps and are dumping christianity. The rate of "non-religious" population is higher than its ever been. And for the record.... just because someone moves away from a specific religion doesnt mean they move away from their belief in a god. Just that the religion makes no sense.

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@Serpico Most people I know have moved away from the faith that they were brought up.

SW-User

I notice that most views here would be saying yes that a person who once claimed to be Christian can lose their faith, i would have thought that there would have been a mix of thoughts on this subject, i am going to put another view in the pot so to speak.
When people attend mainstream churches the gospel is not preached properly and the most only have a nominal faith so therefore have never really came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, i feel that for quite a lot of folks they believe it historically but not as a personal relationship.
I am not saying that people who have had a personal relationship can't fall away but i would say not so ready.

View 2 more replies »

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@TiffAching Exactly I even thought this way myself. Ah but those people are only part-time catholics (Sunday and Easter mass goers)

TiffAching · 26-30, F

@JimboSaturn In my experience, it’s something I see more commonly in religions that define themselves and their membership through beliefs, thoughts, and other subjective criteria rather than ones that favor actions, ancestry, or other more objective ones. Granted, I’m specifically thinking of (most) Christianity vs. Judaism and, like, Shinto.

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@TiffAching Most definitely .

TiffAching · 26-30, F

Present!

(EDIT: I can’t speak to the “born again” part, but having been raised in a broadly Dominionist home, yeah, I lost whatever faith I had in that faith a while ago.)

View 2 more replies »

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@TiffAching Same except Catholic. My sister is still super devote though.

TiffAching · 26-30, F

@JimboSaturn I mean, I’d say Integralism is a form of Dominionism, even if most Dominionists would rather die than admit they have anything in common with Catholics.

But for some reason my dad was super fine with Anglicans and Episcopalians 🤷‍♀️

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@TiffAching My family wasn't that hard core. The were pretty liberal protestant style Catholics. My sister is more fundalmentalist.

similarexperience

People can indeed backslide and change their views as you see in life and around you you can also read many accounts of it in the old and new testament. But thankfully God is not like this and does not change:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 ESV

For this we should be thankful we have a rock to hold onto on which we can "build our house".

And so even though we are fickle God is not and therefore of whom God has called "...no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:28-29 ESV

Therefore, it is not possible for a Christian, one whom God has called, to fall away. I know one can doubt ones belief in God - I know I do sometimes (am I really a Christian? Am I kidding myself? Is it somehow not true?) - but then I remember that it is down to God that I am saved, not me!!

This is where faith in Jesus (being a Christian) is different. There are no good works or ceremonies or religion. Christianity is all about what God has done, is doing and will do and trusting in that! You will find it is the dusty old religious places that people are leaving and that are declining because they have turned faith into religion and many have drifted away from sound teaching. But in churches that put God in the centre rather than religion and that cleave to what scripture says - these churches are growing!

Peaches · F

Of course they can. 🤔

SW-User

Well losing one's faith is giving up one's magical status. Stay magical !! Only mortal losers don't get to fly around in a magical heaven after they die !! Go Trump !! God loves him more than the likes you have ever seen !!

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

To me it can be summed up by corinthians

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

midnightrose · F

Absolutely. Faith is like a plant, if you don't nuture it it can dwindle.

TiffAching · 26-30, F

@midnightrose For me it was more like a cockroach: once you shine a light on it, it scurries away into the darkness.

midnightrose · F

@TiffAching That's anther way of looking at it. Haha.

DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F

I think I have lost mine.

View 3 more replies »

DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F

@SW-User it's more that I prayed and prayed and felt like I wasn't heard at all.

SW-User

@DearAmbellina2113 If you would like to talk PM me.

english · 56-60, M

@DearAmbellina2113 well its just like a pair glasses ,try finding them when your not wearing them,🤔

SW-User

I got very close to be baptised as a teenager in an Evangelical church. So I didn't actually get "born again" but I was very dedicated through my teenage years and then again for a few years in my early 20s but I have slipped away and I wouldn't describe myself at all as a Christian now.

SW-User

@SW-User Can i ask what made you turn away from Christianity?

SW-User

@SW-User Hypocrisy of those I went to church with. I began to realise it wasn't a welcoming club that wanted to help people like Christ had but one that was frankly very bigoted an close minded.
My second attempt was at a different church but at that one I came to realise that it was just some club these people felt they ought to be seen at for many of them they weren't actually interested in the teachings and actually living by the principles outlined. That was Church of England which I've heard referred to as "The Tory Party at Prayer" - that wasn't a bad definition of my fellows in that congregation.

SW-User

@SW-User I can sympathize with you,yes sometimes when we look at people who profess to be Christians we can be dissilusioned, i think in these times we have to be focused on Jesus i remember in my young days the treatment that my wife and i got was just terrible in fact we eventually had to leave and worship elsewhere.

RandomForest ·

Fortunately yes. Rational thought can return.

curiosi · 61-69, F

I believe so.

smiler2012 · 56-60

harris yes even religion i suppose you can get disillusioned by it when thing do not seem right but if you talk to your vicar he may be able to put you back on the right road if that is what you want

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Peapod · 61-69, F

Yup. I know a few that were quite faithful in the day and were true believers.

I struggle myself the older I get and the more I see how cruel this world is to truly innocent lives.

TopCat

It has happened to me during lockdown, I don't know what I believe anymore, there has only been work and sleep for 2 months

SW-User

@TopCat Yes i can appreciate how you feel I think we have to be focused on Jesus at a time like this because Satan is very busy trying to dissilusion us.