I 'used to' be a Christian, but not anymore...is there any hope for me, if I ever wanted to come back?

Question

I was raised in the Church from an early age, and was into the typical youth group stuff all the way up through maybe high school, when I sorta lost interest in the whole thing.

Now that I'm off at college, with no parents to drag me to church on Sunday, I've pretty much stopped going - have been nearly gone from it for a few years.

Also, recent events are having an impact on me, and I'm finding that Christianity isn't really compatible with my lifestyle at present.

I mean, I still identify as Christian (on forms, surveys and stuff), but don't practice at all. My bible sits here on the shelf, unread for a long time.

It's just that living the life the bible commands would steer me down a path that I really don't want to go down right now - I'm not interested in marriage, family and a nice calm life at the moment.

I'm in my 20s and plan on living it up for a while here.
I know this sounds *very* selfish...but is there any hope for me if, at some point, I wanted to come back?

I'm also somewhat discontented with all the church-hopping I did as a child - my mom never could make up her mind - we went from Episcopal, to foursquare, to Baptist...etc. And now she's some kind of reformed baptist or something.

I'm sick of the politics and labels, personally. Perhaps that's one reason I'm staying away?

Answer 1

This is what Jesus says:

"Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'
"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'

"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." "

Luke 13:22-30

Paul says this:
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." "
Acts 17:30-31

Now you decide if you want to trifle with God's words at the possible cost of your soul, or humble yourself and repent, if indeed there is still time to repent. I don't detect in your words even a trace of remorse for your treachery against the One who redeemed you at the cost of His own blood.
All I hear is self interest. How true the words of John:

"Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him."
I John 2:9-11

Answer 2

Being raised in a Christian family does not make you a Christian; neither does being dragged from church to church, or being involved in a youth group say that you are saved. We do these things because we #1...love the Lord and we want to grow closer to Him. And there is no better way to know the Lord than to love His Word and His church ( other Christians ). But the biggest evidence that one is a Christian is endurance and perseverance, an undefeatable faith. We never quit the Lord no matter how hard hell rages in our lives or in the world around us. We are a Soldier of the Cross, and a true Soldier never gets off of the battlefield. You are very special to the Lord, and because you are here now "asking" shows that the Lord is still knocking on the door of your heart. Won't you let Him in? Once you really and trully let Him into your life, you will never contemplate leaving the wonderful Grace that set you free. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today, for our next breaths are never guaranteed.

Answer 3

The problem is your time table. You are assuming that there will be a tomorrow. The Bible says that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, live your life for Christ now.
It sounds to me like you need to get on your knees and repent, ask Jesus for forgiveness, and to come into your heart. If you are willing to live a lifestyle that us unfitting to God, your Salvation is not secure, regardless of what you did in Sunday School as a kid. The Bible says that once you are saved, there is a transformation that takes place. You are a new creation that wants to serve God.
And, if you think being a Christian is boring, check out the foreign mission field. I may be going to as many as four different countries next year.

Answer 4

Sure, if you decide to become a Christian again, the church will gladly welcome you back. Forgiveness and repentance are among Christianity's most important teachings, so of course they will welcome you back if you decide to do so.

I'm just a little concerned that you say you don't want to be a Christian because you want to "live it up for a while." I'm not sure what you mean by that, but just remember- not being a Christian doesn't give you the right to take advantage of people or manipulate them. Even if you don't go to church, it's best to treat all people with love, respect, and kindness.

Answer 5

You are deceived my son. You are listening to the voice of the Deceiver telling you that what you are doing,"living it up", is so much fun. You will be able to see the evil in this kind of living and how it will destroy your friends.
Sometimes, God will allow a person to fall to test them and show them the deeper parts of evil. Parts that people who have never been Christian can't see.
Come back before Satan and his legions find you are raised in a Christian environment and kill you before you can repent.
God's arms are always open for you, but you must repent and turn away from this filthy world.

God bless.

Answer 6

I am a lot like you. I was raised Catholic, and find that I can't stand for the intolerance and ignorance behind the Catholic church. it's actually transgressed to me as more of a disdain for organized religions as a whole, because a lot of them DO NOT espouse what i believe true christianity is.

My belief of Christianity - it means that you would always be welcomed back, and I believe any church would take you back. But my belief of christianity is that you love your neighbor as yourself, you set a good example for others, you help those in need, and you FORGIVE others. A church who says it hates gays - isn't christian to me. A church that tells me, as a woman, I am supposed to stay home and make babies and that's all I am good for is NOT christian to me.

But I do believe there is a God. I believe that god loves me and loves you for who we are. I believe that God will forgive us when we slide, and still love us. And you don't need to go to a church to find that God. You don't have to wear fancy clothes and sing old outdated songs to find that God.

I don't really believe you've really left - you just don't go to church. Living it up doens't make you a bad person. Treating other people poorly, making bad decisions, wasting your talents - those are bad ideas. You can still have fun in college and not do all of the above. BUt to me, one of the pillars of christianity IS forgiveness...

Answer 7

Should you feel the desire, you can resume practicing Christianity or decide to practice a different religion at any time.

For what it's worth, the man who became St. Francis of Assisi was something of a wild child and libertine before he turned to faith, so it is never too late. If there are things you want to do, go out and do them.

And remember, Christianity is a religion--just a set of manmade rules. You can exercise your faith at any time, anywhere, with no need to follow someone else's framework of worship.

Answer 8

kirE – Jesus came to build the bridge for us back into a relationship with God. His invitation was for us to enter into a FRIENDSHIP with a living Person… a 2-way exchange that would give us life to the fullest for today and hope for tomorrow. Unfortunately, our society and the world at-large has replaced that full life and that relationship with a system of “religion” that too frequently has nothing in common with what Jesus came to give. “Christianity” has in many places been distilled down to a list of do’s and don’ts. But when was the last time you neglected to breathe? Or how long can you go before desiring to eat? If someone offered to give you free money or tickets to a show or concert, would you not take them? We are driven or drawn to those things that meet our needs or satisfy our desires. Things that prove to hold no value to us will eventually be set aside. A system of do’s and don’ts may offer some sense of identify or protection or meaning for a while but at some point, we begin to question their place in our lives. We need an encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ, not simply a presentation of a list commands. When you “meet” Jesus… when you begin to walk with Him and He begins to pour of His goodness, His peace, His love, His purpose… into your life, you are drawn to Him as a person. And His love fills you to overflowing to where it spills out into the lives of others. THIS is true Christianity! A church or denomination can help or hinder you in finding this relationship. When these hinder or frustrate you in the search, it’s good to reject them. When they help, embrace them. But don’t reject the PERSON of Jesus Christ. It is HE you need to find, not another list of do’s and don’ts offered but another “church.” And know, HE will NEVER reject you.

I expect your plan to “live it up” in some ways eminates from a sense that “Christianity” is restrictive and lifeless. Perhaps this is so in the “religion” but not so in the “relationship” with God. He is the SOURCE of life and joy and fulfillment. Perhaps what “Christianity” needs is someone like you that has a passionate heart for God and is able to show others that life with Him is not only full today, but fulfilling as well. Reject the forms of man but embrace the person of Christ. And He will lead you into a life of fulfillment beyond your wildest dreams. A passage in the Bible (Jeremiah 29:11) says, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you future and a hope…”

Answer 9

Dear Brother I would share something with you on salvation >
Why must the requirement of justice be satisfied by grave injustice, the suffering and agony of the innocent Jesus? Would this gross injustice, if it were true? Be consistent with the quality of divine love? How appropriate is it for a Judge, who instead of sentencing a criminal or forgiving him, which is within his authority, to order the execution of his only son so that the criminal will go free and appreciate how much the Judge loves him?



God is both just and Merciful. But since He created humankind and knows its weaknesses, He does not require bloodshed to forgive. One who sincerely repents and inculcated a relationship of love for god, and obedience and submission to Him. Can be assured of Gods loving forgiveness.

Answer 10

Just because you do not follow or believe a church does make you evil. Nor will you go to hell or any other bad thing
happen you.

God does not leave His children, His only concern is for His children Israel.

If you live in USA,UK and Canada you are 90% chance Hebrew. A child of YHWH under the promises of God.

THE QUESTION IS DO YOU LOVE GOD OR FALSE churches. That have receive the scores of their sins because they do not love God. Those score are the children of God not going to them because they do not as they said. Or do God's will.
They do the talk ,but not the walk and we see it. That is why God calls Israel His witinesses.