Four Common Reasons "Why People Fall Away In Faith"

The ministry of preaching and teaching from the Scriptures as a Pastor, Elder in the Local Church brings us moments of joy & happiness when we hear testimonies of people whose lives have been transformed by the Gospel. However, there are times of sorrow and grief when we hear of people who have fallen back, turned back to their former religion and some have rejected the faith who once had confessed their faith in Christ. In the region of Caesarea Philippi, the people were having different views on Jesus such as John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus asked His disciples "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:13-15).

Unless we have made a profession/confession of faith based on the correct understanding of who Jesus is, we will fall away. 

Let’s consider particularly four common misunderstandings that people have about Jesus even though they confess their faith in Jesus. This results in their falling away at a later stage of their life. 

1. Jesus is one of the ways of reaching God or one of the many ways to heaven. 

There are many people in this world who have a desire to go to heaven but they believe in religious plurality. Christianity is their favorite religion and Jesus is their favorite religious leader. Maybe they liked the humbleness or the simplicity or the honesty of Jesus and therefore they wanted to follow Jesus and confessed their faith in Jesus. They had never put their trust in the exclusive claims of Jesus which Jesus mentioned in John 6:48, 8:12, 10:9,11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1. They don’t trust the teachings of the Apostles who wrote that there is no other name under heaven by which man can be saved (Acts 4:12), there is only one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5); therefore they fall away. Unless a person’s understanding and confession about Christ is not based on these exclusive claims, then the person’s faith & confession is superficial and he will eventually fall away. 

2. Following Jesus will help us to have a comfortable and good life on earth. 

There is also another group of people who are looking for a comfortable life on earth. They are looking for someone who can give them that comfortable life on this earth. Maybe they are attracted by the healings, signs, wonders, and miracles that Jesus did while on earth. Based on that they assume that if they confess & follow Christ then Jesus would also do such wonders and miracles in their lives and provide them the comfort and materialistic blessings they need. They are worried about life and want Jesus to give them a life free from worries. They fail to observe that Jesus emphasized trusting and depending on Him on a regular basis for the necessities of life instead of worrying (Matthew 6:11, 25-34) therefore they fall away. Even Jesus didn’t lead a luxurious life; rather He came down from heaven and lived in complete obedience, dependence on God the Father in order to fulfill the plan of redemption (Philippians 2:7-8). If a person just wants to put his trust in Jesus to enjoy a life free of worry and doesn’t want to live trusting and depending on Christ on a daily basis, he will eventually fall away. 

3. The good and loving Jesus wouldn’t allow suffering or bad things in my life. 

Then there is this group of people who can’t accept the fact that Christian life includes suffering also. Maybe they think that since Jesus has suffered for us on the cross we do not have to endure or face suffering in this life. They are afraid and hesitant to endure hardships for Christ. They assume that claiming and declaring few scriptures will make them immune from suffering. They neglect the demands of discipleship laid down by Jesus where He makes it clear that we have to take up our cross and follow Him, will be hated for His name, we will be persecuted for His sake (Luke 14:27, Matthew 5:11, John 17:18,20,). They neglect the writings of the Apostles who made it very clear that suffering is a part of our faith which we have to endure and God has a purpose behind these sufferings & trials as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:1, 5:10, 2 Timothy 3:12, James 1: 2-4, 12, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. If a person doesn’t want to endure suffering for the sake of Jesus and has a selfish attitude where he wants to be free of suffering and trails in Christian life, he will eventually fall away.

4. Jesus gives us the freedom to do everything, we are no more under the law but we are under grace. 

There is still this group of people who want to follow Christ, but they do not want to be held accountable. They don’t want to be corrected, disciplined, and taught. They live under an assumption that they have been set free by Christ and so they should be allowed to enjoy the freedom without being questioned or being held accountable since they are under grace. Yes, it’s true that we are set free by Christ but they don’t like the fact that now in Christ we have become slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18). They don’t like the fact that being under grace does not mean that we are to live uncontrolled lives just as we want. We are under grace and we are also part of the body of Christ (the Local Church) where we are joined together with fellow believers and being built together (Ephesians 2:19-22). We are supposed to be taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained in righteousness from the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-7). In fact, being under grace makes us more responsible towards our walk in Christ. We are supposed to pursue sanctification & holiness in our lives (Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 5:3, 27, 1 Thessalonian 4:7, 1 Peter 1:15-16) and that can’t happen if we expect the freedom to do whatever we want under the excuse of being under grace. If a person wants absolute freedom, doesn’t have a learning attitude, doesn’t like submission, accountability but wants to follow Christ, he will eventually fall away.

Brothers and Sisters, let’s be reminded that it’s very important and crucial for a person that what he thinks, what he understands, and confesses about Christ. If his confession is based on such superficial understanding about Christ that suits him, benefits him, comfortable for him, easy for him, etc, he will eventually fall away. As we share the Gospel, let’s make it very clear and explain to people that who Jesus is, what are His claims, what are His demands. It’s true that the message of the Cross will be offensive, people will not like & love it. It will be a stumbling block for many, rejected by many but to those whom God has called Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God.

Amen!

Ps Monish Mitra

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