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Someone asked me, why do many celebrity Christians leave Christianity? That is a very interesting question. In recent years, we have seen many celebrities leaving Christian Faith. Hillsong songwriter Marty Sampson left Christianity. Joshua Harris, author of a best selling book and a former megachurch pastor, left Christianity. Dave Gass, the former pastor at Covenant Church, left Christianity. Paul Maxwell, the ‘Desiring God’ writer, left Christianity. He won’t be the last one. You will see more people leaving Christianity in the coming years. Why is that so?
Many Christians do not follow God: almost a million people left Egypt for the Promised Land. But only two individuals – Joshua and Caleb – made it to the Promised Land. Most of the Israelites left Egypt for the sake of leaving Egypt. My neighbors are leaving, so I am leaving. Many people go to church because people around them go to church. Many people accept Jesus as Savior because people around them accept Jesus. They may even join in the choir, find out they have great talents, become famous and diss Christianity along the way.
Most Israelites perished in the wilderness because they were not following God with faith. They could not stand the tests and temptations of the journey.Same is true today. Many professed Christians give up because they cannot stand the tests and temptations of the journey.
Love has a big role in cementing relationships between two individuals. When we got married, my wife told me, ‘I will go with you wherever you go, because I love you’. Those words touched my heart. I will go wherever you go. Over the years, I moved from place to place, I lost my jobs, I lost my income, I went through many problems, but she is always with me. Why is she staying with me? Because she loves me. If you love someone so much, you can’t leave them.
I was watching the funeral of Prince Philip over the weekend. At one point, the Queen arrives to lay her husband of 73 years to rest. She brings with her a picture of her and of Prince Philip on their wedding day. What kept them together for 73 years? It’s love. They loved each other.
The same is true with Jesus. When we love Jesus, we follow him wherever He is. Simon Peter had many doubts in his life, but he knew one thing for sure: he loved Jesus. There were times he even denied Jesus. But he regretted it and went back to Jesus. Let me show you a passage from John chapter 6
66From that time many of his disciples
went back, and walked no more with him.
67Then said Jesus unto the twelve,
Will ye also go away?
68Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life.
69And we believe and are sure that
thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not
I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71He spake of Judas Iscariot the
son of Simon: for he it was that should
betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 6
Note verse 66. Many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. When Jesus was in this world in flesh and blood, many of his disciples left him for other things. So, we should not be surprised to see many of his disciples leaving him today. Jesus looked at the remaining twelve disciples and asked them, ‘Are you also leaving me?’ Simon Peter responded: Lord, whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We are sure that you are Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. If anyone leaves Jesus for any reason, that person is the loser. A loser for eternity. Jesus has never been a loser. He is on His throne no matter who leaves him.
Then Jesus says, I have chosen the 12 of you. But one of you is of the devil. Jesus was talking about Judas Iscariot. Judas loved worldly things and sold his soul to Satan. If you leave Jesus for any reason, you are selling your soul to Satan. Judas was planted among the disciples by Satan. Even today, Satan planted his agents among Christians. They too will depart Christ.
In the Gospel of John, chapter 21, after the resurrection, Jesus asks Peter, ‘Peter, do you love me?’ Peter, do you love me? Peter, do you love me? Lord Jesus Christ asked Peter the same question three times: do you love me? That is the question he asks every Christian: do you love me? Because that determines how long you stay with Jesus. Peter became the leader of the early church, followed Lord Jesus all the days of his life and was crucified for his faith. He never gave up on Jesus because He always loved Jesus.
You see those two things in Peter’s life: Knowledge and Love. Knowledge and Love: both are needed to follow Christ. Knowledge alone does not help. Peter had both. He told Jesus, ‘Lord, I can’t leave you, I know and I am sure that you are the son of the living God’. Peter came to realize that Jesus is the One who claimed to be. After knowing Jesus, he started to love Jesus. The knowledge of Christ and the love for Christ made him a great Christian and he never left Jesus even when the Romans were nailing him to the cross.
That should help answer your question: why do celebrity Christians or any Christian leave Jesus? Knowledge and Love. They don’t know Jesus. They don’t love Jesus. If you know Jesus and if you love Jesus, you will never leave him, no matter what.