There Is a Way Back
If you walked away, from a church, from the faith, or from God Himself, this page is written to you. You may have left loudly or quietly. You may have left angry at people who hurt you, or with questions no one would take seriously, or after a sin you could not stop. You may have simply drifted, until one day you noticed how far away the shore had gotten. You may have said things about Christ you wish you could take back. And now some part of you is asking: can I come back?
Yes. Jesus answered that long before you asked it.
“him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”JOHN 6:37 · KJV
His critics once said of Him, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them (Luke 15:2). They meant it as an accusation. It is the best news on earth. Jesus answered them with three stories about lost things: a sheep, a coin, and a son. In each one the lost thing is found, and in each one the finding ends in joy: there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10).
It will not ask you to pretend. If people in a church sinned against you, that was sin, and coming back to Christ does not mean calling it anything else. If you have hard questions, bring them with you (see When You Have Doubts). You do not have to fix your life first, and you do not have to have everything figured out.
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For Deeper Study
- After You've Blown It: Reconnecting with God and OthersAmazon Erwin W. LutzerA short book on failure, forgiveness, and making things right. By the longtime pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. Evangelical.
- The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian FaithAmazon Timothy KellerA brief study of Luke 15, especially good on the older brother. Keller was a Reformed Presbyterian; we differ on election and baptism.
- Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and SufferersAmazon Dane C. OrtlundA book for those who assume Christ is tired of them. Reformed; we differ on election.
- Grace Abounding to the Chief of SinnersAmazon John BunyanBunyan's spiritual autobiography (1666), written in Bedford jail, tells of his terror that he had gone too far, and of the mercy that met him. We differ with his Calvinism.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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Helping Someone Who Is Walking Away
Helping someone who is walking away from the faith means staying calm, listening until you understand what is really happening, keeping both the friendship and the truth, knowing when to stay near and when to separate, and trusting God with the outcome.
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