I've noticed a few sad ironies marking those who depart from the faith of their upbringing.
I thought I'd share them with you -- not to foster a critical, know-it-all kind of spirit, but to encourage you to nurture and protect your own faith... as well as help you understand the apostates in your life.
Okay, here we go...
Those who depart from the faith are in pursuit of finding fulfillment...
... yet they're in a search that -- without God -- will surely come up empty.
Those who depart from the faith tend to make 'being happy' the greatest good...
... yet they tend to live under an ever-present cloud of gloom and unhappiness.
Those who depart from the faith are inclined to view believers as judgmental...
... yet they can possess a pride and self-righteousness that rivals the Pharisees.
Those who depart from the faith like to see themselves as intellectually superior...
... yet they seem to lose sensibility as to how the real world works.
And, those who depart from the faith tend to see the institutions and practices God has given us for our good as dispensable...
... yet it's only things like a connection to church, regular worship, and obedience to Christ that bring the wholeness they're hungry for.
Observing these ironies is sad. Even painful.
Yet they attest to the truth, goodness and beauty of God's inescapable design for every life.
And they confirm the words of Jesus when He said:
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Mt.16:25).