After a few years from my “conversion,” I walked away from the faith in 1986. While I never denounced Christianity or indicated I was no longer a Christian, my line of thinking definitely echoed what I hear Harris and Sampson utter–there was a deconstruction, if you will. But really, it was flat out rebellion.
By now the firestorm of commentary around Josh Harris’ public announcement–that he has not only divorced, but departed from the Christian faith–has died down. People have moved on, but not before delivering a slew of analysis, indictments, pleas, condemnation, and speculation.
When the news hit and I observed all the commentary, I too wanted to offer my two cents. However, I found myself struggling to say anything publicly. While I do think there might be some merit to the contributing factors cited, namely that he was never a true believer to begin with, I know there is more to the story than simple pat answers can provide. Now with the news that Marty Sampson of Hillsong fame has announced his departure from the faith, I am compelled to speak.
You see, I was a prodigal. I came to Christ in my first year in college in 1982. Though I grew up in a missionary Baptist church, if the gospel was preached I guess I didn’t have ears to hear it. By my junior year in high school, I came to the conclusion that church just wasn’t for me, and I resisted attendance any further.
That all changed when I got to college and met a couple of Christians. They didn’t talk to me about church; they told me about Jesus. To this day I can’t remember everything they said to me, except for this one line: “You’re looking for something and you won’t find it until you find Jesus.”
