Is it possible to be an “ex-Christian”?

This is what many atheists claim, that they were born into Christian families (therefore automatically Christians) and indoctrinated by Christian teachings until they were old enough to decide for themselves. Once they were old enough to make their own decisions, they left Christianity and became “ex-Christians“. I just want to point out a few fallacies in this line of thinking.

1) Being born in a Christian family does not make a person a Christian. We all are born into the enemies camp. We are enemies of God until we are born again into the family of God.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Romans 5)

If we want to become Christians then we have to become children of God through adoption.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, (John 1)

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba ! Father !” (Romans 8)

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (Ephesians 1)

So as you can see, claiming that you are a Christian because you were born in a Christian family is not Biblical. That is the first proof that the “ex-Christian” never really was a Christian to begin with.

2) A true Christian cannot stop being a Christian. Once a person has been born again he is transformed for life. His very nature has been altered. There is no going back. When a person does walk away from the Christian faith, that in itself is proof that the person was never really born again and never really became a Christian. That person may have made a profession of faith, been baptized, and joined a church but he/she was never born again. He was never transformed from the inside out. How do we know this? Does the Bible speak of such things? Yes and Yes.

19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (I John 2)

The idea of leaving Christianity is not a new phenomena. This has been around from the beginning. John had to write what He wrote because of this very problem. The same thing happened to Jesus Christ. Many were following Him for whatever reason but few actually were transformed by Him. When push came to shove, those who were following without having been transformed, they walked away. Only the ones who had been totally transformed by Christ remained with Him. They were the real deal, the genuine article.

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go ? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6)

John was there when the many walked away. No doubt this event influenced what he wrote in his first epistle.

As you can see from the Word of God, there are no such things as “ex-Christians”. The person who claims to have been born to a Christian family and therefore is a Christian is totally wrong. Unless that person has been born again, he is not and never was a Christian. The person who claims that he is an “ex-Christian” is wrong because he never was a Christian to begin with. This is why it is so important that we be students of the Word of God, so that we will not be deceived by the lies of man. For those who claim to be “ex-Christians” you need to face the truth. You never really were one to begin with. Now is a great time to try Christianity, to come to Christ and be born again so that you can experience what it means to be a true Christian.