Quitting Christianity?

Have you ever wanted to quit Christianity? What I mean by that is have you ever felt so overwhelmed trying to live the Christian life that you wanted to give up? The Christian life is a serious, life-long undertaking. Once you become a Christian, you’re marked for life. It reminds me of the Mafia, not that I was ever a member. No, years ago I decided to give the HBO series The Sopranos a view and ended up watching all six seasons. My father-in-law was Italian. A big fan of the book The Godfather, he embraced his roots and supported all things Italian including the mob. He didn’t condone their actions, mind you, but when asked about them, he quipped, “It’s just business.” 

Having watched the complete Sopranos series, I learned a few things about the Mafia lifestyle - and indeed that’s exactly what it is, a lifestyle - a choice of how to live. “Made” members are the elite in the criminal organization, the chosen ones who’ve “made their bones” and taken the oath of silence known as the omertà. This code of silence comes with benefits - prestige, influence, and a degree of protection. Members are not permitted to raise their hands to a made man or taken any action against him without approval. The penalty for doing so is, well, severe. Of course, being a made man, as it were, puts a target on your back both with authorities and competitors within the organization. Over the past several decades, many made men have turned state’s evidence. Leaving the lifestyle behind usually to avoid a lengthy jail sentence or termination, they “flip.” That is, they switch sides much to the disapproval of the organization. Put succinctly, they quit the mob. 

I suppose younger men, fully of enthusiasm and vigor, can’t imagine denouncing their membership and severing ties with an organization that encompasses their lifestyle and livelihood. Age brings wisdom and perspective. When the years ahead are less than those behind, one tends to prioritize differently. The folly and passion of youth is replaced by the maturity and knowledge of age. The same applies to Christianity. When one is young in his or her relationship with God, it’s easy to meander and drift in an effort to find one’s place. However, as time passes, the constraints of Christianity - that is, the target on one’s back, temptations, and daily confrontation with sin - can be enough to overwhelm anyone and give them pause about their commitment - similar to a mafioso after decades in the family business.

I’m not comparing Christianity to the Mafia, just drawing an analogy about the permanence of the commitment. Yes, I’m one of those who believe you cannot lose your salvation. Indeed, Christians can make a mess of their lives, wander off the narrow path, and live a secular lifestyle. The Bible is full of examples, most notably King David. However, I believe once you know who Jesus Christ is you really can’t deny it. You can ignore it, yes, but you can never un-know it, as it were. That’s a subject for another post. In any event, while the benefits certainly outweigh the drawbacks, the daily battle can give even the most ardent believer a run for his money. 

I’ve felt this way many times in my Christian journey. As much as I want to serve God and be a model Christian (and I use that term loosely), there are times when I just want to quit. Becoming enamored with my shortcomings and sinful nature, I question my Christianity and wonder what it is I signed up for in the first place. In my youth, Christianity seemed easy - read my Bible, pray, go to Sunday school and church, and fellowship with other Christians. But as I’ve gotten older the temptations became more frequent and intense. Let’s face it, we combat an enemy who knows our weaknesses well. We’re in a spiritual battle, one we really cannot comprehend. We wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities. The Bible does not say we’re fighting a losing battle. It states we’re fighting a serious one - one that requires amour. And when you fight a battle for decades, well, you get worn out at times. After all, non-believers aren’t fighting a battle. They’re just along for the ride. 

The battle is part of the lifestyle, something that’s acknowledged when joining and taking the oath, to keep with the analogy. It’s permanent. No matter how much one might want to quit, there’s no leaving. Once in, never out. That phrase can be viewed positively and negatively. On the negative side, one might feel trapped and resigned to a difficult life. The positive, however, is that you can never lose your salvation. So, no matter how tough the battle gets, no matter how difficult the temptations may be, and no matter how many times one falters, you can never quit. Because in order for you to quit Christianity, Jesus would have to quit on you. And that’s never going to happen! 

It’s okay to feel like quitting. It’s okay to be overwhelmed by a world that is growing evermore sinful and godless. It’s okay to get knocked down in battle. It’s going to happen. Just remember that as much as you might want to quit, you can’t. Be thankful that you can’t because quitting would mean spending eternity in Hell. The vow of Christianity, unlike that of the Mafia, is eternally binding. Christians can’t flip and work for the other side in order to have an easier life. Truly, once you’re in Jesus’ Mafia, you can never get out. Such is the power of salvation secured and granted by an infinite Savior!