From Preacher to Atheist: I Just Lost Faith in Faith
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, October 05, 2005
- Viewed 107
- (27) comments so far
"My Dad was a professional musician during the 1940's. At one of his concerts he met a female vocalist and, as things go, they went (lucky for me). They got married and, when I was a toddler, they both found true religion. Dad threw away his collection of original Glenn Miller recordings (ouch!), turned his back on his former "sinful" life and enrolled in seminary to become a minister. He didn't finish because of the strong demands of raising three boys. But he lived his faith through his family and through lay ministry in local churches.
My folks' spirituality was so strong that they often found it hard to find a church that met their needs. So we church-hopped for many years. I can't remember all the churches, but we were Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, fundamentalist, evangelical, "Bible-believing" and charismatic... I felt truly fortunate to have been born into the "truth" and at the age of fifteen I committed myself to a lifetime of Christian ministry.
My commitment lasted nineteen years. It gave my life a feeling of purpose, destiny and fulfillment. I spent years trekking across Mexico in missionary work--small villages, jungles, deserts, large arenas, radio, television, parks, prisons and street meetings. I spent more years in traveling evangelism across the United States preaching and singing in churches, on street corners, house-to-house witnessing, college campuses and wherever an audience could be found.
I was a "doer of the word and not a hearer only." I went to a Christian college, majored in Religion/Philosophy, became ordained and served in a pastoral capacity in three California churches. I personally led many people to Jesus Christ, and encouraged many young people to consider full-time Christian service...I was very serious about my faith, and that I am quite capable of analyzing religion from the inside out.
I did not lose my faith, I gave it up purposely. The motivation that drove me into the ministry is the same that drove me out. I have always wanted to know. Even as a child I fervently pursued truth. I was rarely content to accept things without examination, and my examinations were intense. I was a thirsty learner, a good student, and a good minister because of that drive. I always took things apart and put them back together again.
You can read the whole article here...
Please excuse the longer post… it is an interesting read by Dan Barker. Dan used to be a pastor; but is now an athiest. I post only because it’s interesting reading; and something we all can learn from. Dan writes:
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BeHim on Thu, October 06, 2005
What if the atheist preacher preached a false christ and false gospel?
Can someone be saved by a false christ and false gospel?
Jade on Thu, October 06, 2005
Maybe this guy realized he had gotten as far as he could in the Christian realm and needed more? If not why would he bother to write about his loss of faith in the paper? He also is the president of this organization that wrote this,and has since wrote many books?
Whatever his motiviation I agree that he probably was never saved and liked the attention for a time a minister gets. It kind of makes me chuckal at irony of how smart he thinks he is, and yet he is to ignorant to see the truth. Although I chuckal a little it does make me sad for him, and his family. Satan is really going to use him to do some damage.
My God forgive him, and may we pray for him.
Pastor Al on Thu, October 06, 2005
I have thought about this sad story ever since yesterday, after my first post, this scripture came to me…
... for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica…. 2 Timothy 4:9-10 (NKJV)
Franklin Reeves on Mon, October 10, 2005
Many will say Lord, Lord in that day. But he will say I never knew you.
Performing miracualous signs, castoing out demons, and calling Him Lord is not proof of salvation. P.S. that includes speaking in tounges.
The only proof of salvation is the fruit of ones life, public and private.
Many passages, especailly 1 John and 2 Tim chapter three gives people things to look for in thier lives that indicate if they are saved or not. The only problem is those that say we should not question our salvation cause the false believers to reamin ignorant of thier condition. The Bible clearly states that we should examine ourselves and to work it out.
Brian La Croix on Mon, October 10, 2005
Here is my initial thought. While it’s true that faith is involved in our religion, too often that is a cop-out to not engage the mind.
Jesus said we’re to love God with all our heart, soul, MIND, and strength.
All to often we’re told to just “have faith.” But I think that’s dangerous. God gave us a mind, and I don’t for a minute think he wants us to have a BLIND faith. Childlike faith that sees the Father as capable (all-powerful) and loving, able to do what he promised? Absolutely. But even Jesus said to not bother being his disciple until you’ve counted the cost.
Christians are too often seen as intellectual weaklings, and to be totally frank, there are too many who fit that bill perfectly.
Why is this? Because we’re conditioned to think that it’s wrong to consider the viewpoints of those who disagree with us.
Thank God for people like C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and others today who can discuss honest questions about the reliability of Scripture, the views of Bertrand Russel, etc.
We need more apologists who can discuss things on the same plane as those with whom we’re talking. Paul’s talk in Acts 17 is my prime example.
Also, I noticed that this was written back in 1984. I wonder if he’s still of the same opinion?
Brian
Chris Niff on Mon, October 17, 2005
My seminary professor said that God can use a crooked stick. God uses all kinds of people and circumstances to bring us to him. All this to say, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of sin and brings them into the kingdom. If the people who accepted Christ under his ministry still follow Christ they are still saved. Loosing this “pastor” to athiesm may make their walk harder though.
hank on Mon, October 17, 2005
Just a thought; I grieve to think that this soul has never really met the master. He writes “ I felt truly fortunate to have been born into the “truth” and at the age of fifteen I committed myself to a lifetime of Christian ministry.”
I see a theme in his writing of never really understanding that it is not about faith as it is about realationship.
His departure from the the faith is perfectly understandable if he never met Jesus.
Lets all pray that he comes to this realization.
Maybe we need to be teaching more about the Saviour and less about the faith?
hank on Mon, October 17, 2005
Just a thought; I grieve to think that this soul has never really met the master. He writes “ I felt truly fortunate to have been born into the “truth” and at the age of fifteen I committed myself to a lifetime of Christian ministry.”
I see a theme in his writing of never really understanding that it is not about faith as it is about realationship.
His departure from the the faith is perfectly understandable if he never met Jesus.
Lets all pray that he comes to this realization.
Maybe we need to be teaching more about the Saviour and less about the faith?
R. Quiles on Mon, October 17, 2005
The writer said in fffg.org website “It is only undemonstrable assertions that require the suspension of reason, and weak ideas that require faith. I just lost faith in faith.” Excerpt taking from the link to whole article.
http://www.ffrf.org/books/lfif/?t=lostfaith
Whoever, the argument is unsustainable because: ...faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Faith is believing in the unseen (God) it has substance (Christ came to save sinners) and that was evident (Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures) and it has hope (Christ will one day return).
Now when Christ returns, He will set the record straight and there will be no more doubting.
So for Mr. Dan Barker to say to his Christian friends that he did not lose his faith but gave it up is silly. In addition, you can’t lose something you don’t posses.
God can use anyone to bring Glory to Himself even if they deny they ever knew Him. IMHO
Toby on Mon, October 17, 2005
Dan Barker may claim that he’s a free-thinker all he likes, but the truth is that he creates straw-man arguments which are supposed to show that the Bible contradicts itself. In fact, he devoted an entire chapter to showing these alleged “discrepancies” between the resurrection narratives. If he were TRULY a free-thinker, he would realize how ridiculous his own line of reasoning is. Rather, he has never stepped forth in humility to admit that he was mistaken. I’ve got a 35-page rebuttal of his chapter written to demonstrate the contradictions of the resurrection narratives, if anyone is interested.
Servant on Mon, October 24, 2005
His comment, “I just lost faith in faith” is the problem. We are supposed to have faith in God, not ‘faith.’
Hebrews 11:6—-“for without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is (or exists), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
I am curious if Mr. Barker is the atheist that he proclaims. While reading his account of his spiritual demise, it appears that he is more agnostic than anything. Why would an atheist continue to have Bible study classes, if he does not believe in the one true and living God (as most atheists don’t)??
I am earnestly praying for Barker, that as the prodigal son came to himself, he will say, “I will arise and return home to my father’s house….”
Even as an intellectual, ya need faith!
May the true Love of Jesus envelope you as you seek the truth.
Ralph & Patty McCracken, Common Ground Outreach on Mon, November 28, 2005
You know, this happened for a reason. Romans 8:28 ...All things happen for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
This guy appeared to have lived a Christian life. Doing good things and seeing good things happen as a result…sow & reap. But take a moment and think, he did what his father raised him up to do. He lived how he had learned to live doing what he felt he was to do.
Think about it, God created each of us as unique individuals able to think independently as well as rationalize. If we focus on rationalization…JESUS would have been the nut in the mix! Think about it, while wew were yet still sinners Jesus died for us! He did not only die for us but He went so He could send us a “Helper”.
My response is that he must not have a personal relationship with Christ, he has been working hard sharing what he knows with others lacking the one think that makes us united in Christ. Religion without that regardless of what your faith is in is EMPTY. The thing is he lost nothing, because he had nothing. He gave up on the thing that led him “away” personal knowledge.
For those of you praying for this person as well as others who have walked away from their “faith” know that Jesus has not given up on them, for the price He paid has been in full. The hearts door is one that by-passes the head. That is why when we “fall in love” we do things we would not “normally” do. As a Christian we do this daily following our hearts and what Jesus would do, in a sense.
A Christian relationship is not only based on our faith. It is really held together by an active relationship with Christ. The fact that he read all these books and kept serching was because he is seeking for more himself. Agree with me in prayer he finds what he has been looking for, which is a true relationship with our heavenly Father.
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