Those of us who left faith behind frequently hear the “loving” accusation that we were never Christians in the first place.  Some folks simply can’t handle the thought a person–especially a minister–could leave faith.  They can only conclude: this person was never really a Christian.

A recent example of this judgment:

After reading one of my columns in his local Kansas newspaper, a reader left a comment on my post Spreading the Gospel of Freethought:

“I read your article in the Hutchinson Ks newspaper. I agree with what you said about the churches, but am concerned with your conclusion. Going back to your spiritual decision-making, was there ever a time when you completely surrendered your heart to the Lord and acknowledged that Jesus is the only Savior? Or have you been ministering in your own human strength and by your own wisdom?”

In response, I replied:

“Saved at a Billy Graham Crusade. . .Filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. . .Witnessed on the streets with Campus Crusade. . .studied the Bible in a Christian College and seminary. . .devoted years to ministry “in the footsteps of Jesus”. . . Well, Sir, I guess you can stand in judgment of my authenticity using your own human strength and wisdom.”

I could have included the fact I was baptized and raised in the church, served as a youth group leader, preached in many churches, etc. . .but why bother?  Was the question even sincere?  This reader has apparently not read any of my books and may only have read that one column in the paper.  They don’t have a clue who I am and I don’t know them from Adam, Eve or the Serpent.

I resisted concluding the reply with something like:

“You’re not in Kansas anymore … and not in Oz either.”

In other words, it’s not a dream.

Yes, sometimes true believers actually choose to become true non-believers.  That’s the core of freethinking.  To freely and rationally choose from Real Choices.

What are the Real Choices?:

-Choose faith

-Choose the Christian faith

-Choose a particular kind of Christian faith (from a variety of Protestant faiths, Catholic faiths, Evangelical faiths, etc, etc)

-Choose another faith (there are literally thousands to choose from)

-Choose not to believe in one faith

-Choose not to believe in any faith

The reader of my column in Kansas doesn’t seem to believe there is a choice, many choices, or that anyone would dare to opt out of a belief system or turn their back on one God, that is, their particular God.

I didn’t turn my back on God or Jesus or any divine being.

You can’t turn your back on someone who isn’t there.

You can only change your mind and move on.

Yes, I was a real, true, dyed-in-the-wool Christian believer with an “honest to god” faith, “born again” and “surrendered” to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

And, yes dear reader, my years of ministry were guided by my own “inspired” human strength and wisdom, as well as a living faith, active compassion and a commitment to the way of Jesus who, above all, taught the Way of Love.

You can choose to believe me, or not.