There is no such thing as an ex-Christian?
In his article "There's No Such Thing As An Ex-Christian," Pastor Ed Collins of the North Christian Church in North Dighton, Massachusetts, asserts that individuals who claim to have left the Christian faith were never truly Christians to begin with. He mocks those who claim to be ex-christian, apparently basing his opinion on the doctrine of eternal security, which suggests that once someone is genuinely "born again," they remain a child of God forever, no matter what. Therefore, according to Collins, anyone who departs from the faith was never "authentically" saved.
While his perspective may align with some theological interpretations, the "You were never truly a Christian™" message fails to recognize that the broader Christian tradition encompasses a wide diversity of views on salvation, apostasy, and the nature of faith.
The concept of eternal security, usually associated with Reformed Theology (ex: Reformed Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Evangelicals) posits that true believers will persevere in faith until the end. However, Christian traditions that are rooted in Arminian theology (ex: Methodist, Pentacostal, Charismatic, Free Will Baptists) acknowledge the possibility of apostasy—that a person can genuinely believe and later fall away. Scriptural passages like Hebrews 6:4–6 and 2 Peter 2:20–22 are often cited in support of this view, suggesting that individuals can indeed turn away after having been partakers of the faith.
Pastor Collins leans on 1 John 2:19 to support his argument. However, scholarly analysis of 1 John reveals complexities that challenge a simplistic interpretation. For instance, the epistle's authorship has been debated, with scholars suggesting stylistic differences between 1 John and the Gospel of John, indicating different authors. Additionally, the context of 1 John addresses specific schisms and theological disputes within the early Christian community that likely do not directly apply to contemporary discussions on apostasy. (See also The First Epistle of John .)
Innumerable individuals have shared detailed accounts of their journeys into and out of Christianity both in print and online. One modern example is Tim Sledge, a former Baptist minister with decades of service, who documents his transition from devout believer to humanist in his book "Goodbye Jesus." Narratives like his challenge the notion that former believers were never truly committed, highlighting the complexity of personal faith experiences.
Dismissing someone's prior faith as inauthentic based on an unsupportable interpretation of a single Bible verse is dismissive of the depth and sincerity of lived experiences. Moreover, such shallow judgment hinders constructive dialogue between believers and those who have left the faith.
Moreover, to boldly proclaim that someone was never a "true Christian," simply because they left the faith, comes across as presumptive, cold and self-righteous. It shows a lack of humility and it fails to acknowledge the complexity of the human experience.
Pastor Collins is either ignorant of the diversity of thought within Christianity, or just doesn't care. Further, he is issuing strong statements of eternal condemnation against people who simply no longer find the Gospel stories convincing and compelling. I might be tempted to cautiously remind him and Christians like him that,
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. - James 4:12"