It is often difficult for a fallen Christian to come back to God. The reasons for the difficulty, however, always lies within the heart and mind of the backslidden Christian. For those who want to be restored, want to come back, want to get right with God, even they struggle to come back. Why is that?
While alive and on this earth, no one is ever exiled from God by God. It is not God that leaves us. It is we who, for whatever reason, leave God. This creates a problem for the backslidden Christian as far as trying to come back. The following reasons may give insight as to why you or someone you know struggle to come back to God and feel accepted and loved once again.
FEAR OF REJECTION
Many backslidden Christians fear the rejection of their fellow Christians, and, to some degree, even of God Himself. This fear can keep someone, who wants to come back, from coming back. Peter probably felt this way. After his betrayal of Christ, he left and went fishing. It took Jesus and some artful creativity to convince Peter he could come back.
There are ways to deal with this, but without a doubt, this is one of the bigger reasons why it is hard for Christians to come back to God.
SHAME
Also much like Peter who returned to his old lifestyle in shame for his actions when Jesus was crucified, many backslidden Christians struggle to come back because of their own shame. They are embarrassed and facing friends and fellow Christians can seem like too much to bear. It is easier to avoid church and avoid your Christian connections. Although the last statement is not true, it does seem that way to someone buried in shame over what they’ve done.
ANGRY AT GOD
Once someone gets angry at God, they usually spurn God. This anger makes it difficult to come back. They may feel God has treated them unfairly, unjustly, or even overly harsh. This can keep many backslidden Christians from coming back.
Overcoming this anger may take time and require the love of a Restorer, someone willing to deal with the anger and help.
BLIND TO THEIR FALLEN STATE
Some backslidden Christians are blind to their backslidden state. They don’t understand that their actions and thoughts are the main culprit to the difficulties and problems they face. Much like Samson who blundered from sin to sin in foolish ways, this Fallen Christian may be incapable of believing himself backslidden or fallen until disaster strikes.
DISAGREEMENT WITH GOD
Some, like Jonah, disagree with God, the Bible, or even God’s will. This type of Fallen Christian makes it very hard to come back to God because they are intentionally, deliberately resisting God and even thinking they are in the right to do so. As a result, restoring this type of fallen Christian is very difficult.
FIGHTING WITH A BESETTING SIN
Much like the Children of Israel and their perpetual use of High Places, a besetting sin will eventually poison a person’s thinking. Even after the fall, unless they can deal with the sin, they will turn to it again and again moving further away from God. To come back to God, this fallen Christian must combat their own habits and thinking.
BELIEVES THEY ARE TOO FALLEN TO COME BACK
Judas Iscariot killed himself because he believed what he had done could not be fixed. Some Christians feel like they have crossed a line and nothing and no one can ever redeem them. In their own eyes, they feel like they have committed some unpardonable sin. Until they can be convinced that they can come back, they will not come back.
DOES NOT WANT TO COME BACK
Ultimately, this backslidden Christian won’t come back until something in his life convinces him he needs to. Some people just love their sin. Some have lost their faith. And some just don’t care anymore. For these, lots of prayer and love need to be offered.
CONCLUSION
In all cases, a Restorer is necessary to help a backslidden Christian come back.
Galatians 6:1 – Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Every Fallen Christian needs someone who, in the spirit of meekness, is willing to reach out to them and help them come back. But they can ALL come back.
You will notice that the reasons why a Fallen Christian doesn’t come back lies exclusively in the mind of the fallen. Change that perspective, relieve their fears, provide a way back and each and every one of them can come back! If you wish to be that Restorer, check out the book Restoring a Fallen Christian.
