Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2005 Fall Issue -- I Quit Worrying About My Salvation

: Editor’s note: This response came from a lifelong friend who grew up in the church but decided some twenty years ago that he could not longer be a Christian. His response was simply a letter listing some factors that led him to give up his faith. I edited out a couple personal comments and left a few in, but tried to be true to all his meanings and intentions. He is not trying to convince others but to briefly relate some of the questions with which he has struggled.

One factor in my thinking near the top of my list is called "the Euthyphro Dilemma". When I was taking Greek and I read the dialog Euthyphro, I didn't know about the philosophical discussion over it, but I sure had the same thoughts. For instance, Euthyphro is challenged, "How do you know that God is good?" That stuck with me.

Another question that rose in my study had to do with universalism (the idea that all are basically saved anyway). At some point, I was able to quit worrying about my salvation. But that wasn't the end of the process.

Also, over time, I ceased to believe that there was any need for a blood sacrifice to atone for sins and actually decided, it seemed to me, that it just amounts to a human sacrifice doctrine.

One more factor was that even if Jesus rose from the dead, that doesn't prove theological claims about him; his own or anyone else's claims.

One thing I still say is that even though I lost my faith, I didn't lose my morals (but I don't claim not to fail). I believe that morality is just "out there" like color or pitch or smell.

I've been at the same job for many years. I feel pretty vulnerable at times, but I just try to do good work. I do sometimes feel some sort of regret that I ended up in an occupation that has little to do with my education, but I guess that happens to a lot of people. I can't reflect on my life much -- no wife, no kids, no career (just an occupation). I ended up without the normal number one priority issues that almost everyone has. So I just think about other things, watch things in the night sky, and watch a lot of TV -- sort of.

I still listen to talk radio a little while every weekday. It’s entertaining and informative. I hear information that I might not hear of otherwise.

Thank you again very much for your kind message! I hope that all is going excellently for you and the Mrs.

: Editorial Postlude: This gentleman is as kind as any you will meet. Pray for God to bless him and to make that blessing clear.