“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).
A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon an extremely disturbing article on the internet. “From Minister To Atheist: A Story Of Losing Faith.” Here, is an excerpt: You may read the entire article at www.npr.org.
Teresa MacBain has a secret, one she’s terrified to reveal.
“I’m an active pastor, and I’m also an atheist,” she says. “I live a double life. I feel pretty good on Monday, but by Thursday — when Sunday’s right around the corner — I start having stomachaches, headaches, just knowing that I got to stand up and say things that I no longer believe in and portray myself in a way that’s totally false.”
According to the article, MacBain, 44, was raised a conservative Southern Baptist. Her dad was a pastor, and she felt the call of God when she was 6. She had questions, of course, about conflicts in the Bible, for example, or the role of women. She says she sometimes felt she was serving a taskmaster of a God, whose standards she never quite met.
For years, MacBain set her concerns aside. However, when she became a United Methodist pastor nine years ago, she started asking sharper questions. She thought they’d make her faith stronger.
“In reality,” she says, “as I worked through them, I found that religion had so many holes in it, that I just progressed through stages where I couldn’t believe it.”
The questions haunted her: Is Jesus the only way to God? Would a loving God torment people for eternity? Is there any evidence of God at all? And one day, she crossed a line.
“I just kind of realized — I mean just a eureka moment, not an epiphany, a eureka moment — I’m an atheist,” she says. “I don’t believe. And in the moment that I uttered that word, I stumbled and choked on that word — atheist.”
But it felt right.
On March 26, at the American Atheists‘ convention in Bethesda, MacBain seems almost giddy. The day before, she decided she would go before the conference’s 1,500 or so nonbelievers and announce that she is officially an atheist.
“I am nervous,” she says, “but at the same time I am so excited. I slept like a baby last night because I knew I wasn’t going to have to live a lie anymore. Such freedom.”
Moments later, in the darkened, cavernous conference room, MacBain steps onstage.
“My name is Teresa,” she begins. “I’m a pastor currently serving a Methodist church — at least up to this point” — the audience laughs — “and I am an atheist.”
Hundreds of people jump to their feet. They hoot and clap for more than a minute. MacBain then apologizes to them for being, as she put it, “a hater.”
“I was the one on the right track, and you were the ones that were going to burn in hell,” she says. “And I’m happy to say as I stand before you right now, I’m going to burn with you.”
A few minutes later, MacBain strides off the stage into a waiting crowd. One man is crying as he tells her that her speech is “one of the most moving things I’ve seen in years.” Another woman says she, too, had been a born-again Christian. “Join the club,” she says as she hugs MacBain.
“I have never felt so appreciated and cared for, you know?” MacBain says later, noting that she has left one community — Christianity — for another. “New member, just been born — that’s what it feels like.”
My friends, I do not know about you, but I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here, is a song that says it quite well.
Let's Talk Gospel 
Thanks for sharing this story with us Noel! I am not surprised that this woman and many former Christians completely abandon the Faith it happens all the time. It happens because God did not create us to live in untruth or half truths, which is what we have been fed all of our lives in the Church (doctrines of man).
The problem is further exacerbated by individuals who do not seek God “in Spirit and Truth”, but rather in their own strength and understanding. People create their own idea of who God is and if it doesn’t fit their comfort level….then “it’s my way or the highway”.
The following Scripture reveals the number one reason that people leave the Faith:
James 4:4
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
I’ll be praying for this woman and all who have lost their way, for we know that God desires that all men come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ!
Minister Glenda
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Minister Glenda well put. I am in total agreement. I experienced where I had questions noone could or would answer. I turned to God and adkef him to show me His truth. GOD took me on a journey and on this journey God blessed me with the Spirit of discernment. God showed me that Religion and righteousness are not the same. GOD and wants us ro be righteous. Religion is manmade, thus leading to flaws and misunderstandings. Its actually based on pagan customs. We, as children of God are to lean not to our own understanding but in ALL of our ways, acknowledge/check e/God.
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New technology… I meant check w/God. The bible tells to seek FIRST the kingdom of God. In doing so God will always have answers to our questions and we will remain on the right path. We fail when we try to figure things out on our own. GOD, the father is here. He sent his son Jesus for our salvation. Jesis left us the advocate to help us. If we use what God has given us oh how great our lives would be.realizes what she said.
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Amen lovemenaturally! It isn’t hard to recognize people who don’t know God…they can be easily swayed by any wind of doctrine….especially Religious Doctrine.
I praise God for your power to discern the spirit. I ask that God will open your eyes and heart even more to His Wisdom and Knowledge and that He will use you to bring light to those who are in darkness!
Amen!
Minister Glenda
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Thank you so much for your kind words Minister Glenda. To God be the glory. I am confident that God is still on the throne. I only need to follow His footsteps and everything will be alright.
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Amen!
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I had read the same article. It is heartbreaking to think of people denying the gospel of Christ. Thanks for posting.
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Thanks you so much MainWriters. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
May God richly blesses you.
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Heartbreaking . . . all I can say is that she never experienced the REALITY of Christ in her life, because after knowing Him and experiencing Him in our moment-by-moment living in communion with Him, it would an impossibility to deny Him. In these days of “easy-believism” we will see more such cases, but anyone who has experienced new life in Christ could never deny Him.
Ashamed of the Gospel? No way!
It is past time for the Church to wake up and put its emphasis back where it belongs. It is time for Christians to stand up and let the light and love of Christ flow through them to the community and speak His words with boldness.
We serve an amazing, omnipotent God – but He has chosen to work through His children. We are Christ’s ambassadors and need to represent Him in all His glory.
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Well said my friend. This is a terrific addition to my post. I have walked away from Zion before, but I would never turn my back on God. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Your wise counsel is immensely appreciated. May God richly bless you.
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It’s hard to swallow knowing what an awesome God we have! Ready to Praise God for all eternity!
God Bless You & Yours!
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Thanks Lady D. I agree with you. The lady in the article seemed to have been living a lie. How could she abandon her flock in enemy territory?
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Wow. I wonder if something happened to her that she’s not talking about. I know I’ve had my fair share of doubt. But looking back it was always associated with something that happened and I couldn’t understand why. Thank you for sharing.
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Hold fast to the faith Afi. It will pay off in the end. I think that lady is a victim of her parents ramming religion down her throat. Everybody has to have their own Damascus road experience. The apostle Paul, then Saul met Jesus on the Damascus road, while on his way to persecute the Church.
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“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3
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Amen to all that has been said it is so true God has blessed me sofar everyday of my life and praise be to God always.
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