10 Former Christian leaders who walked away from the faith

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Former Christian leaders who renounced their faith have become a topic of conversation in recent times.

It is not uncommon to hear news of high-profile pastors, influencers, and musicians leaving Christianity, which can be disheartening for some. This article will focus on 10 such Christian leaders who publicly renounced their faith and the reasons behind their decisions.

1.) Joshua Harris

Joshua Harris was a former pastor who authored the best-selling book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” which was widely used by Christian singles as a guide to building healthy relationships. In 2019, Harris revealed on Instagram that he was getting a divorce from his wife of 21 years and no longer considered himself a Christian. He later apologized for his Christian beliefs to the LGBTQ+ community.

2.) Nikole Mitchell

Nikole Mitchell was raised as a Christian and became a pastor at the Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, a conservative and evangelical megachurch. However, in 2017, she came out as bisexual and left the church due to feeling judged. She now works as a stripper on OnlyFans.

3.) Joseph Solomon

Joseph Solomon was a prominent Christian influencer on social media, known for his viral videos preaching about Jesus in a practical way. In 2021, he announced on social media that he was no longer a Christian and now sings popular secular songs on his YouTube channel.

4.) Phanatik

Phanatik was a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Christian hip-hop group, The Cross Movement. He was also an apologetics teacher. In 2022, he posted on Facebook about the new direction he is taking in his life after doubting his faith during his theology studies.

5.) Paul Maxwell

Paul Maxwell worked as a writer for the prominent Christian website, DesiringGod.org. After renouncing his faith in 2021, he parted ways as a contributor to the website.

6.) Jon Steingard

Jon Steingard was the former lead vocalist of the Christian rock band, Hawk Nelson. He stated on social media in 2019 that he no longer believes in God. However, he considers himself an agnostic rather than an atheist.

7.) Jahaziel

Jahaziel was a former Christian rapper from the UK who abandoned his Christian faith in 2015 after claiming to have been a Christian for 20 years. He left because he felt like he was living under a dictatorship. Following his departure from the faith, he posted images on social media mocking God and the Christian faith.

8.) Marty Sampson

Marty Sampson, an Australian worship songwriter well known for co-writing and writing songs for Hillsong, publicly stated in 2019 that he was losing faith. He even ranted on his Instagram page about how he believes the Bible contains too many contradictions and his dissatisfaction with God’s ability to send billions to hell.

9.) Dave Gass

Former pastor Dave Gass, who led Grace Family Fellowship in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, publicly denounced his Christian faith on Twitter in 2019 after being a devout follower for 40 years, with 20 of those years spent as an evangelical pastor.

10.) Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, but he later betrayed Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver. This act led to Jesus’ crucifixion.

In conclusion, the decision of these former Christian leaders to renounce their faith is personal, and each has their reasons for doing so. However, their decisions should not discourage others from their faith but instead encourage them to build a personal relationship with Jesus. Ultimately, the Bible tells us that the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.