On Apostates De-Conversions and Death – Why does someone de-convert from Christianity? What happens to an apostate after death? I’ve been thinking a lot about these topics as there have been many examples occurring so close together. I don’t have any pat answers. I doubt anyone does – other than what we find in Scripture.
Feeling Better After De-Converting?
Abraham Piper was excommunicated from his church after criticizing his father and de-converting. He’s since become a TikTok star deconstructing Christianity. In his case, deconstructionism has become a lucrative business. While I doubt this was intentional, his popularity is a symptom of this world.
A tearful Paul Maxwell announced that he was relieved after walking away from Christianity. Why was that? What is going on here? Again this is a complicated subject because we do not walk in someone else’s shoes. Jon Harris provides some thoughtful commentary HERE
The Apologist
There was the case of Ravi Zacharias. He was, arguably, the most well- known Christian apologist in the world. His organization RZIM helped spread the gospel to many of the unreached. Zacharias passed away in 2020. I came across whisperings of problems back in 2017.
It was easier for me to relegate this to human failing (read the Bible for examples) – because I had some issues with his brand of apologetics I didn’t rely on his ministry. See Alisa Childers on the Zacharias scandal.
After his passing, charges of systemic abuse came to light. RZIM hired an independent team to investigate, and the allegations were confirmed. This was a human failing which presumably (if true) he never repented of. Sadly, this led to one prominent evangelist publicly damning him. Understandably, Ravi’s grieving widow came to his defense. She never saw any indication of impropriety, nor did he confess it to her on his deathbed.
We’re left to wonder what the truth is. Perhaps it’s none of our business. Perhaps we ought to be more concerned with our own lives, and who we put our faith in.
Death of an Apostate
Rachel Held Evans was another de-conversion star. She wrote several best-selling books. One of these was “Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again,” which I reviewed. RHE suddenly passed away in 2019. She was a wife and mother, and only 37 years old. As frustrated as I was over her deconstruction of biblical Christianity, her death affected me.
Doug Wilson’s thoughts on her passing are helpful. Towards the end of his article he writes,
So the best thing we can do in a circumstance like this is to stand by the gospel we profess, walking none of it back, extend genuine condolence to the Evans family, hope for the best with regard to RHE, and put all our disputes, whether weighty or insignificant, into a context of a momentous and everlasting glory and joy… So may God in His great kindness bless Rachel Held Evans. RIP.
I really like that. That’s all we can do!
Further reading:
The Power of De-Conversion Stories
The De-conversion of Saruman: Five Lessons to Learn
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