Christian

Why Do Christians Drift Away?

Cindy Dawson

While at the beach one summer, my two sons insisted on renting a small boat. They were told to stay close, but eventually they began to drift. We started yelling at them and waving our arms, but they didn’t see us and kept drifting farther and farther away, unaware.

That’s the bad thing about drifting, you can end up far from where you started and unaware of how far you’ve drifted.

“… we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.” Hebrews 2:1 AMP

Today we have the entire Bible to keep us on course, but do we neglect it? C.S. Lewis said,

As a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away?”

Mere christianity

We can so easily drift away from God and toward the ways of the world: thinking like the world, acting like the world, even speaking like the world. How? Compromise, open-mindedness, tolerance for what is evil in the eyes of the Lord, the desire to fit in.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV

Thinking back on my past, I can see how drifting away from God was a result of drifting farther and farther away from God’s Word. Drifting happens so easily, not because of anything we do, as much as what we don’t do. We neglect Bible study, neglect church fellowship, neglect worship, neglect prayer.

My boys finally saw us waving wildly and came back in, but others have not been so lucky.

In his article, 9 Fortunate Souls Who Survived Being Lost at Sea, Avery Thompson said this,

“The sea is like a wet desert. There’s no food. There’s no shelter. Nothing to drink. In every direction, the view is the same: nothing. Plus, dangerous predators lurk just beneath the depths.  A shipwreck out on the open ocean can be a death sentence. If rescue doesn’t come in the first 48 hours, it probably never will.”

We can compare this to drifting spiritually. No spiritual food to eat, no living water to drink, demons lurking just beneath …

That’s why the writer of Hebrews says, “we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard“. We must be reading our Bible and renewing our minds. These words are as true today as they were when first written.

The worse thing about being a drifter is that you probably won’t even notice what you’ve become or how far you have drifted. So in this time, as in the first century, Christians “must pay much closer attention than ever.”

Are you paying attention?

Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

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46 thoughts on “Why Do Christians Drift Away?”

  2. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life are always in force. And we must be cognizant of the parable of the seeds and the sower.

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        1. Although I drifted away from the Christian Churches for 14 years, God looked through my eyes as I read an article on Messianic Worship. His presence sent me into a panic. Obedience followed. I now attend shul, services, followed by oneg on Saturdays. It is a great joy to participate in all of the High Holy Days and follow G-d’s moedim. There have been many unusual experiences that brought forth tests of faith. “A crucible for silver, the furnace for gold, but G-d tests the heart.” And He has…repeatedly.

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            1. Not as far as I know, but then my father has the Jewish name Omer (meaning grain) as in “the counting of the Omer” which is followed by Shavuot. Thus, only G-d knows.

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                1. Yoshua (Yeshua/Jesus) is Adonai Echad and son of the Father. He is represented in the Passover as the earthen vessel containing an unblemished lamb’s blood which was painted on the door frame and formed the letter “chet” known as the letter of life. So, yes, Yoshua is the redeemer for all who have a willing heart of repentance and choose to follow him.

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  6. As I read this I thought how necessary it is for us to have an anchor for our soul that is firm and steadfast that even if or for many of us when drifting occurs, we have our anchor that keeps us from going way too far. It’s also crucial as you alluded to that we feast on the Word – our source of life, strength and stability.

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  7. Absolutely, yes!
    Col 3.2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
    Rom 8.6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit, life and peace
    Is 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

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  9. Yes! This is so true. It’s strange, because I do love sitting with my Bible and reading for long periods of time. But work and chores and responsibilities come along like constant waves, and I do drift away.

    I should keep track of my God- time in my journal… 🤔 Thank you for such a beautiful and helpful blog!

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  10. This is so true and so pertinent for today. You’re right – it’s often what we don’t do that causes us to drift away. It’s so important to be faithful and to stay in the Word. You did an excellent job of reminding us of the dangers of drifting. Thank you, Cindy!

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  11. I LOVE God’s Word and so look forward each morning to my quiet time, to continue learning about Him, receiving his guidance for my life and encouragement for my faith. Just as cool water is the best relief for a parched throat, the Bible is the best (and most precious!) thirst-quencher for our spirits.

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