Do you ever have those moments, moments when you feel like breaking up with Christianity? Do you ever feel frustrated thinking about the things you “can’t” do because you’re a Christian? Sometimes I just wish I could go on a break from Christianity. Sometimes I wish I could take my Christian hat off for a temporary season and live like the world lives.

If I were to break-up with Christianity, this is what I would say:

“It’s not you, it’s me. It’s not you, I promise. You’ve treated me well and I’ve enjoyed our time together but I need a break. I need a season of being without you. You didn’t do anything wrong. There’s nothing you could have done differently. I’m just not in a place to be in a relationship with you right now.
I know this isn’t what you want to hear but I’ve found someone else. His name is Sin and I have a lot of fun with him. He knows how to bring me happiness. He knows the things I want and he anticipates them before I express my feelings. I’m sorry but it just isn’t working out with us. I’d like to see where things could go with Sin. It’s been fun but it’s time for me to move on.”

The truth is, it’s perfectly normal to feel this way. It’s in our nature to desire things that are not consistent with what Christ has called us to. It’s in our nature for our spirit and flesh to wage war against each other.

These feelings are to be expected but the question is, how are you going to handle them when they arise? When we begin to feel like we want to take a break from our faith, we have two choices: surrender or fight.

Surrender

If we choose to surrender, we are giving control to the enemy. We are letting him win. We are allowing him to say to God, “I told you so. I told you they couldn’t resist temptation. I knew they would succumb to my ways.”

If we choose surrender, we are saying we are not strong enough. We are saying the fight isn’t worth it. If we choose surrender, we have to be prepared to deal with the consequences.

Be careful not to binge on sin. It will leave you feeling like vomiting everything you just took in. It will leave you feeling full of guilt and regret and it will leave you with weight you can’t unload. Before you choose surrender, which I sincerely hope you are able to resist, will you speak these words aloud and see if your heart changes:

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Fight

If we choose to fight, we can be confident in knowing we are more than equipped to win the battle. God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit inside of us who calls out Abba Father when we can’t bring ourselves to call (Galatians 3:6). He has given us a book of encouragement that we can turn to when we need help pulling ourselves out of the pit.

He has given us a body of believers who love us and will help us through our season of struggle if we open up to them and share. And most importantly, He has given us the inner strength we need to fight.

It’s in you, believe that.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. The body of believers knows your struggle, they have experienced similar struggles. No sin temptation is too big that you can’t face it and win the battle. I know that. I’m living through it with you.

I have faith that you can overcome whatever you are struggling with. So hang in there friend. Continue to resist. Continue to fight. Put on your armor, pull out your sword and show Satan you will not allow him to tell God “I told you so.”