Several days ago, I happened upon two articles about relatively famous Christian men who no longer consider themselves to be Christians. Joshua Harris – a pastor and author most famous for his 1997 book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” and Marty Sampson – the singer/songwriter associated with the Christian worship band HIllsong.

Before announcing his decision to leave the Christian faith, Joshua recanted much of the advice given in “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” apologizing for any harm that it may have caused the courtship based marriages for which he advocated. He also announced his separation from his wife of 21 years. He says in an Instagram post, “…I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is “deconstruction,” the Biblical phrase is “falling away.” By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now.”

Marty Sampson also announced his break from the Christian faith in an Instagram post – which has since been removed. “Time for some real talk,” he says, “I am genuinely losing my faith… I am not in anymore. I want genuine truth. Not the “I just believe it” kind of truth… All I know is what’s true to me right now, and Christianity to me just seems like another religion at this point.” Later in the week, Sampson clarified his position to say that he has not completely “renounced” faith, but that his faith is on “incredibly shaky ground.”

A handful of well-known Christians have given public responses to Harris’ and Sampson’s announcements. Some of these responses have been kind, and others seem to have entirely missed the heart of what (I think) Harris and Sampson are trying to convey. In some instances, these responses even seem to accuse Harris and Sampson of intentionally trying to lead people away from Christ.

I’m not sure why we feel threatened when the evolution of someone’s beliefs takes a turn that doesn’t match what we believe. Or why we feel challenged by differences in spiritual experience. Or, why we feel the need to prove that our own experiences are true and right above those of others. Everyone’s beliefs evolve over time, and sometimes going down the rabbit trail of doubt leads us right back to wherever we’re supposed to be in the first place. But that can’t happen if people aren’t allowed to be authentic and real about what’s really going on in their hearts.

I’m not here to throw stones, though. I know that everyone involved is doing what they feel they need to do.

I never can stay away, but I have left the Christian faith several times. As a child, I struggled heavily with the fact that there is no objective way for anyone to prove his or her beliefs. Growing up in a diverse area, I realized early on that human beliefs are based on subjective spiritual experiences, worldviews, and cultural traditions that we are either born into or choose later in life. The only reason I was a Christian was because it was what I knew. But that didn’t make Christianity objectively true. I always wondered how anyone could know for sure that what they have experienced or have been taught to believe is objective truth?

But despite this nagging sense that objective truth is inaccessible to humanity, I still believe that everyone has a responsibility to seek out truth for him or herself. From what I’ve seen, that’s really all that Harris and Sampson are doing.  

I know first hand how hard it is to be able to express questions, doubts, and controversial thoughts without well-meaning people going into panic mode trying to get you saved, distancing themselves from you, or straight up condemning you to hell. That’s why I think the announcements these men are making are brave. They are sharing their truth with us and we should make space for that.

I’m grateful for the honesty with which Harris and Sampson offer us a glimpse into their spiritual journeys. I’m praying that they continue to search and that their search will lead them exactly where they need to be.