136 - Linda - My husband, a pastor, has rejected Jesus Christ
“Because of the high amount of sensitive information provided in her story, I have changed all names, including hers, and any other identifying information to preserve anonymity. (A short Summary is provided below, but full story is available in audio recording below):
Linda shared her personal story with me about her marriage and faith. Her husband, a former drug addict who became a fervent pastor, ministering to drug addicts for eight years and seeing miracles, began to doubt his Christian faith after listening to Jewish teachings. Eventually, he rejected Christianity and the New Testament all together. This caused significant conflict in their marriage, especially as their son, also followed his father’s new beliefs. Linda tried to reason with her husband, but he dismissed her arguments. He repeatedly asked for a divorce, and the situation at home became increasingly difficult….(listen to recording below)”
A Family Divided: When Apostasy Hits Home
The email landed in my inbox like a punch to the gut. A wife, Linda, poured out her heart, describing the agonizing journey of her husband, a former pastor, who saw miracles and fruit, having now descended into apostasy. He had once fervently served the Lord, leading drug addicts and alcoholics to Christ. Now, he rejected the very foundations of their faith, influenced by Jewish teachings that denied the existence of Satan, salvation, and hell. "Christians are afraid of investigating the truth," he scoffed. "They are all ignorant."
Linda’s pain was palpable. Fred, once her partner in ministry, now demanded a divorce, unable to bear living with a "fanatic for Jesus." Even their son, echoed his father's sentiments, urging Linda to renounce Jesus so they could be a "family again." "Mom, just say no to Jesus," he pleaded, “and we can all be a family again!”
How do we respond when those closest to us reject the truth we hold dear? Where do we find hope when our families are fractured by unbelief? Linda’s story reminds us of Job, who faced unimaginable loss and suffering yet refused to curse God. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" he asked his wife. (Job 2:10)
Like Job, we must cling to our faith, finding solace in the words of 1 Peter 1:5: "who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." No matter what happens, true peace is not dependent on circumstances but on unwavering trust in God's sovereignty.
This story of apostasy is a sobering reminder of the spiritual battle raging around us and gives fresh urgency to the warnings of Jesus. I am reminded of Jesus scolding the Pharisees in Matthew 23:15, “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much as son of hell as you are.” This is why we hear him warning all of us in Revelation 3:11, “Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” The Bible says these are terrible times and many will depart from the faith, and so they do. God would have those of us who are left behind through apostasy, to reach a higher level of faith, such that we can say from our heart, like Job, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away: May the name of the Lord be praised!”
