As usual, OSASers can't resist judging all NON OSASers as unsaved! lol
You can't help it. OSASers are the most judgmental folks I have talked to. Good luck on Judgment Day!
Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged;
I'm sorry--you've misunderstood me. I wasn't remotely implying that *you* are unsaved. I was saying quite the opposite, that since you, as a saved person, would *not* contemplate a life without Christ, you would have a hard time understanding how *any* saved person would contemplate leaving Christ.
The situation I'm leaving you with is the idea that there are in fact Christians out there who are Christian "in name only," who have genuine convictions that Christianity is true, but who are not fully engaged in it, not being "born again." I've known many such people, who would claim to be Christian, but who don't live the Christian life. Some of them do even partly live the Christian life, and convey the Gospel message, but do not themselves fully invest themselves into union with Christ. They are more engrossed with the *power* of Christ than with the *person* of Christ.
Those like you and me who love the person of Christ hardly contemplate leaving him. But I'm saying that there are those who call themselves "Christians" who do not fully commit to Christ precisely because they do contemplate a life not fully vested in Christ. And they can easily contemplate being something other than a "right wing fundamentalist," or an "extreme Christian." Some accept all the basic doctrines and actually know Christ, but are full of internal conflicts and bitterness. And I believe these are not really born again.
I don't think those who have capitulated to Christ, making him Lord, contemplate leaving him. So if they do leave him, it has to be a major disappointment, or some kind of emotional breakdown. Normal Christians simply do not contemplate leaving Christ, because he is their life.
Sorry you got the wrong idea. I wasn't judging you in the least. On the contrary, I believe you're a true believer. My point is that true believers do not contemplate leaving Christ. So if they do leave him, it is not a completely "sane" decision, and Christ would take that into consideration on Judgment Day.
I do not believe Christians who have spiritual breakdowns like this, or Christians who commit suicide, are lost. I believe they've been ruined by painful experiences, and can be forgiven for their lack of insight and emotional turmoil by a merciful God.
I have had friends who were true Christians who committed suicide. I believe they're still saved. And I've had true Christian friends who left the faith, due to crises in their emotional or intellectual life. I also believe they will be saved.
But you're entitled to your own opinion. As you yourself quoted, "Judge not, lest you be judged."