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Marty Sampson, longtime, prolific worship music writer known for his work with Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United, Delirious and Young & Free, revealed he is losing his faith and believes Christianity is “just another religion.”
This on the heels of best selling Christian author and pastor, Joshua Harris, who also publicly denounced his Christian faith earlier this month.
Sampson left little doubt as to why he is walking away from Christianity.
Be informed.
Sampson's explanation.
The Christian Post published this:
“Time for some real talk,” the Australian writer wrote in a since-deleted post on Instagram. “I’m genuinely losing my faith, and it doesn’t bother me. Like, what bothers me now is nothing. I am so happy now, so at peace with the world. It’s crazy.”
“This is a soapbox moment so here I go … How many preachers fall? Many,” he continued. “No one talks about it. How many miracles happen. Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place, all ‘coz they don’t believe? No one talks about it. Christians can be the most judgmental people on the planet—they can also be some of the most beautiful and loving people. But it’s not for me.”
The "All I Need Is You” writer said he’s “not in” anymore and desires “genuine truth."
"Not the ‘I just believe it’ kind of truth," he wrote. "Science keeps piercing the truth of every religion. Lots of things help people change their lives, not just one version of God. Got so much more to say, but for me, I'm keeping it real. Unfollow if you want, I’ve never been about living my life for others.”
Christianity “just seems to me like another religion at this point,” Sampson said.
“I could go on, but I won’t,” he wrote. “Love and forgive absolutely. Be kind absolutely. Be generous and do good to others absolutely. Some things are good no matter what you believe. Let the rain fall, the sun will come up tomorrow.”
Well, the sun "will" come up tomorrow because God created His universe to function in a precise way. We can count on it.
Ironically, Sampson's now-deleted post on Instagram was accompanied by a picture of the biblical Sampson pulling down the pillars of the temple as described in Judges.
It's heartbreaking to fellow Christians. Why does it happen?
Just days ago, I wrote here in Faith and Freedom Daily about bestselling Christian author and pastor Josh Harris also denouncing his faith publicly.
ABC News has written about well-known celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Katy Perry and others who have left the Christian faith of their parents---and some of their reasons for doing so.
Lifesite News published an article back in 2016 titled, "The Paradox of Franky Shaeffer," the son of well known evangelical Francis Shaeffer, who turned away from Christianity. The story also notes similar decisions by Ronald Reagan's son, "Ronnie," and C. Everett Koop's son.
There's a number of comments by Christian leaders as to why this happens. There will be more today, as people become aware.
John Mason, founder of the God First, Life Second movement, says Sampson's falling away demonstrates that "our minds are directly related to our spiritual position. When sound biblical theology is neglected for an American, spiritualized, culture-friendly replacement, exposure to that theology will naturally turn away a mind, a heart, and soul that has never submitted to that eternal Truth."
Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis founder) says Sampson's rejection of his formed beliefs reinforces the need for parents to instruct their children in doctrinal truths at an early age. "This sad situation about this person is a reminder the church and parents need to teach apologetics to counter today's attacks on God's Word."
I was struck by 2 statements made by Sampson.
First, he apparently was writing songs for a culture he was part of, without understanding why he was actually writing the songs. He didn't seem to understand that it wasn't all about him. He was supposed to be writing them for something more than his ability and his performance. It was supposed to be for the glory of God.
He repeatedly made the point that "no one talks about the contradictions in the Bible, no one talks about moral and theological failures of pastors, everyone talks about miracles but no one delivers, and talks about the fact that Christians can be 'judgmental'."
Is he kidding? Every want-a-be atheist voice in the world is constantly beating their drums proclaiming that the Bible is full of contradictions, that Christians are hypocrites and Jesus didn't rise from the dead.
It's difficult for me, knowing his spiritual environment of recent years, to believe that he just discovered that Christians are not perfect---and by implication are at least partially responsible for his spiritual failure.
Secondly, he claims, "I've never been about living my life for others."
That in and of itself exposes the tragedy of his personal life. The songs he wrote, the worship he led was supposed to be all about Christ, not about him. It was supposed to be about God and His church, and about a lost and perishing world.
In effect, Sampson is saying it was all about me, and I'm weary of carrying the load of the gospel. In one statement he claims himself to be the measurement and arbitration of all truth, which he carefully makes his own truth.
Living for others is the whole point of the gospel.
Anne Kelly wrote this yesterday,
"His including the picture of the biblical Sampson bringing down the pillars of the temple in his Instagram post, underscores that he somehow tried to hold up the edifice of faith himself, and yet, when he failed, he picked up a greater and more unmovable stone to carry on his own."
Rebellion toward God is a very heavy stone to carry.
Kelly shares this from a paraphrase of Hebrews:
"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
Then she says this:
"If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had an opportunity to return–but it was already forgotten. It can’t even be remembered by the one who dropped everything and ran after the Lord. Why? Because Jesus is so perfect, so good, so true. He did nothing for himself, but emptied himself, taking on the terrible death of the cross, being crushed under the weight of sin, dying so that each of us might live. There is no greater miracle than seeing the desolate majesty of the cross, of wondering what on earth it is about, of coming from afar off through much great suffering and disappointment, and, when reaching out your hands to touch it, finding that it is actually a wide open door to a better and more perfect country. You go through and everything else is forgotten."
"I’m off to that better country just this moment to pray for Mr. Sampson, and myself, and everyone. Hope to see you there."
Be Informed. Be Faithful. Be Blessed. Be Prayerful.