“Why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around.”
"Backsliding" is a term often used in a Christian context to describe someone who's no longer following a prior commitment to follow Christ. The term "backslide" is sort of a metaphor for going the wrong direction—away from God rather than towards Him. The imagery of falling backward describes someone who continually slips further and further down a slope, losing the progress they had made in the past.
We know that our ultimate purpose in life is to serve God and grow closer to Him relationally (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:17). But it’s not uncommon for someone who truly made a commitment to Christ at one point of their life to later start drifting away from the faith.
Who's prone to backsliding?
“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”
This is something that only happens to Christians who have accepted the gospel of Jesus. So it's not a way to describe an unsaved person or someone who calls themselves a Christian but has never made a commitment to Christ in the first place. And since Christians can't lose their salvation by sinning or backsliding, this isn't an indictment that God has abandoned a person (2 Timothy 2:13).
The Bible tells us that we all fall short of God’s standard (1 John 1:10). Even Jesus’ disciples ran away from their commitment to Him after He was crucified (Mark 14:27). So God knows that we'll all have times when we sin and damage our relationship with Him. That's kind of what the sin nature does.
What’s most important is that, when we recognize we're going the wrong direction (2 Corinthians 13:5), we choose to respond appropriately—that we make changes to start moving forward in our spiritual maturity instead of going backward.
What makes someone backslide?
“On the way, Jesus told them, 'All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”
The reasons a Christian might backslide are unique to each person. Trauma, fear, spiritual abuse, bad church experiences, and suffering physically or mentally are just a few. Sometimes it's just a loss of interest or passion for Jesus. Upon an initial commitment or recommitment to Christ or after getting back from a missions trip, someone may initially feel a "spiritual high," only to fall back into their former sinful habits once everyday life sets back in.
The extent that a person might walk away from God varies to different degrees of concern. They may find themselves praying less (or not at all), reading the Bible less (or not at all), or skipping church. They may start prioritizing selfish pursuits over helping others. They may express hate towards people rather than choosing love and compassion. Basically, their spiritual growth will have slowed, stopped, or even started regressing.
How can I know if I'm backsliding?
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”
Just as salvation isn't based on feelings, neither is backsliding based on our feelings. Just because we're not feeling "on fire" spiritually, that doesn't mean we're backsliding or doing something "wrong." Emotions come and go, so they're not good indicators of the soul (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible instructs us to examine ourselves to see if we're truly saved (2 Corinthians 13:5). In the same way, we ought to examine ourselves to check on the state of our spiritual growth.
Backsliding is primarily evidenced by a series of actions. If we find ourselves veering from the path that leads to God, being fine with negative or harmful behaviors, or losing interest in the things of God, we need to approach it as an obstacle to overcome. If you feel you may be backsliding in your faith, please don't lose hope!
In that moment, we can't let the fear of God's wrath or anxiety that we're not perfect drive us further away from Him. Instead, we can observe our life and habits, then make a plan about what we can change or adjust so that we can start moving back toward our Heavenly Father.
How can I stop backsliding?
“We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
Sanctification is what the Bible calls the process of continually growing more and more into the character of Jesus, and it's a lifelong process. It starts with accepting salvation through Jesus, and then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, it continues for the rest of our lives.
We'll have ups and downs—sometimes long-lasting, sometimes just a matter of days or weeks. Yet those who belong to God will eventually find themselves turning back to Him one way or another. God will always wait for His children (Psalm 103:8; Isaiah 40:28).
“Some of you were once like [those who do wrong]. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
If you notice that your relationship with God isn’t growing, you're spending less time with Him, or notice some sinful habits have developed (or come back), the best thing you can do is choose to recognize it and act. Make the changes you know you need to make—even if it initially seems hard. If you need help, ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and maybe even for someone to hold you accountable to getting back on track.
Since God is faithful even when we're not (2 Timothy 2:13), there’s never a point where a Christian will get "too far gone." To believe that it's pointless to seek God anymore is a lie of the enemy. Remind yourself of the love you had for God earlier in your life, and meditate on His goodness as you strive to seek Him once again. We promise that He's ready and waiting to hear from you.