There are many reasons why people reject Christ. Some of the most common ones include the following:
Tragedy causes many to doubt God’s love or His very existence
Many people when they lose a spouse or experience some other painful tragedy find it hard to believe that a loving Jesus would allow this to happen. Some even go as far as to say that there must not even be a God for this to have happened. My friends Jesus is the only good answer to the problem of suffering. I have written extensively on this issue of suffering. Please see some of my past devotions on this topic: (April 26, 2022//December 29, 2021//June 30, 2021//September 7, 2020).
Many people believe that Jesus cannot forgive them because of their past
To many people with a sordid past the idea that Jesus could forgive them for all the harm they have afflicted on others is a foreign concept. This, however, is totally unbiblical. If these same people could only realize that if Jesus could forgive the very people who hung Him on the cross, then He can easily forgive them. The Bible teaches that through faith in Christ you are never too far gone to receive Christ’s forgiveness.
Mankind loves the darkness rather than the light
But, I believe, that the number one reason why men reject Jesus is because they love their sin too much. Several quotes illustrate this principle well:
“I am often asked, ‘Why do people continue to reject God, even after hearing of all this compelling evidence He exists?’ Jesus explained one of the reasons when He said, ‘Men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil’ (John 3:19). That’s what’s really going on in a lot of cases. It’s rarely just an intellectual hang-up that keeps a person from believing in God.”1 – Charlie Campbell
“Be very sure of this, – people never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it. They understand it only too well; they understand that it condemns their own behavior; they understand that it witnesses against their own sins and summons them to judgment.”2 – J. C. Ryle
“The chief reason people do not know God is not because He hides from them but because they hide from Him.”3 – John Stott
“Why do people suppress the evidence for God? The God described in the Bible goes against the grain of today’s popular notions of spirituality. Many people may be receptive to the idea of a non-personal spiritual force that they can tap into. They might be willing to consider a great pantheistic pool of spirituality of which they are a part. But they are far less comfortable with the concept of a living, active, personal God who knows them, wants to interact with them, and has His own views about what they are doing with their lives.”4 – Nancy Pearcey
And the Scriptures echo these same thoughts when it says: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20).
If only the sinner could realize that sin only brings momentary pleasure, whereas Christ supplies everlasting pleasure. Moses understood this principle so well for we read in (Hebrews 11:24-26): “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Even though the book of Psalms hadn’t been written, Moses understood the tremendous blessings contained in one of my favorite verses – (Psalm 16:11): “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
1 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 97.
2 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 57.
3 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 14.
4 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), pp. 96-97.