What is your Deal Breaker

Introduction:

John 6:66–67 (NASB95)

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”

Everyone has a “deal breaker.” In relationships, it might be dishonesty, infidelity, or lack of respect. In a job, it might be being undervalued. But what about in our walk with Christ? What would make you walk away from Jesus? What would make you say, “That is too much Lord?”

Why do people walk away from God?

1. Personal Experience and Suffering:

Suffering and Pain:. Witnessing or experiencing significant hardship can lead individuals to question or reject their faith, as they may struggle to reconcile suffering with the idea of a loving and benevolent God. 

Unanswered Prayers:. When prayers seem unanswered or when individuals feel that their faith has failed them during difficult times, they may lose faith. 

Hypocrisy:. Seeing hypocrisy within religious institutions or among fellow believers can erode trust and lead to a rejection of the faith. 

2. Intellectual and Existential Challenges:

Challenging Religious Beliefs:. As individuals encounter new ideas and concepts that contradict their religious beliefs, especially in higher education, they may begin to question their faith. 

The Problem of Evil:. The existence of suffering and evil in the world can be a significant source of existential questioning, leading some to reject the idea of a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. 

3. Practical and Societal Factors:

Changing Cultural Norms:Individuals may feel pressured to conform to societal norms that conflict with their religious upbringing, leading them to question the relevance of their faith. 

Finding Alternative Communities:Some individuals may find stronger social support and acceptance outside of religious institutions, leading them to prioritize those communities over their faith. 

Lack of Community:Feeling isolated or marginalized within a religious institution can contribute to a sense of disconnect and lead individuals to seek solace elsewhere. 

Religious Trauma:Experiences of abuse, neglect, or other forms of trauma within a religious context can damage an individual's faith and lead them to question or reject their beliefs. 

4. Other Factors:

Family Influence:The religious beliefs of parents, particularly fathers, can significantly impact a child's religious identity, and a lack of strong religious role models or a decline in religious practices within the family can contribute to a decline in belief. 

Sin and Unconfessed Guilt:Some individuals may feel a sense of guilt and shame when they have unconfessed sins in their lives, which can lead them to feel distanced from God and reluctant to engage in religious practices like prayer or Bible study. 

Preoccupation with Other Things:Simply becoming preoccupied with worldly pursuits, riches, and pleasures can lead individuals to drift away from their faith. 

Seeking a Deeper Understanding:Some may leave religion due to intellectual or theological reasons, or because they are seeking a more personalized or spiritual experience. 

Lack of Personal Connection:Some individuals may feel that they cannot personally connect with the teachings and practices of their faith, leading them to question or reject their beliefs. 

The crowd had a deal breaker - In John 6 Jesus fed the 5000 - an undeniable miracle. The crowd was excited, amazed, and even ready to make him king. But when he started teaching hard truths about his identity—calling himself the Bread of Life and saying they must eat his flesh and drink his blood—they were offended

English Standard Version Chapter 6

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him

ἀπέρχομαι  aperchomaiGreek Lemma • go away; go; departKey Articleἀπέρχομαι from from Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai), vb. go away; go; depart. aor.act. ἀπῆλθον; perf.act. ἀπελήλυθα; aor.pass. ἀπέλθατε. Hebrew equivalent: הלך (73). LTW ἀπέρχομαι (Apostasy).

Verb Usage

1. to go away — to move away from a place into another direction. Sense Antonym: to come. See also ἀποχωρέω, ἐκχωρέω, μεταίρω, πορεύομαι, ὑπάγω. Related Topic: Exodus.

Mt 8:18|| Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς πολλοὺς ὄχλους περὶ αὐτὸν ἐκέλευσεν ἀπελθεῖν

Mk 6:32|| καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κατʼ ἰδίαν.

Mk 7:24|| Ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀναστὰς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὰ ὅρια Τύρου.

Lk 9:57|| Ἀκολουθήσω σοι ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ.

Jn 16:7 ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω.

2. to happen ⇔ come† — to come to pass or arrive, as in due course; understood as if an event were coming to or arriving at a location. See also ἐπεισέρχομαι, ἐπέρχομαι, ἔρχομαι.

Re 9:12 Ἡ οὐαὶ ἡ μία ἀπῆλθεν·

Re 11:14 Ἡ οὐαὶ ἡ δευτέρα ἀπῆλθεν·

3. to circulate (go out)† — to become widely known and passed on. See also ἐκπορεύομαι, ἐξέρχομαι.

Mt 4:24 καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν Συρίαν·

4. to vanish ⇔ leave† — to cease to exist; conceived of as departing from a location. See also ἐξέρin, een when the way χομαι, παράγω.

Re 21:1 ὁ γὰρ πρῶτος οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ πρώτη γῆ ἀπῆλθαν,

Re 21:4 τὰ πρῶτα ἀπῆλθαν.

5. to lose a state ⇔ exit† — to lose a state, conceived of as the state moving out of or departing from a person. See also ἀφίημι.

Mk 1:42|| καὶ εὐθὺς ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα,

Lk 5:13|| καὶ εὐθέως ἡ λέπρα ἀπῆλθεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.

6. to enter a state ⇔ depart† — to enter a state, conceived of as departing one’s current state or condition to enter into a new one

Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible John 6:60–71

John 6:60–71

2. Jesus doesn’t beg you to stay

He didn’t water down the truth. “Do you want to go away as well” V66

He wasn’t clinging to followers who where half-hearted. He was seeking those who were all even when the way got difficult

3. What is your Deal Breaker?

Conclusion: Don’t walk away when it gets difficult…..or IMPOSSIBLE!!!

The Gospel is not about convenience. The Gospel is about Commitment

Option A: “This teaching is too hard”

Option B: “Where else would I go? You have the words of eternal life”