Prayer of the Ex-Christian

Jesus says ask and you shall receive.

We ask but do not receive.

Jesus says seek and you shall find. 

We seek and we find challenges to Christian belief.

Jesus says knock and the door will be opened to you.

We knock and the door is not opened.

Jesus says that a good father gives good gifts.

Where are the good gifts of God?

Jesus says come all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.

But we came to Jesus and found no rest, only false promises.

Jesus said his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

But we are burdened by questions

Christians cannot answer.

Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth

But the meek are crushed by tyrants.

Jesus said those who have faith as small as a mustard seed can

Move a mountain.

But we had the faith of a mountain and could not

Move a mustard seed.

Jesus says whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

But we came to Jesus and he drove us away

By ignoring our most desperate prayers.

Jesus said he came so that we may have life

And have it to the full.

We loved God with all of our hearts

With all of our minds, and

With all of our strength.

We confessed with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and

Believed in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead

But we did not have life to the full.

They said you must believe

Or you will go to hell.

We believed

and were in hell anyway.