Lately, I’ve had this thought on my mind— to ask people I know who aren’t saved a simple but deep question: "Why are you not serving God?"

Many of these people grew up in Christian homes. They heard the same Bible stories I did, went to Sunday school, maybe even memorized Scripture. They know about God. Yet for some reason, they’ve decided they don’t want Him in their lives.

Why?
What turned them off?

I’ve often wondered if it’s because of what they saw rather than what they heard. 

I think many people have witnessed compromise in their homes—homes that called themselves Christian, but didn’t truly reflect Christ.

The Power of Example

Children watch more than they listen. They notice when their parents act one way around other believers and another way behind closed doors. That kind of inconsistency plants confusion deep in their hearts. It sends the message that Christianity is just a performance, something you put on for others instead of a way of life shaped by love for Jesus.

In many "Christian homes", children are taught all the rules—all the do’s and don’ts—but not the relationship. They’re told to obey but not taught how to fall in love with Jesus first.

But true obedience doesn’t come from fear or pressure; it flows from a heart that knows and loves Jesus. When we truly love Him, we want to obey Him—out of devotion.

Rules can’t change hearts, but love can.

Teaching Relationship Over Rules

Maybe if more homes focused on helping their children build a personal relationship with God—encouraging them to seek answers in the Bible for themselves and to talk to God openly—fewer hearts would turn away later in life.

Parents can’t live their children’s faith for them, but they can model a life of love, humility, and repentance. Children need to see that faith is real even when life is messy—that loving Jesus isn’t about being perfect, but about depending on Him daily.

When all we teach is “be good” or “obey the rules,” we raise moral children but not necessarily spiritual ones. What we need are young people whose hearts burn for the Lord—who know Him deeply and personally.

Because to truly know God is to love God. And once you know Him, you’ll want to obey Him.

Don’t Let Others’ Failures Keep You From God

Now, maybe you did see compromise in your family. Maybe your parents said one thing and lived another. Maybe you were hurt by the hypocrisy you saw in the name of faith. But that doesn’t mean you should throw everything they taught you away.

It doesn’t mean you stop believing in God, or that everything they showed you was false. Sometimes people fail—but God never does.

Don’t let the failures of others cause you to turn away from the One who has never failed you. People can misrepresent God, but He is still holy, still merciful, still loving, still faithful. The actions of others don’t change who He is.

Instead of walking away, let that disappointment drive you to seek God for yourself.

Seek Jesus for Yourself

Open His Word. Ask Him to reveal who He truly is. Because when you see Him clearly—not through the lens of someone else’s mistakes, but through His truth—your faith becomes real, strong, and personal.

He wants to know you. He wants to heal the wounds that religion or hypocrisy may have caused. He wants to show you His heart, His goodness, and His grace.

So please, seek Jesus for yourself.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13

Start talking to Him. Read His Word. Spend time in His presence. Build your own relationship with the Lord.

You won’t regret it.

Because once you truly meet Him—once you know Him—you’ll never want to say no again. 

Disclaimer: I do want to add that some people grew up in truly godly homes—homes where Christ was honored and no compromise was seen—yet they still turned away from God. That’s something I find deeply puzzling.

No matter what reasons people give for not serving God, none of them really hold weight. I may not understand their choices, but my heart’s prayer is that they would come to truly know Him and remain faithful to Him for the rest of their lives.

Too long? Read the summary of this post below ⬇️ 

Many people who grew up in Christian homes know about God but choose not to serve Him. Often, the reason isn’t what they heard—but what they saw. They witnessed hypocrisy or compromise in homes that called themselves Christian, and it planted confusion and distrust.

True faith can’t be built on rules alone—it must come from a personal relationship with Jesus. Parents should model genuine love, humility, and repentance so children see faith lived out, not just preached.

Even if you’ve been hurt or disappointed by others’ failures, don’t let that keep you from God. People may misrepresent Him, but He never fails. Seek Him for yourself through His Word and prayer.