One of the evangelical world's most notable preachers and authors has announced he is no longer a Christian.

Harris and his wife announced on July 17, 2019, that they are separating. Now the I Kissed Dating Goodbye author has taken to Instagram once again to say that he has left his faith.

"By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian."

In the online post, Harris thanks people for the outpouring of support since he and his wife announced their separation. "They are expressions of love though they are saddened or even strongly disapprove of the decision," he says, though he admits not all messages were full of encouragement. "Of course there have also been strong words of rebuke from religious people. While not always pleasant, I know they are seeking to love me."

He then continues, explaining that the major shift and change in his life that was alluded to in the separation announcement was that he no longer identifies as a Christian.

"The information that was left out of our announcement is that I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus," he says. "The popular phrase for this is 'deconstruction,' the biblical phrase is 'falling away.' By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now.⁣⁣"

Harris quotes Martin Luther saying that "that the entire life of believers should be repentance." He says that no matter on your view of God it's a phrase that has "beauty in that sentiment" and says over the past few years he has been practicing repentance.

"Repenting of my self-righteousness, my fear-based approach to life, the teaching of my books, my views of women in the church, and my approach to parenting to name a few."

Harris says he apologizes specifically to the LGBTQ community. 

"I want to say that I am sorry for the views that I taught in my books and as a pastor regarding sexuality. I regret standing against marriage equality, for not affirming you and your place in the church, and for any ways that my writing and speaking contributed to a culture of exclusion and bigotry. I hope you can forgive me.⁣⁣"

Harris says that despite how many evangelicals will see his falling away with mourning, he doesn't. "I don’t view this moment negatively. I feel very much alive, and awake, and surprisingly hopeful. I believe with my sister Julian that, 'All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'"

View this post on Instagram

My heart is full of gratitude. I wish you could see all the messages people sent me after the announcement of my divorce. They are expressions of love though they are saddened or even strongly disapprove of the decision.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I am learning that no group has the market cornered on grace. This week I’ve received grace from Christians, atheists, evangelicals, exvangelicals, straight people, LGBTQ people, and everyone in-between. Of course there have also been strong words of rebuke from religious people. While not always pleasant, I know they are seeking to love me. (There have also been spiteful, hateful comments that angered and hurt me.)⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The information that was left out of our announcement is that I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is “deconstruction,” the biblical phrase is “falling away.” By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I’m not there now.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Martin Luther said that the entire life of believers should be repentance. There’s beauty in that sentiment regardless of your view of God. I have lived in repentance for the past several years—repenting of my self-righteousness, my fear-based approach to life, the teaching of my books, my views of women in the church, and my approach to parenting to name a few. But I specifically want to add to this list now: to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to say that I am sorry for the views that I taught in my books and as a pastor regarding sexuality. I regret standing against marriage equality, for not affirming you and your place in the church, and for any ways that my writing and speaking contributed to a culture of exclusion and bigotry. I hope you can forgive me.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ To my Christians friends, I am grateful for your prayers. Don’t take it personally if I don’t immediately return calls. I can’t join in your mourning. I don’t view this moment negatively. I feel very much alive, and awake, and surprisingly hopeful. I believe with my sister Julian that, “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

A post shared by Joshua Harris (@harrisjosh) on