Church Hurt

Hurt caused by people within the Church comes close to home. An in-law’s deep disappointment when not supported during great family need; hypocrisy of church members souring another’s faith; a young one misunderstood, ridiculed, and ostracized for a different personality; others deeply wounded by non-biblical choices of leadership taking matters into their own hands, moving in their own assumed authority and judgement, resulting in years of eroding division and estrangement. All these are but snippets of church people falling woefully short of the glory of God.

Sounds like real life, doesn’t it? People hurting people. For all the bad rap “the Church” has endured, I must remind myself as one of the wounded who has inadvertently wounded others, we who are Christ followers are indeed, like every human on the planet, a ragged, needy, imperfect, still-struggling-with-our-sin-nature bunch, desperate for a Savior.

Christ died and rose again so all could be made new; turn from wrong behaviors, thoughts, and practices; learn to walk in new ways. To receive forgiveness and learn how to forgive; seek to right the wrongs caused to others; practice loving others even though selfishness would like to hold court. To enter into the life-long process of becoming spiritually whole, within and outside of the church building.

The Church, not a building or institution, is the worldwide Body of Christ made up of His followers. We, too, are wounded, His hands and feet pouring out love, bringing good news of His salvation and hope. A band of ragged but redeemed, broken but mending, hurting but healing, learning-to-be-real, hopeful people charged to share the good news of His truth with the world. We are imperfect in ourselves, yet Christ is perfect, complete, whole. He walks with us on His path to freedom and healing, each of us on our personal journey with Him, His peace given to us to share with those around us.

Do we miss the real point, so caught up in our lives and institutions, orchestrating and running things that we neglect the essential of knowing Jesus personally? Does ours pride, self importance, delight in the gifts a gracious Heavenly Father showers on us turn our eyes toward the gifts and away from the giver Himself? The enemy of our souls uses any means to deflect our eyes away from God, caring not how far we miss the mark…just that it is missed.

This is not the “I sat in the pew and did all the things” kind of thing, but that internal coming face to face, spirit to Spirit with the Living God and realizing there is no other place to go. “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a), from the beginning to the end of ourselves, and through the offered open door to eternal life here, now, and beyond. God is not a vending machine…He is better…He knows what we need more than we do, and freely gives Himself.

If you have been hurt by people in “the Church,” please do not throw Jesus away, nor turn your back on Him. He is alive. He is personal. He died for you. He never changes. His love is always available, even if some of His followers have not loved rightly. In your woundedness please keep seeking the Savior. Talk with Him about it. Ask Him and His Holy Spirit into your life to teach your spirit His truth. Orient yourself towards healing rather than victimhood. Open God’s Word realizing growth is a process. God instructs us to learn together…“iron sharpening iron.” Cling to hope, expect goodness, let the wind of forgiveness blow resentment and bitterness away. Become stronger and wiser, asking God for positive truths to contemplate. Turn your mind to praise as you work through the pain. Be lifted up!

God is trustworthy. He is able to hear your anger, hurt, confusion. Stand in honesty before the LORD-who-wants-to-heal-us. He-who-already-knows-our-hearts leads us in His wisdom. Please do not let the sins of imperfect people turn you away from the Savior. He is Love.

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LORD, thank You that a personal relationship with You brings true freedom in every way. Please give us each the courage to stand before You, honestly pour out our hurts to You, and listen to Your counsel. You are Love. Redeem and grow beauty from our ashes, renew our hope and joy, heal our wounds. Forgive us for our sins and any ways we have harmed others. Help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. May we gratefully praise and thank You for Your mercy and grace as You transform us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Romans 3:23 NKJV “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

1 John 4:8b “God is love.”

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