Reflecting on Church Hurt
A lot, and I mean a lot of people get hurt in the church. When I say “hurt” it’s in the general context of verbal abuse, gossip, backstabbing, backbiting, lying about, a person who stirs up trouble for the sake of division, etc..
Church hurt is hard to overcome because we have been hurt by people who profess to be Christians. Love God - Love your neighbor. That is what we expect because that’s how God says to do things. When that does not happen and we experience the opposite we kind of go into a spiritual shell shock.
“Wait, what? This isn’t supposed to be happening.”.
I remember my first church hurt. I was an associate or youth pastor if you prefer and I received an anonymous letter. It depicted how awful I was as a youth pastor and how I was the scum of the earth. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe God’s people could say these things. Thankfully, the pastor I served with at the time disregarded the letter because it was unsigned. In his words “Cowards are anonymous.”
It took awhile to get over that letter. I kept it for a very long time. I found it some time ago in a box from my first church. I had packed away a lot of memories and the letter was one of them. I re-read the letter and while it did not hurt I was still saddened that this happened amongst God’s people.
Why do we intentionally hurt each other in the church?
There are some days that I only find peace in hatred towards people who have hurt me. Biblically I know that is wrong, theologically I know that is wrong but peace does not come with that knowledge.
Peace comes with hatred.
And I hate it. Bittersweet irony? Emphasis on the bitter?
I share these thoughts and feelings to show that pastors struggle - at least the honest ones do. I’ve met my share who are bulletproof and never have anything wrong.
As I grow more and mature more these thoughts and feelings become weaker and easier to handle. 2nd Peter 3:18 - and Peter was a guy who lived and breathed the ministry of Jesus and he still needed to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.
It is very sad that our churches have devolved into what they are today. Many have left The Word behind for wokeness, many have embraced the god of politics, and many are an episode of The Walking Dead, pick any season.
I get no joy writing this, it doesn’t make me happy writing about what’s been done to me or people I know. It hurts that our churches have left Christ. It hurts that people love to hurt others for their own whatever’s and happily tell you they love Jesus.
I still have healing to do, my wife has healing to do. If you’re reading this please pray for us in this regard.
Have a blessed day.