Hurt By The Church?
All of us carry hurt within us. We remember a time a person or a group harmed us, and it’s hard to let go and forgive them for it. Sometimes, when it’s the church that hurts us, it becomes a hurt that can feel even deeper, because it’s “the church.” We expect “the church” to be better, to be more loving, to be a safer space. But the truth is, even though that’s what we expect “the church” to be, it’s filled with people who are also hurt and don’t always live like Jesus wants us to. We put an expectation of perfection on imperfect people. And, if we can be honest, WE don’t always live the way Jesus wants us to…so why do we expect others who are just like us to be better when we’re both in the same church space?
When we saw this post, we thought we’d share because it’s a reminder that hurt people hurt people everywhere…not just the church. If we’re willing to give others in different spaces a second chance, we should be willing to do the same for church. No matter what, love is the most important thing. Let’s love each other well – in church, out of church – because love is the greatest and can break the barrier of hurt.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
