I feel like a lot of the people I have met have stories of being hurt by a church. I have stories of being hurt by a church. I’m not talking like one random kid at VBS when you were five called you a name. I mean that’s mean! I know that’s mean! But I mean to talk about the people who have felt unwelcomed, the people who were ignored in their pain, those taken advantage of by church leaders and members, some who even felt attacked by the congregation for their choices, and the people who have sat in the pews hearing sermons about how the church is supposed to be a “hospital for the broken and sinner” while people ignore you because your brokenness it too much. These stories are way too common today and I want to say once and for all:
Jesus wants nothing to do with that.
Now I also want to say that we have no right to hold bitterness against these people. Churches are made up of flawed people. We all mess up. And even if their words or …show more content…
I will say it again. Jesus wants nothing to do with that. I grew up and found a more welcoming church but for years had bitterness against the denomination I was raised. Sometimes it’s hard to separate individuals from the body of the church. They are supposed to represent the church but sometimes don’t do it well. I had to eventually come to extend grace and forgiveness to those people. I had to remember that those individuals do not comprise that entire church or denomination. Because God has a sense of humor I ended up going to a college that was based on the same denomination. Granted there was some of those people there. But there were also amazing people who welcomed and loved me and helped me really heal from that hurt. I don’t think they know they were helping me heal and forgive. But they were. That’s what Jesus wants. He wants to heal and comfort and guide you to a place of grace and
Jesus wants nothing to do with that.
Now I also want to say that we have no right to hold bitterness against these people. Churches are made up of flawed people. We all mess up. And even if their words or …show more content…
I will say it again. Jesus wants nothing to do with that. I grew up and found a more welcoming church but for years had bitterness against the denomination I was raised. Sometimes it’s hard to separate individuals from the body of the church. They are supposed to represent the church but sometimes don’t do it well. I had to eventually come to extend grace and forgiveness to those people. I had to remember that those individuals do not comprise that entire church or denomination. Because God has a sense of humor I ended up going to a college that was based on the same denomination. Granted there was some of those people there. But there were also amazing people who welcomed and loved me and helped me really heal from that hurt. I don’t think they know they were helping me heal and forgive. But they were. That’s what Jesus wants. He wants to heal and comfort and guide you to a place of grace and