THE ROAD TO OVERCOMING CHURCH HURT CONTINUED:

 

CONCLUSION:

 

Being hurt in the church can be a very painful experience. The effects can be life- lasting. As Christians, we must be very careful how we treat one another. What seems trivial to one can be extremely damaging to another. We can kill someone with our mouth and/or our actions. And I don’t mean a natural death. I mean we can kill someone spiritually.

 

I have often heard it said that Christians ought not to be so sensitive, that we should not have feelings. I beg to differ. Although I am saved, and I am spirit filled, I still walk in a fleshly body. I bleed if I am cut, I say ouch when I am physically hurt. So what makes me different when it comes to spiritual pain? Why should I not experience hurt when I am injured spiritually?

 

There are some who might say that church hurt does not exist or if it does, surely it can’t be as devastating as one might think. However, when there is chaos in the church, the church is not allowing God to work among its believers as he would like. (1 CORINTHIANS 14:33-FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION, BUT OF PEACE) Remember, the ultimate goal of evangelism is to win souls to the kingdom of God. Confusion and disorder disrupts the soul winning process and prohibits kingdom growth.

 

We must be careful not to look down on our spiritual companions. When one is going through situations or have issues, we must be careful not to attack them while they are in a weakened position. What may be alright and acceptable while everything is fine, can be devastating to them during this time of trouble or despair.

 

If only someone would apologize for causing this pain. Unfortunately, for some the apology they desire from the one that caused their hurt may never come. They must be willing to move on without it. They must forgive the offending party, although they have not asked for it, and move on. As difficult as this may seem, it is achievable. Some of the offenders have moved on to other churches, some have left the church altogether, some have died. In any event the apology has not or will not come.

 

The key component here is LOVE. To get pass the hurt, love must enter the picture. I know you are saying, I have already shown the love, I am not the offending party, I am the one who was offended. The offended party must release the hurt through love. Love does not mean that you are opening yourself up to be hurt again. It means that you are being Christ- like. Being Christ-like means having the mind of Jesus. Phillipians 2:5 says: “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.”

 

Picture Jesus on His way to the cross. He was surrounded by people whom he had not done any harm. He had not lied on anyone, he had not cheated anyone, He had not slandered anyone, belittled anyone, ignored anyone, had not gossiped about anyone, was not jealous of anyone, nor had he done anyone any wrong. Yet He was still persecuted, he was lied on, he was slandered and belittled, He was persecuted and prosecuted for doing good,  given a death sentence and beaten. Yet because of love, he forgave his attackers and abusers. We too must forgive our abusers. We must allow the love of Jesus to flow through us so that we can achieve the healing that we stand in need of.  Love will enable us to forgive. I am not saying that we have to put ourselves in harms way. We do not have to make ourselves available to be hurt again, but as surely as we live, we " will be" hurt again. Sometimes we will experience the same kind of hurt, from a different person, at a different location. Remember that the Lord is our healer, He is our deliver, He is our protector and that "No weapon formed against us will prosper.” The weapons will be made, but we do not have to allow them to be our  spiritual demise.

 

DO I LEAVE OR DO I STAY?

There are times when leaving that particular church is the only option for our spiritual well-being. There is hope for healing but in order to achieve that healing we must  have a heart filled with the love of Jesus to forgive and we must trust God to guide us through the decision-making process. As difficult as it is to decide what to do, a way of escape has already been made.

 

Many have faced the decision whether to go or stay, some left, some stayed, but they trusted in the Lord enough to allow Him to give them directions. You too must consult God, and allow him to lead you in the way that you should go, the way that will protect your spiritual walk.

                                                                                        Dr. J. G. Johnson

                                                                                        Issues of Life Conquered

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