LOSING MY RELIGION—Church Hurt
By Pastor Robby Bradford
INSIGHTS INTO “CHURCH HURT”
–> The New Testament is full of examples of hurt in the Church.
(Galatians 5:15) If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
(1 Corinthians 3:3) You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
–> Heightened vulnerability and expectations can lead to deeper wounds.
(2 Corinthians 2:4) For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
–> Hurt people sometimes hurt people.
(Numbers 22:27-29) When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
–> Our own brokenness can exaggerate the words, deeds or flaws of others and wound us even more deeply.
(Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 ESV) Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
HEALING FROM YOUR HURT
- Don’t confuse the people of God with God himself.
(Daniel 9:16b) …Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
- Extend grace to others and to leaders, focusing on God’s grace toward you.
(Ephesians 4:32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Speak up at the time.
(Matthew 18:15 NLT) “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”
–> Don’t slander churches or leaders.
(Psalm 101:5 NKJV) Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy…
–> Don’t judge all churches because of the experience with one.
- Forgive those who have hurt you.
(Proverbs 17:9 NLT) Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.