Church Hurt
Sermon and summary by Chrismè Visagie
Churt hurt is real. There is no denying it. There is no shying away from it or ignoring it. If we say we love the church (see previous post “The upside-down church”) we have to love the people in it and we need to help them heal. There are a lot of ‘wrongs’ in the church. There shouldn’t be, but there is. We are all humans. We are all “under construction”. Someone once said “There is no such a thing as a perfect church and if you should ever find it, it won’t be perfect anymore once you join it”.
I want to look at the topic of church hurt by asking four questions.
1. Who hurt you?
It is so easy to plane “the church”, but was it actually the church or someone in the church? Yes, the church is made up of people, but you cannot blame the whole church if one person (or even a group of people) in the church wronged you.
2. Why is it so difficult to forgive church hurt?
We forgive our children, we forgive our parents, we forgive our friends and our colleagues. But why is it so difficult to forgive our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Is it because we expect them to be perfect?
This little boy in the picture is very upset with his mom. She promised to buy him cookies when she goes to the shops again, but that was two days ago and when she went today her mind was on other things and she forget. He threw a big tantrum, packed his little suitcase and hit the road… This is childish behaviour and can, to a degree, be excused in a 3y old, but why are so many adults still behaving like this when it comes to church hurt?
We do not have to stay in the same church for our whole lives. But be sure you are planted in a church where God has planted you and be very sure to only move to another church if you have clear guidance from God to do so.
Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
•Mat 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven
Bearing with one another is not easy. Forgiving each other – again and again and again – is not easy, yet that is exactly was Jesus demands of us.
3. What would Jesus do?
Jesus broke bread with Judas and washed his feet
Jesus forgave Peter and appointed him to feed his sheep
Jesus loves you and forgives you
Jesus loves and forgives those who hurt you
4. What will you do?
God promises in Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord.
God wants to heal your hurts and your broken heart. The question is, are you ready to be healed? Are you willing to take that pain and brokenness and give it over to Jesus? If you can do that, He will help you forgive. Restoration of broken relations can only happen where there is true forgiveness. Please listen to this beautiful song on church hurt by Matt Hammitt. I pray it will minister to you and start you on a journey of healing with God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1MSiZfCw4c
