Getting Hit By Friendly Fire
As a minister I have spent my life trying to get people to attend church, get involved in church and support the church. I believe in the church; Jesus founded it and, when it's working like it should, it is still the most important organization in a city, town or community.
But, one of the things about church that hurts is... people get hurt in church. When I started out as a minister thirty years ago, I thought this idea was ridiculous. But, after thirty years I can now say that, unfortunately, "yes, people can be hurt in church."
I've witnessed good people get hurt in church.
I've heard Christians - some leaders in the church - say things that were flat wrong.. and it hurt Christians and ran them off.
I've had people say they once attended church but dropped out whey they got hurt... It grieves me to hear it but I know it happens.
I've seen people who have gotten hurt in church decide to give church one more try... so, they come in late for worship (cause they don't want to talk to anyone)... they sit as far back as they can and they slip out as quick as they can. They want to worship God but they don't want to mingle with people much.
If you have experienced some of what I'm describing, I ran across a little pamphlet that might help you. It's called "Hit By Friendly Fire; What To Do When Other Christians Hurt You" by Michael A. Milton. He's a Presbyterian minister. It's very good.
The key thought is this; if you have been hit by friendly fire... ask God to help you learn from the experience and decide by God's grace to move on. The other option is to stay stuck the rest of your life dwelling on the stray bullet you received and that's not healthy either.
Getting hurt in church hurts... cause we think that the church, of all places, should be a place where you can go and just experience the love and grace of God. But, the church is filled with people.. imperfect people... and sometimes things happen that shouldn't.
Remember this; if you have been hurt in church... Jesus didn't hurt you... the church didn't hurt you.. people did. Don't give up on Jesus or church. Jesus is the only person that can help you heal from being hit by friendly fire.
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