Lately, I have been thinking about how people in church seem to fail to model the love and grace they preach. It’s truly sad.
This comes from a sensitive part of me, and I don’t like it. The other day, I heard someone say, “We didn’t leave God; we just left church.” This was after they were asked, “What happened? You used to be such active Christians.”
I have read and understood that church is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place of healing, acceptance, and growth. It’s where people gather to experience love, worship, and community.
A place where burdens are meant to be shared and lightened, not increased. Unfortunately, for many, church becomes a source of hurt. When the people we look to for support become the source of wounds, the hurt is amplified.
Those in church can hurt, and they really do.
This pain can stem from judgment, exclusion, gossip, power struggles, or even the simple feeling of being overlooked in a place that should feel like home. The pain of church hurt is real and often cuts deep.
But look on the bright side, sweetheart. It’s important to remember that the church, as inspired by God, is made up of human beings—fallible, flawed, and susceptible to the same issues found outside its walls.
In fact, we are the church.
It’s an isolating experience that can erode faith when one battles bitterness from a community they once held close. How about we be a little kinder, brethren? How about we love more and live more?
Recovering from church hurt is a process that often requires a mix of forgiveness, forgetting, and healing. Forgiveness, in this context, doesn’t mean excusing hurtful actions; it’s more about freeing oneself from the weight of bitterness and finding a path back to peace.
Healing also involves finding someone trustworthy to talk to, reflecting deeply on one’s faith, and seeking out new, healthy environments that nourish rather than drain the soul.
Lastly, church hurt is deeply personal, and overcoming it takes time. The church may not always live up to its ideals, but healing begins with understanding who you believe in.
The love of Christ compels us.
