As most of you know, my husband is now an Air Force Chaplain. For five years prior, he was a pastor at an amazing community church. But let me tell you all- church ministry is hard! So, I say everything I am about to say, knowing how hard it is to be in church ministry, serve people well, and help them grow in faith.
The more I got out of the church doors and started living life with others not necessarily in the church community, I’ve realized a lot of people have church hurt. And sadly, that’s because the church is full of broken, fallen human beings. We all fall short. (Romans 3:23) We live in a broken world full of broken people, and they hurt one another.
Please know that was not God’s original design but a result of free will. God wanted us to choose to love Him back, so He gave us the choice. With the choice to follow is the choice not to. And that’s exactly what the first people did. They chose to do things their own way, the first sin. And that sin had a crippling effect on humanity.
God told them if they ate from that tree, they would die. It was His mercy that they didn’t die on the spot, because God had a plan to redeem and restore them from the very beginning.
He would send His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and take the punishment of sin we all deserve. And then 3 days later Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death and giving us all the hope of eternal life.
Sadly, many people who attend church don’t hear this whole message. Maybe it’s not preached. Maybe it’s not heard. Maybe it’s just expected to be understood.
Either way, many people experience church hurt from not hearing and knowing the truth of the gospel… and that is so hard!
Here is the message many of them heard, “You are sinner, and you’re going to hell. Work hard to gain heaven. “
Anytime condemnation is spoken, and the good news of Jesus Christ is not attached, it breaks my heart. Yes, you are a sinner. Yes, your sin has consequences. But Jesus Christ took the punishment for your sins. If you believe he died for your sins, your sins are covered by his blood. Now this is not an excuse to go on sinning, but rather to walk with Him and be led by His Holy Spirit.
The good news really is good news!
Jesus wants your heart. He wants you to know He loved you so much He chose to die for you. But His death and resurrection also reconciled you to the Father. You now have access to Him. Jesus sent you His Holy Spirit when He ascended back into Heaven, so you could grow to know, love, serve, and follow Him.
This really is the greatest love story ever told! And I am sorry to anyone who did not hear the whole thing. I am sorry for anyone who only heard part of it to manipulate you. God doesn’t want to manipulate you. He wants to love you. And in return, He want you to love Him back!