2:183 – Church (Leaders) is (are) Not God

#faithbites #faithjourney church

I hope I got your attention with the image. Slight trigger warning. This may bother some as there will be references to pedophila, anger, and immorale activity.

I have heard many people say they don’t believe in God because of how a church leader treated them. Some say they can’t be part of a church or worship a God that allows adults to molest children when they are in the service of the Lord. Others say that because of the actions of a church or a leader, they don’t want anything to do with God or a religion. Or based on the image, they found out their leaders were doing sinful acts.

First, let me acknowledge that no one should ever be forced into sexual activity without consent. No child should every be touched like that. Similiarly, no one should be humiliated by a church or a church leader.

Second, the church is an institution run by broken people. Church Leaders are sinners like the rest of us. They are human, make mistakes, and try to serve God. This doesn’t mean that all churches are bad or all leaders are bad. I know great churches and have had deep relationships with great leaders.

The problem comes when we lose our faith in God or our relationship is broken because we equate church to God or Church Leaders to God.

God loves you and wants a relationship with you no matter what a church leader says, how they act, or what the church does.

Scripture

• Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:20
• I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
• I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. – Romans 16:17

Reflection

Let’s break this down a bit. On Revelation, we see that God will eat with whoever hears his voice. It’s not only the people who go to church. Yes, church can be a great place to hear is voice, but he is everywhere. In John we see us as the branches of God. None are cut off and thrown away. We need the branch to feed upon and grow. Lastly, in Romans, we see that we should watch out for those who cause divisions and obstacles.

Let me clear, there is a difference in a church or leaders explaining God word and keeping to scripture and being sexually immoral, unkind, hateful, and the like. We need Jesus because we can’t follow the law. If we didn’t have the law, we wouldn’t need Christ.

I know that friends have been wronged by the church or a leader. Our job, as difficult as it may be, is to remind them, and our selves, that church and God can be separate. We can have a falling out with a church or be injured and still love God.

Ideally, everyone would have a relationship with Christ. They would have a church home that supports them, nurtures their faith, and gives them a chance to grow and serve. I am lucky to have that.

I pray that all can be healed by Christ and find a way back to God and back to Christian community.

Charge

Have you been hurt by a church or a leader? Has your faith in God suffered because of that. If so, know that God loves you and chose you. (1 Peter 2:9). Seek out those who you trust and share what happened. Let God back into your heart. He will help you heal, find support, and find a new home.

Prayer

Gracious God, many of your children have been hurt by the church or church leaders. They have walked away from you because they see the church and leaders as your representatives. Help them to come back to you. Give them strength and healing to know you again. Help them find a new church home and a deeper relationship with your people. Finally Lord, be with our churches and our leaders. Give them strong hearts grounded in your teaching and your way to show your love and your word always. In your name, Amen.