THE CHURCH IS NOT HURTING YOU. PEOPLE ARE HURTING YOU. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

I want to challenge those who profess to believe in Jesus Christ but continually get on social media to criticize, condemn, and tear down the church.

Have you ever stopped to consider how your words may be hurting the very church that Christ died for?

Let me say something that may challenge your thinking.

The church is not hurting you. People are hurting you. And when you develop a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, you begin to understand the difference between the heart of Christ and the actions of people who may not have fully surrendered their hearts to Him.

Everyone who attends church is not spiritually mature. Everyone who stands behind a pulpit does not necessarily represent the character of Christ. And everyone who professes Christianity is not living according to His Word.

But why do we hold the entire church responsible for the actions of individuals?

Here is something else I want you to think about.

Why is it so easy to post about “church hurt” when you experience hurt in the world every single day?

People hurt you on your job. People betray you in relationships. Friends disappoint you. Family members wound you. People lie, manipulate, reject, and mistreat you.

Yet you don’t always get on social media and condemn every workplace, every family, every friendship, or every relationship because of what one person did.

So why is the church treated differently?

Why is it that when someone in the church hurts you, suddenly the entire church becomes the problem?

I am not suggesting that church hurt isn’t real. I am not suggesting that people should remain silent about abuse, manipulation, or wrongdoing in the church. There must be accountability, and those who have been wounded deserve to be heard.

But there is a difference between exposing wrongdoing and continually tearing down the body of Christ.

And as believers, we need to understand that difference.

When you continually use your platform to criticize the church without distinguishing between Christ and the failures of people, have you considered the impact your words may have on someone who is searching for Jesus?

Someone who needs salvation? Someone who is already struggling with their faith?

Someone who may never walk through the doors of a church because all they hear from professing Christians is how terrible the church is?

Jesus Christ is not responsible for the sinful behavior of people who claim to represent Him.

The failures of people should never become the standard by which we judge Christ or His church.

Ephesians 4:29 reminds us to use our words in ways that build others up rather than tear them down . So before you make another post about how the church hurt you, I want you to consider something:

Are you helping people find healing, truth, and accountability, or are you contributing to their rejection of the very body of Christ that you claim to belong to?

You can acknowledge your pain without attacking the entire church. You can confront wrongdoing without condemning everyone.

You can hold leaders accountable without turning people away from Jesus.

The church is made up of imperfect people who need a perfect Savior. And that includes you and me.

Perhaps it is time we stop allowing what people have done to overshadow what Jesus Christ has done.

Before you post about how the church hurt you, ask yourself: How might my words be hurting the church?

Something to think about.