We as human beings misuse our power on a regular basis in our quest to acquire what we want in life. I hear stories over and again from people who have been hurt (and abused) by someone who they trusted. Whether the misuse of power was intentional or unintentional, the result those who have gotten in the way is the same: brokeness.When you have been wounded you become less likely to trust, to open yourself to another, to be hopeful, to love.
Sadly this hurt comes from those who are supposed to care for one another; from parents, siblings, or another trusted relative. When hurt comes from within the family it is, perhaps, even more painful. In the same way I hear people's stories who have been wounded by the church (or a follower of Jesus) in such a way that it begins to malform their view of a loving God.
In his book Finding My Way Home, Henri Nouwen writes: "The number of people who 'have been wounded by religion' overwhelms me. An unfriendly or judgmental word by a minister or priest, a critical remark in church about a certain lifestyle, a refusal to welcome people at the table, an absence during an illness or death, and countless other hurts often remain longer in people's memories than other more world-like rejections. Thousands of separated and divorced men and women, numerous gay and lesbian people, and all of the homeless people who felt unwelcome in the houses of worship of their brothers and sisters in the human family have turned away from God because they experienced the use of power when they expected an expression of love."
While the Church is not perfect, it is my hope that the sacred community of God becomes known more and more as a place of healing and wholeness; a place where broken things go to be fixed, tired things restored. In order for this to happen, responsibility falls on each one of us to live in such a way that we sow peace and hope wherever we go. We as followers of Jesus need to be marked by his very atributes: humilty and servanthood. This also means that our reliance cannot be on ourselves but rather on the grace and work of the Spirit breathing new life and possibility into all of us.
peace.
1 comment:
There's a discussion to be had regarding how we avoid being judgmental and yet hold up the standard of God's truth for His church (and creation in general). The whole idea that "Christian's shouldn't judge" is popular but not true. If there is truth and error, then being able to discern between them is critical. How to steward the discernment of truth so that we don't become smug and judgmental is the issue for followers of Christ.
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