“While some inflicted pain is inadvertent, tragically, sometimes the pain against us is willful and repetitive. We might never know the exact reason why Christians hurt each other, but here’s what I do know: this kind of pain is deep and some never recover from it. I’m also convinced that God’s purpose is to use these painful experiences with rejection and suffering to redirect our calling.”- Lina AbuJamra (emphasis Lina’s)
In Chapter 4 (“Is This How Christians are Supposed to Act?” of Fractured Faith, Lina AbuJamra notes the incredible capacity humans possess to hurt one another. Above all, this capacity to hurt one another fails to automatically evaporate the moment one becomes a Christian. And when Lina searched online for the number one reason people left the church, it wasn’t Jesus. But His people.
However, even though your pain is justified, Lina stresses that this isn’t the end of your story. Thus, Lina exhorts:
“God is not against you. His purpose for your life is not sabotaged by other people’s sin or the way you’ve responded to them so far. God is closer to you than you feel to Him right now. His hand is still guiding your life (emphasis Lina’s).”
Therefore, Lina counsels, don’t allow your pain to mar your perception of the very character of God. Rather, let the character of God lead your thinking toward peace. Because, the author notes, pain tends to distort our perspective. And that’s especially true when the supposedly godly people in our lives inflict the greatest pain on us.
But, as we wait, we must remember the true character of God. It’s in that gap that our faith is tested.
In conclusion, Lina encourages:
“Rejection by God’s people blinds us to God’s love. As a result, we become self-protective. We give in to the lie that God can’t be trusted. . . . We isolate ourselves and hide, which sounds logical at first glance, until we lump God and the people who hurt us into the same category, eventually isolating ourselves even from God. But there is a better way. It’s the way of faith.”
Today’s question: What reasons do you see for why Christians hurt each other? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Massive failure or massive opportunity?”
