Tag: church

the wounded.

the wounded.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

Over the years, I have thought a lot about the 2 greatest commandments God has given Christians.

Love God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

(yes, as yourself)

Jesus spoke these commandments to the Pharisees, who he defined as law promoting, rule following, loveless hypocrites, known for their self righteous religion and pride.

They clashed with Jesus.

I wonder. Do we ever clash with Jesus?

Have we ever found ourselves promoting the law over loving a person and patiently allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them?

Do we find ourselves fulfilled in our faith because we follow the rules?

Have we ever fooled ourselves and rationalized a sin, making an exception?

Are we self righteous because we would not do that sin?

Are we prideful in our position at church? In the way we relate to others? Especially those who share our faith?

Have we dishonored anyone with our straightforwardness through “telling the truth in love”?

How is it that after our lives get on the straight and narrow, we become judge and jury for others? That like the unforgiving debtor, who was shown mercy and forgiven a huge debt, threw someone in prison for owing him a small debt?

We may not be a Pharisee, per say, but we certainly can find their sins in our own hearts.

If we’re honest.

Today, with all of the access to books, pod casts, 24/7 television programming, conferences, preaching, teaching, Bible studies, and more, our lives are filled with knowledge.

But really, are we any different than 5, 10, 30 years ago?

 But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

                                                                   1 Corinthians 8

The remedy for pride, self righteousness, rule promoting and law abiding, is the patient, kind, humble, honoring others sacrificial love God has loved us with.

This is my commandment: love each other in the same way I have loved you.

1 John 15:12

That doesn’t mean we don’t follow the scripture. There is so much guidance because God loves us and knows the danger of going our own way.

We follow the scripture because we love Him. Period.

Not for any other reason.

And we love others because we love Him. Period.

Not for any other reason.

When we love people the way God tells us to, we are doing far more for them than giving them the rules first, which is often what happens.

Because they need to love God first so they will keep the rules.

People get hurt in church. And far too often they are not loved the way God says to love them.

They are told, “there is no perfect church.”

Or we go to the scripture to point out where their attitude or behavior is wrong.

That is not patient, kind, honoring, and humble. It carries with it an automated response that teeters on being arrogant from all of the knowledge we’ve gained.

It is not taking the wounded and bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, or enduring all things. Instead, it is failing. And when all the prophesying, tongues of angels, and knowledge comes to an end, it is only love that will remain.

There are people in our churches who must learn to persevere and endure hardship when there are disagreements. We grow through difficulty and suffering.

But too often, people are given a solution without the validation that comes with love.

I imagine churches being so filled with 1 Corinthians 13 love, which is much harder than giving the rules, because it requires sacrifice (love your neighbor as much as you love yourself).

A place where there is patience and kindness.

A place of humility.

A place of honor.

The world is watching. Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by our love for each other.

Love defined in 1 Corinthians 13. If we want a rule, there it is.

If you have been hurt in church, don’t turn away from God.

Church is good and it is part of God’s design for you. God wants us to be committed to each other because no matter what, Jesus Christ and Him crucified binds us together, even with our differences.

Church is vital to the Christian life.

But if circumstances beyond your control have placed you in a season of not having a church, do not feel rejected, disqualified, discouraged, or labeled.

There is an old saying that’s been around for decades: Christians shoot their wounded.

Sadly, this is often true.

Love. Forgive. Be comforted.

Let God help you, guide you, and love you.

Nothing escapes God’s knowledge.

He is over all.

path

 

 

the brokenhearted.

the brokenhearted.

by Kathleen Moulton

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

-The Bible

I wonder what God thinks ..

I wonder how God feels ..

When someone is overwhelmed by disappointment, sorrow or grief.

When someone’s spirit is crushed.

He is close to them.

I wonder what God thinks ..

I wonder how God feels ..

When someone does those things to another.

And does not acknowledge.

And does not admit.

And does not apologize ..

knowing the disappointment, sorrow or grief

they caused.

I wonder what God thinks ..

I wonder how God feels ..

When it happens in his Church.

And the brokenhearted continue to diligently watch over their hearts ..

forgiving

shunning bitterness

over and over

and over.

I know what God thinks ..

I know how God feels ..

He is close to them ..

since He knows all things.

Just a lonely heart...:))

Photo by Morgana on Foter.com / CC BY-SA

 

the silent ones.

the silent ones.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 1 Comment

They watch.

They listen.

They see.

They speak, but are not heard.

They wait for the Lord to take up their cause.

Please make it right.

They find the courage to speak but are put in their place.

There is nothing to see here.

They go back to silence.

But God, it hurts so much.

God sees.

God knows.

In His Church.

woman looking at sea while sitting on beach
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

go easy.

go easy.

by Kathleen Moulton

I loved every word of this article.

I especially loved it because I believe it helps explain why so many do not attend church.

They expect more.

Isn’t it the one place to be most welcomed, most valued, most loved? 

Instead, too many have too much to say and it pushes people away. How easy it is for confidence to become prideful.

There should be less talking and more listening.

Go easy. Life is hard. Everyone is dealing with something.

“

  

 

Read more here..

grass grey alone symmetrical
Photo by Serkan Göktay on Pexels.com
church.

church.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

Have you been hurt by Christians?

Have you decided not to have anything to do with God because of this?

Or church?

Yes, people hurt people and it’s wrong.

But when I remembered how I have hurt people, too, it has helped me to put it into perspective.

church

God doesn’t hurt us like people hurt us.

Don’t avoid church because you might get hurt.

We have to take the bad with the good.

And there is more good than bad in church.

~~~

Photo courtesy: Claudio.Ar / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

different.

different.

by Kathleen Moulton

Your pain may be a mental disorder.

Do you know that is no different than having diabetes?

Our bodies are not perfect.

We break.

sad

But some people respond differently to mental disorders and it makes you feel abnormal.

You are not abnormal.

There is help and there is hope.

Sometimes it’s in the form of medication – just like insulin helps the diabetic.

Sometimes it’s in the form of having people around you that love and care about you.

And it’s always, always about knowing God sees the pain and he is with you, helping you.

People need people.

Don’t suffer alone.

Church is a good place to start.

~~~

Photo courtesy:

fotosmontt – congelando el tiempo / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

sacrifice.

sacrifice.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 5 Comments

Some people have been hurt in church. It’s the last place you’d expect it.

Some people have remarked with a quip: “There’s no perfect church!”

Well, it’s not funny.

 

 

 

It is true that people are not perfect.

It is not true that people are not perfect

enough to say “I’m sorry”.

 

 

 

If you’ve been hurt in a church, you may have turned away from God.

Don’t. You will feel worse.

It’s not God’s fault.

 

 

And you’re right.

The people in a church should have

a caring

a compassion

and a love

not seen anywhere else.

 

You be different.

Give to others out of your pain. It’s like giving yourself what you were not given.

And watch what happens.

~~~

Photo courtesy:

seanmcgrath / Foter / CC BY

Pink Sherbet Photography / Foter / CC BY

shot.

shot.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 1 Comment

I’ve attended a few mega-churches here and there. Coming from a church of 300 and under, the two environments are naturally very different.

I noted in the mega-churches, perhaps out of necessity, were managed with a consumer mentality. You came, got plugged in, and then unplugged when you left.

In smaller churches, there is more community. People know people…and their “business”.  There’s good and bad with this. Enjoying close community has a strengthening component for everyone. The downside, even seen in the early days of the Church, is get two people together and a dispute can arise.

There isn’t a perfect church. There isn’t a perfect Christian. And as soon as we stop having those expectations, we are able to see more clearly.

Someone once said, “Only Christians shoot their wounded.” It’s true.

I don’t know why that is. It is a reproach to Christianity. We are to always be putting the needs of others before our own. Sadly, it is not as it should be.

Some of us have a real problem with self-pity and rebellion. I’m not talking about people like this. I am talking about people who have genuinely been hurt.

I have. During times of great duress. When I was lower than low, I had to take another hit.

If this is you, do what I did. Go to God.

There is no man or woman, no church, who is perfect. God is perfect. He sees it all. Let Him take care of it – and you.