| Church - a place of sanctity and solace - a safe | | | | 10) This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am |
| haven - a place where you can find rest for your | | | | against the shepherds and will hold them accountable |
| "weary soul" -a shelter from the storms of life. I | | | | for my flock. I will remove them from tending the |
| have heard it referred to as a "hospital" -- a place | | | | flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed |
| where the wounded can find a "balm in Gilead"; | | | | themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, |
| where the broken hearted can be mended; where | | | | and it will no longer be food for them. |
| the lame can "take up their beds and walk"; where | | | | Now, let's talk about how we position ourselves to |
| blinded eyes can be opened, and deaf ears can be | | | | get hurt. Some of us were raised in church and |
| unstopped. Church - a refugee camp - a place for the | | | | became quite familiar with the traditionalism of going |
| outcast - the derelict - a "home for the homeless", | | | | to church because it was the "right" thing to do! |
| "life for the lifeless", "hope for the hopeless", you | | | | Some of us attended church because there was a |
| know those who are rejected, neglected, and | | | | need or point of lack in our lives! And some of us |
| ejected by the world and its pandemonium. Church - | | | | attended church because we were broken, busted, |
| a holistic place-a place of restoration and wholeness-- | | | | and disgusted and were seeking a balm or some |
| where those who are hemorrhaging; who have had | | | | type of solace. The common denominator that linked |
| an "issue of blood" for many years-unbearable pain | | | | all these scenarios is the Pastor. At our original |
| and suffering--going from doctor-to-doctor and | | | | entrance in the church, we may have needed |
| psychiatry-to-psychiatry; who have exhausted all | | | | instructions, guidance, or a roadmap to get back on |
| resources-penniless--broke--in despair--searching for | | | | our feet or to steer us in the right way, because we |
| just one touch-- seeking to be made whole again! But | | | | did not know "The Way" (Jesus is The Way, The |
| what happens when the very place that you turn to | | | | Truth, and The Life [John 14:6]). However, once we |
| when you are hurting...hurts you? What happens | | | | get on our feet and become acquainted with "The |
| when those who have been commissioned and | | | | Way", we no longer need our "crutch". What I am |
| ordained to "put Humpty-Dumpty back together | | | | trying to say that some of us become co-dependent |
| again" are the ones who caused Humpty to "have a | | | | on man ( the Pastor and the Church body), instead |
| great fall"? I am sure if I conducted a survey and | | | | of solely depending on and putting our trust in "The |
| sent it out to 1000 church goers, I would find that at | | | | Way". First, let me say that Pastors should be |
| least half of them have experienced "Church Hurt". | | | | reverenced, given honor, and esteemed-highly. But |
| Over twenty years ago, I wrote a play entitled, "The | | | | there is a thin line between "reverenced" and |
| Gift", based on the biblical account of the "good | | | | "idolized". There is a distinction between "honored" |
| Samaritan, which depicts a well-renown Bishop, who | | | | and "put on a pedestal". There is a contrast between |
| is invited as a guest speaker to a small town church's | | | | "esteemed-highly " and "worshipped". Besides, our |
| "annual Christmas revival". The members of the | | | | God is a jealous God; He will not have any other god |
| church had heard of him and how he had performed | | | | before him (See Exodus 34:14). Is it possible that He |
| many miracles; yet they had never seen or met him | | | | imposes measures to break "the apron strings" of |
| face-to-face. On the bishop's arrival into this small | | | | dependency that you have placed before him? Is it |
| town, while walking down the street, he is mugged | | | | possible that He allows situations to occur that "open |
| by two local thugs. A short while later, a group of | | | | our eyes" ? Just maybe that measure could very well |
| church leaders passed by, whom he asked for | | | | be "Church Hurt". Once we are free from the |
| assistance, but they refused. As I stated earlier, the | | | | addiction of man-we can now fully and |
| very ones who were commissioned and ordained to | | | | wholeheartedly receive the anointing of God; who will |
| help him were the ones who "snubbed up" their | | | | teach us all things. |
| noses at him. However he encountered a runaway | | | | 1 John 2:27: But the anointing which ye have received |
| teenager-who fed him; a bag lady-who sung him a | | | | of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man |
| song of comfort; and a homeless man-who offered | | | | teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you |
| him a sleeping bag to rest for the night. Sometimes | | | | of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it |
| love and compassion are shown through those in | | | | hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. |
| which we least expect and "gifts" comes in small | | | | Let me clarify, I am not advocating emancipation, or |
| packages. Well, the Bible tells us not to despise | | | | separation from the church, nor am I telling anyone |
| "small" beginnings (that is just an extra tidbit for | | | | not to listen to their Pastor, so let us get that |
| someone who needed it). | | | | straight right now. I am a minister and I certainly |
| Nevertheless, "Church Hurt"-hurts like no other hurt; it | | | | would not do anything to disrespect my ministerial |
| is more intense. The thing about "Church Hurt", you | | | | calling or for that matter, those who have been |
| never know when it is coming or who it is coming | | | | called to Pastor. But what I am saying to you is what |
| from-it could be a choir member, an auxiliary leader, | | | | a Pastor told me several years ago that changed my |
| an usher, the church mother, the pastor's wife, or | | | | life, "Get to know God for yourself." Do not let your |
| even the pastor. Now, you talk about hurt-when | | | | relationship with God solely be determined by a 15-30 |
| your pastor hurt you-that is some severe hurt. It is a | | | | minute sermon. Study the Word of God for yourself. |
| gut-wrenching blow that knocks all of the wind out | | | | 2 Timothy 2:15 confirms, "Study to show thyself |
| of your sail. Nevertheless, it is a reality; it happens! | | | | approved, a workman that needed not be ashamed, |
| Stephanie Mills sung a song a few years ago entitled, | | | | rightly dividing the word of truth." Read your Bible! If |
| "I Never Knew Love Like This Before!" I could do a | | | | you have trouble understanding the Word, by all |
| remake entitled, "I Never Knew Pain Like This | | | | means seek for understanding from a clergy or |
| Before!" But she also states in the song, "Open My | | | | someone who is an astute student of the Word. |
| Eyes" "Church Hurt" does just that "Open Your Eyes!" | | | | In conclusion, I have certainly had my share of |
| You will realize that the only thing in this world that | | | | "Church Hurt" but it has only strengthened me; for |
| you can depend on is the unadulterated (pure) Word | | | | my trials have only made me stronger, wiser, and |
| of God! People will fail you, but the Word of God | | | | better. "Church Hurt" has made me re-focus my |
| NEVER fails. Before I move on to my next point, I | | | | priorities and place my trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3). |
| must leave a warning to the shepherds who impose | | | | It has taught me that I do not have to be a "clone" |
| "Church Hurt" found in Ezekiel 34:4 and 34:10: | | | | of someone else; that I can uniquely and individually |
| 4) The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither | | | | be "me". It has made me live the advice of my |
| have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye | | | | Pastor, the late Georgia Smith, "Get to know God for |
| bound up that which was broken, neither have ye | | | | yourself!" Each day I am learning more..! Experience a |
| brought again that which was driven away, neither | | | | "relationship" not a "religion-ship". You will be glad you |
| have ye sought that which was lost; but with force | | | | did! |
| and with cruelty have ye ruled them. | | | | |