what does the bible say?
The hurt we experience in a church can be very painful, even infuriating. However, being part of a Christ-centered church is crucial to our spiritual walk (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:15; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-13, 15-16). While it can be tempting to jump on the defensive and judge others, we should examine our own actions (Matthew 7:5); sometimes, we may be playing a role in the conflict. Whether or not we are at fault, we can pursue peace (Romans 12:18) even if that means forgiving those who have offended us (Matthew 18:15-20) or surrendering our strong feelings—even vengefulness—over to the Lord (Romans 12:19). While the first reaction may be to write off a church and leave it after we are wounded, it’s wiser to bring our feelings and concerns to God, and ask Him for direction (Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5). If it doesn’t involve gossiping about others, we can also seek counsel from godly believers before we make any final decisions (Proverbs 15:22). Ultimately, we are not alone in our healing process. Even if we do leave a church to find a new one, our Healer can help bind up our emotional wounds as we move forward into a new chapter in our life (Psalm 147:3).