CHURCH HURT

Today's reading: Luke 17-18

"I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him." Luke 17:3 NLT

No hurt hurts like a 'church hurt'.

Nothing cuts deeper, feels worse or has effects that last as long as a hurt received in a church.

A church. 

A place where the world thinks all is well, everyone is Christlike and peace flows like the water from a tap.

But church hurts hurt. A lot.

Jesus' words in Luke 17 tell us what to do in regards to those who hurt us in church--and surprise, surprise, it doesn't say leave the church, never to return and make a staunch stand against ever going to another church for the rest of your life.

It says to forgive. It doesn't say to ignore the sin. It doesn't say to pretend it never hurt. It doesn't require us to act like nothing ever happened.

No matter how many times it occurs.

Might I pose this question to you: How full would our churches be today IF this instruction from the Lord was followed out?