Have You Been Hurt By Your Brethren?

Have you ever been hurt by the "Church" or know someone that has? I have heard it said, "If being hurt by the church has caused you to loose faith in God, then your faith was in people not in God". I think of *Hebrews

10:25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.* 

Jesus is coming back and if you are one of the "Church" that has hurt the brethren, how will you feel when you see Jesus face to face? I

think of a young girl who went to youth group , she had colored hair and piercings who left church one night wanting to walk out into traffic and die. 

A young mother had a panic attack at church, the ambulance was called, and after all was said and done, the women of the church never attempted to help. 

A woman whose son died, husband died, she became sick and when needing encouragement got something completely different. 

There are stories after story of how people failed to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 

A divorced father of 3, trying to lead his family to Jesus and felt shunned because he was divorced. 

A young woman who does not go to church because of the pain

that was inflicted upon her. I pray that "We" do what it says in *1 Thes

5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.* I do want to encourage all those that have been hurt by people,

God does not want you to leave the body, He is calling you to stand in the face of opposition. There are many more that are with you than against you!

Douglas