Church life can sometimes be tricky. Any time you deal with different personalities there’s the risk of being misunderstood, offended, defensive  or offensive.

There was an issue at our church where the leadership gave the congregation the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback about the current situation.   Most of it was positive and well received.  However, one man (I’ll call Jethro) had some doubts about how the leadership wanted to deal with it.  He was being very careful and respectful in how he worded his concern. Jethro had obviously given it serious thought. Unfortunately, some of the members got very defensive. 

I was appalled that he was shot down for asking a question when that is what the meeting was for, and I said so.

From the journal . . . . February 2000

I don’t know Lord.  I could have been inappropriate.  Maybe Jethro didn’t need defending.

And the Lord Said to Me:

So why did you do that?

Lord, I think because he had to ask so carefully, like I did with my question, and his question was sincere and valid.  I wanted him and the congregation to have the freedom to question even if others don’t agree.  And Lord, I guess I’m scared because of a church disappointment from the past.   Maybe it left a wound or maybe just a scar.   Oh Lord.  What do You want to do with me?

I want to use you.  Calluses can be good to toughen up hands for work, but it diminishes feeling.  It takes away innocence in a way.  I want your heart to be soft.

Eph 2:10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ezekiel 36:26 ²⁶ Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

But Lord, how can I go back to trusting when I know there are deceivers out there?  I can’t just stick my head in the sand and say everyone is great.  Lord, forgive me, I’m trying to second guess You and put words in Your mouth.

I have nail scars.  You have some emotional scars. Give me your heart and I will soften it.  Give me your emotions and I will use them.  Trust Me to do it.  You don’t want to be hard, and I don’t want you to be, but you have too much fear and not enough trust in Me.  I’m not asking you to trust people but have hope for them.  Trust Me.

John 2:23-24  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, ²⁵ and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
Phil 2:13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Okay Lord- take my heart and my emotions. Make me be what You want.  When I don’t think I’m being understood I will try to not shrink back but to bravely and faithfully press on.

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.   :38 But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

Churches will always have problems from time to time because Christians are just people.  Much as we want to, we don’t always act like Jesus, especially when we disagree or are offended. However, even if we have lost trust, we must not lose hope. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, ⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.