Me:  Prodigal, are you going to church?

 

Prodigal:  Yes, but so many people have been hurt by the church and so they do not go back.

 

Me:  That is true I was reading about that and I wanted to share.

 

Growing Deep In the Christian Life by Charles Swindoll

 

One of the interesting (albeit tragic) facts of child abuse in our day is the fact that most parents who abuse their children were abused themselves.  I find the same is true of scriptural abuse.  My warning?  People who were abused biblically tend to abuse others bilbically.  If you happened to have been abused, how about breaking the trend?  Just face the fact that you were ripped off.  And rather than sending hate mail to your teacher of yesteryear and wasting hours of valuable time resenting what you were taught, just commit yourself to change.  Forgive him or her and pay no more attention to those old teachings.  Get away from the former error and commit yourself to God’s Word afresh and anew.  Set up a reading program so that you can begin to absorb the Scripture.  Begin to build a new respect for the Bible.  Use helpful tools as you seek a clear, careful understanding, ultimately living obediently in keeping with God’s Word.

 

Don’t confuse imperfect Christians with God.  Yes we are God’s people and Yes He uses us but we are not perfect!  I know there has been hurt from Christians in the past but do not give up on God’s church.  You will find hurt there sometimes but you can also find healing and a peace that is worth it all!

 

Job 36:2

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org