I Believe in God, but I'm Not a Fan of the ChurchНамуна

CHURCH and INJUSTICE

Throughout history, the church has been the source of many injustices. It seems as though in every century and within every generation, the church has a major misguided attempt to “spread the gospel.” That last statement is in quotes because, in many cases, the pursuit of furthering religion has caused great injustice. One example seen in history occurred during the 11th and 12th centuries. Western European Christians led the Crusades to stop the spread of the Muslim states and reclaim the Middle East for Christianity. Bloody battles broke out as the Christians and Muslims fought for their stake in the Holy Land. Historians estimate that it's likely more than one million people were killed during that time. This was a massive loss of life for that time period. You’ve likely heard countless stories throughout history and perhaps within your own circle about people hurting others in the name of religion.

Sinful people with sinful hearts cause pain and suffering. Violence and injustice are a result of our broken and sinful existence. Even if we took religion out of the equation, the problem would still remain.

In the passage in Matthew that we read for today, Jesus provides his disciples with a powerful reminder that His followers are called to walk with the sick, widowed, and marginalized. When we reject the least of these, we reject Jesus and His teaching. Jesus lived his life and conducted his ministry alongside the marginalized and broken. Inflicting pain in the name of religion was never a part of Jesus’s vision for the church. His ministry highlighted the importance of mercy and justice.

When we look beyond imperfect Christians, we behold the perfect Christ.

Ask Yourself:

-Am I using religion as a way to hurt or judge people?

-How do I heal or help others heal from the pain caused by people within the church?

-What do you learn about God’s heart for justice in the passage in Psalm 89?

Pause to Pray: Father God, we have often gone astray in our attempts to be the church and spread the gospel. Please help me look beyond the hurt and pain so that I can discover you in new ways…

Take a Next Step: Acknowledge where you have allowed baggage from Christianity to cloud your view of Christ. If you feel comfortable, open up about this baggage with a safe person in your life and ask them to pray with you as you begin to release it.