Did You Get Hurt?

(20+) Facebook – Pastor Stacey Shiflett – 7h ·

Getting completely out of church because you got hurt by a preacher or a church or a church member makes about as much sense as:
1. Never getting your vehicle repaired again because a mechanic ripped you off.
2. Never eating out again because you found a hair in your food.
3. Never going to the doctor again because one misdiagnosed you.
4. Never going to the store again because the cashier was rude to you.
5. Never going on vacation again because you got stuck in a bad Airbnb.
6. Never going to the dentist again because it hurts too bad.
7. Never buying another vehicle because the last one was a lemon.
8. Never going back to work because you had a boss that was a jerk or a co-worker that hated you.
9. Never going to the bank again because they messed up your deposit or short-changed you.
10. Never flying again because you had a rude stewardess, had a flight canceled or experienced some turbulence.

We have all been hurt by a preacher, or a church member, or a staff member.
Everybody that goes to church has been hurt in church.
Every. Single. One. Of. Us.
Without exception.

Ask God to give you the wisdom and grace to put it in your rear view mirror and go on for God.
Getting you out of church was exactly what the devil was trying to accomplish when he used one of God’s people to hurt you.
Don’t let Satan get the victory or have the final say in whether or not you go to church.

You need the church, and the church needs you. Find a good Bible-preaching, loving church and get plugged in! Don’t quit. 

UPDATED EDIT: This post is about getting out of church altogether; not leaving an abusive or unbiblical church. There are dozens of reasons to leave a church; but not one good reason to quit church altogether. And comments bashing the local church will be deleted. If you don’t believe in the local church, then don’t follow a pastor that does. And for those that think I am not aware of abusive churches, you’ve obviously not read my 400-page book Wolves Among Lambs: My Story of Sexual Abuse and Cover Ups in the Church available here: https://a.co/d/0assMzjS

I don’t want to sound cold, but I’ll put my spiritual abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and church abuse scars up against anybody out there. I’ve got plenty. But I still love the church!!!!
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Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.