To all of you who are wayward from Jesus or have been hurt by church,
Jesus loves you. The church might not love you. The world might not love you. But Jesus does.
Those who represent Christ and bear His name should do better. But please remember that you were hurt by fallen human beings, not by Jesus. In many places in the Bible, God has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. That means He’ll never hurt us, He’ll never abandon us, and He’ll never throw us under the bus.
I’ve seen many folks leave their faith because someone hurt them. Because the teachings didn’t sit right with them. Because someone gossiped or slandered. But whatever your reason, that’s not Jesus. He’s not the author of confusion. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. He’s the author of salvation.
I encourage you to find a Bible-believing church. One that doesn’t water down the truth. Sure, it might sting a little but the truth is there to set you free, not put you in more bondage to sin. Open your heart to the Word of God, not the word of man. Find yourself Bible-believing friends; those who will build you up. Find yourself a way to study the Word of God for yourself.
Man will fail you. Church leaders will fail you. Preachers will fail you. Church members will fail you.
But, like the prodigal son in the Gospels, Christ calls out to you. Christ beckons you back into His fold. He lovingly and softly says, “Come back.”
How I wish I could properly tell you of how much He loves you. All I can tell you is what my Bible says, and it says that He came as a humble little baby to identify with sinful humanity. He died a criminal’s death to identify with sinful humanity. That death paid our way out of an eternity in an awful place. That death paid our way into a heavenly home if we would follow Him and not the way of the world. Delight yourself in what Jesus did for you and you’ll never go wrong.
My Bible also says He rose victoriously from the grave as King. He has complete and total control. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows that those who claim to be Christians hurt you. He knows that you’re intimidated by the Bible. He knows that human teachings can be flawed. But He also knows YOU. He knows everything about you according to Psalm 139.
This is why He calls out saying “Come back”. He wants you to come home. He wants you to take your eyes off of the flaws of those who say “I love Jesus” and keep your eyes on Him.
Come back because He loves you. Because He lived and died for you.
Come back.
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