Church Hurt Doesn’t Just Hurt the Hurt—It Hurts the Church

Matthew 18:1-14 - About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish." (NLT)

Parallel Passage: Luke 15:1-7

Devotional Series: The Stories Jesus Told

I’ve been a Christian for 30 years. I remember taking the decision to give my life to Christ as a child. I grew up in a Christian home and went to church regularly. I believe that the Church is what the Lord has chosen to use to bring His will on earth.

But like so many people, I have been hurt by the Church. Not as badly as others, but to an extent that it had the potential to impact my relationship with God and the Church. Thankfully, I have been working through my hurt and disappointment with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I know and believe that the only way I can continue to walk in God’s perfect will is by allowing His Holy Spirit to do His healing work in me. I cannot give up on the Church or walk away from it. I believe I cannot say I love God and not be part of His Church.

I am also aware that I am a sinner. The Lord’s Prayer teaches me that I must forgive those who have harmed me, just as the Lord constantly forgives me. I also know that no single church is perfect because the Church is made up of imperfect and sinful human beings—just like me.

All of this is true, but today’s passage reminds us of another truth: those who offend people in the Church are at fault. God cares deeply and is greatly concerned when people who were once in His fold—walking with Him in relationship and part of His Church—are hurt and made to stumble.

In Luke’s Gospel, the parallel passage refers to sinners, and so we tend to associate the parable of the lost sheep with new believers. But in Matthew’s account, it is directly connected to harming those who are humble and childlike in the Kingdom.

Jesus makes it clear that not only will the Father go after those who wander, but that those responsible for the wandering will be held accountable.

This ought to be a wake-up call for us. It is no longer enough to simply tell people to forgive. It should also be our burden to restore the hurting, to seek forgiveness where we have caused pain, and to make sure our fellow Christians do not wander—whether we see them as significant or not.

This passage reminds us that the humble, the youngest, the seemingly insignificant—all matter deeply to the Lord.

Questions for reflection: Have I been hurt by the Church? Have I asked for the Holy Spirit to heal my heart? Am I responsible for someone else’s hurt? Do I know of someone who has lost their faith because of the actions of the Church? Have I asked for wisdom from the Holy Spirit to help restore people in the faith?