I've Been Hurt by Church

Let's say it plainly: Christians hurt people sometimes. Churches hurt people sometimes. That was real, and it was wrong. Nobody here is going to explain it away or ask you to pretend.

What happened to you?

A leader hurt me I was judged instead of helped I don't trust church anymore I feel like I don't belong I'm angry about what happened I want to try again, carefully

Here is the one thing worth holding onto: people failed you. Jesus didn't. He was hardest on religious people who used God to hurt others, and gentlest with the people they pushed away.

Healthy Christian community is real, and it looks like honesty, kindness, and people who own their mistakes. If something was abusive, that is not something to forgive quietly and go back to. Getting safe and getting help is right.

Listen to The Gathering I want to come back to God Something else is going on