I sat with a young person as they shared their heart fully with me. Because many had hurt them deeply who professed Christ, they now were unsure what they even believed.

This is always one of my most heart-breaking moments. Inside my heart I was pleading for the Holy Spirit to help me break through the pain that God’s own people caused.

I want to gently tell you, friends, not to take lightly casual and harmful words or slander that causes such a mental torment, horrendous attacks of the enemy through bullying (even spiritual) of human hearts, or the insidious viciousness of actions that send one into years of depression and anxiety.

Jesus is offended.

I’ve heard all manner of excuses instead of ownership that leads to repentance and honestly, it’s past time for us to do better.

“As long as there are people in the church, these things happen…”

Nope. Not good enough. We need to repent.

On the heels of some of these excuses to sin are shattered lives left crawling out from under a foreboding despair.

Jesus sees. He cares. His justice will be at hand.

This young person wants nothing to do with others now. We can’t blame them.

We ought to blame us.

It is the heart of God to go make a thing right. We can’t take platforms and rail on people and think God will keep blessing us. We can’t leave people drowning in pain we cause and think God won’t defend that little lamb. We can’t keep making excuses for our own cutting off of peoples ears with righteous platitudes.

We must own our sin. Fully and completely. Every morsel. Before God and others leaving our gifts on that altar and go have some honest discussions that perhaps will lead to reconciliation of hearts that have been shattered.

In essence, we have sorely misrepresented Christ Jesus to another and it in no way goes unseen.

It’s one reason the world is now the way it is. The Jesus we preach and present has not been revealed authentically by the living out of the word. We expect of others what we refuse to do ourselves. How many more must be wounded beyond repair except for a miracle of God?

Words mean little. Actions mean more.

If there is anyone that has turned away from the faith in Christ because of your, or my, own hands…let us be quick to take every necessary step to healing.

The worst excuse is the one that says, “It’s not my problem, I’ll leave it in the hands of God.”

Oh, but it really is your problem, and mine.

“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. (Mark 9:42)