Betrayal in the Pews
It took only one second. One mistake. One launching of a missile in the middle of a battle. The missile cannot come back, and that weapon is now headed for you! Sadly the one who fired it is on your side. It is war. Hit by friendly fire.
This is not Baghdad or the Battle of the Bulge or a video war game. I am speaking of the many walking wounded in the body of Chris, who have been hurt by other believers, people who have been hit by the betrayal of a Christian.
But this is no mistake. She meant to say those words. He meant to plot against you. They meant to bring you down. And you will never be the same. You will suffer with this for the rest of your life. You might not go back to any church. You will lick your wounds. You will be marked for the rest of your life by the pain. And the pain becomes bitterness.
Do you know anyone like that? Or is that your story? Are you the victim of a wound inflicted by someone you love? A victim? It does not have to stay that way.
Some people preach Christ from envy and to boast about empires, but others from good hearts. The good hearts do it out of love, knowing that they are put here for the defense of the gospel. The boasters proclaim Christ out power hunger, and seem to crush anything or anyone while on their climb to the top of the heap!
I call this “friendly fire.” It is the flack that we take from our own side. It is the bomb intended for the enemy that lands right smack dab in the middle of our hearts. This PAIN was also known by David.
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me !” Psalms 41:9.
The PAIN was known by our Lord.
“….He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me,” John 13:18.
God does not want this to be the lesson you leave with today. The lesson is that you and I are called to take up our cross in every way, including our relationships. It is true that you may be hurt. But you are a disciple of One who was betrayed, who was hurt, and truly, we are no better than Jesus.
To follow Christ is to embrace the cross, to say with the Bible, “Though He was a son He learned obedience through suffering,” Hebrews 5:8.
Now understand this! We are not gluttons for punishment. We are not looking for or desire pain. We are followers of Christ, and to identify with Christ, we bring all of our heartache to Him. We find meaning in our suffering, even in our betrayals, through Christ.
In dealing with the experience of being hurt by others, to take up the cross is to stop being a victim and begin to be vibrant and victorious through Jesus Christ.
~ Mary Lindow ©
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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
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 Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others in all generations and careers or vocations to live and express excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She is a sought after keynote inspirational and humorous speaker and teacher throughout the United States internationally in Ministers conferences, International Spiritual leaders Conferences, and in National and International training seminars for various organizations. |
Oh that was and is me.. I’m a preacher and hurt and seem to be sssoooo deep. I wish I had someone to talk to for real….
I’m tired feeling and thinking about what was done to me. and I did forgive, however I have to keep everybody else up. No one knows what I’m feeling HELP!!
Please pray for me!!!!
It saddens me to think that some people thirsty for the Lord and weary come to this website for a rhema word end up finding Christians attacking and accusing each other in a public forum – when these matters should be addressed privately and gently with the person believed to be at fault. This would not hinder those who innocently are seeking fellowship and exchange with other believers to Hear from the Lord.
I thought New Testament believers were to bless not to curse [ redacted ]. Is that honoring each other? Is that walking in love? Is it right?
Dear Loverocks,
Thank you for your comment. We understand your sentiments, but these things need to be brought out into the open, for the main reason that many Christians have no clue as to what their duties are, or what ought to be reasonably expected of them in Church.
That said, it is not necessarily the fault of the offender, but the lack of full gospel teaching what allows such errant behavior to flourish to the point where the Lord requires our prophets to bring a word of correction to us.
These situations may not be happening in your Church, and that is good news! But sadly they are endemic around the world, and will get worse, as the enemy strengthens and redoubles his persecution of Christians and the Church, by placing his agents within the Body of Christ to bring it down.
Yes, we are asked to walk in love, but we are also called to correct as Matthew 18:15-17, and if a person will not be corrected, to treat them as an heathen and disassociate ourselves from that person. How can people know this, if no one tells them? Or if no pastor ever does it?
Your unsubstantiated allegation our writers guidance on this has been redacted.
Thank you again for your comment and your patronage of His Kingdom Prophecy website. Both are greatly appreciated.
Blessings in Christ,
Angus