Churches have been responsible for
much abuse and cruelty.
True or False?



Sadly, this is true and there is no excuse for it.




A rogue priest’s advice to a child


To understand why the abuse and cruelty took place (and probably still does) in certain dark corners of the Church, we need to go back to the beginnings of Christianity.

After Jesus was crucified and, through God’s greatest miracle, had risen once more to life, He told His followers to proclaim to the world His message of love. Then He returned to Heaven. Whenever converts were made, the new believers would meet in each other’s homes to sing and to pray and to plan good deeds. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit of their Lord, Jesus.


A restored room in a house in Syria
which was made into a church
around 240AD

Time passed and the Christian religion spread far beyond its original home, Jerusalem. Eventually the fear of arrest and persecution died down. The believers began building churches for public worship. A hierarchy of priests, bishops and archbishops was established. This was to prevent the organisation collapsing into chaos and to ensure that the original teachings of Jesus were adhered to.

While most of the church leaders tried their best to live up to the standards of love, compassion and fellowship that Jesus had taught them, a minority gave in to more self-centred and nasty aspects of human nature.

Jesus and the two Apostles He appointed to continue His teachings, Peter and Paul, had preached humility, kindness and forgiveness, but a few of the church leaders, having achieved power, turned to indulging in their own gratification, causing misery to others. Their activities have badly tarnished, and continue to tarnish, the reputation of the Church as a whole.

Jesus wept.
John 11,35
Jesus had sacrificed
His life for the Church
and for us.

The important thing is that the words of our Lord, as recorded in the Bible, are the beating heart of Christianity. Jesus told us to go into the world and make it a better place. He said we should love one another, even if the other person appears unlovable. We should always behave with sincerity and cheerfulness.

Some of Jesus’ commands appear to contradict common sense and our natural instincts. For instance, if someone tries to provoke you with violence, or with taunts, you must stand your ground and turn the other cheek.

Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matthew 5,39

This unexpected response replaces anger with dignity, rage with self control. If you follow up with words to calm the situation you will achieve far more than by letting it escalate into a fight.

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
Proverbs 15,1

While Christians should always try to pursue justice for other people, we should never hesitate to forgive anyone who personally treats us badly.

Blessed are those who defend justice and do what is right at all times.
Psalm 106,3

At first sight, forgiving someone when we perceive them to be totally in the wrong, while we are totally in the right, could be seen as condoning bad behaviour. But as usual with the words of Jesus, His wisdom comes at more than one level.

At a practical level, by forgiving someone, you are showing kindness. That can help to bring emotional healing.

At a spiritual level, forgiving someone else reminds us that none of us are perfect and many of the things we’re secretly ashamed of in life, we’ve managed to get away with. Our sins have been forgiven by God because Jesus was punished on the Cross on behalf of all sinners. Part of the punishment He bore when He was up there, nailed to the Cross, is punishment for our own sins. He redeemed us by taking our punishment.

We have been forgiven a lifetime of sins by believing in Jesus, so it would be rather mean of us not to forgive the actions of a few people we may have a quarrel with.

Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.
Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6,12

It is important to remember that things are seldom exactly what they seem. Patient and kind questioning might reveal that the person picking a fight with you might be a far more troubled individual than you are. If you are able to help them, friendship could replace enmity. Also, an unforgiven action, which may seem trivial to other people, could fester over many years and this would be much worse for you than for your abuser who had probably forgotten all about it.


To return to the subject of the Church:
Churches have without doubt been responsible for much abuse and cruelty, but please don’t judge ordinary Christians harshly because of it. Above all, don’t despise God, our Creator, and Jesus, His Son, who are appalled by disgraceful behaviour carried out in Their name.

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6,2

Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.
Galatians 6,10

Jesus said, “Love one another. As I have loved you,
so also you must love one another.”
John 13,34
These commandments don’t just refer to the people
around us. They apply to people in desperate need
anywhere in the world. We’re all God’s children.

This is the true Christian message.