Churches in America and around the world have not been in the most positive light recently. Churches and Christian organizations are under more scrutiny than ever because of issues regarding race, sexuality, gender identity, abuse and zealous politics. People are seeing ugliness within the church, and it’s leading them to turn their backs on it.

However, it’s possible for the church to become a beacon of hope. After all, that’s what it’s supposed to be. The church was never meant to be a lecture hall where you learn what you can and cannot do and receive judgment for who you are. Instead, it is supposed to be the representation of Christ on earth. It is supposed to share His love, His compassion and His mercy with the world.

It still can. But first, those of us who have been hurt or let down by the church need to learn how to rebuild trust in it.

Rebuilding trust in the church

Rebuilding trust in the church isn’t a process for blindly throwing yourself at the whims of church leadership. It is the process of deciding that you see the good in the church and trust that it’s worth your effort to stay involved to help draw that out.

When you’re ready to start trusting the church again, try going through these four steps:

1. Lay out your grievances — You should start by recognizing and naming how the church has hurt you or let you down. If this involved another person or people, it could be wise to approach them and have a gentle discussion about the issue. Do not accuse them or be hurtful. Be honest so you can release what is bothering you and be able to move on.

2. Be honest about yourself — It’s easy to make excuses and leave a church or community by blaming others. However, have you paused to reflect on yourself? Did you do or say anything to create a problem that you projected onto others? Is there a genuine problem in the church but you refuse to acknowledge your part in it?
   Examine your involvement in the issue and work on removing the plank from your own eyes before focusing on the splinter in others’.

3. Pray — Ask God to give you strength, wisdom, courage and patience to work through the challenges that impact your relationship with the church.

4. Know when to walk away — If a particular group is toxic, hateful, or otherwise persistently negative and harmful, it is OK to walk away. If you try to address the issue and are met with nothing but negativity or resistance, we understand that you may not want to stress yourself in being the only adult in the room. In situations like these, though, it’s important to know that there are other places that will welcome you, including other church families.

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. We are currently going through a new sermon series titled “Crazy Like Us.” It’s all about what we imagine Jesus would want to undo in today’s church to rebuild it to better fit His image and His teachings. 

Do you feel like the church has lost its way and could use some restructuring? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.