Jon Augusta

Churches Shouldn’t Hurt: A Call to Genuine Love and Humble Service

Jon Augusta – March 4th, 2025

Remember when Kanye West found faith? In 2019, he released “Jesus is King,” a powerful album that resonated with many. But amidst the praise, a disturbing trend emerged. As Kanye himself rapped in “Hands On,” “They’ll be the first one to judge me / Make it feel like nobody love me.” Sadly, this prophetic line reflected the reality: many Christians were quick to doubt his sincerity, nitpicking his every move.

Instead of celebrating a high-profile conversion, the focus shifted to judgment. This experience highlights a painful truth: “church hurt” is a real and widespread issue. Too often, people leave churches feeling wounded by the very community meant to embody love and grace.

The Problem Isn’t the Church Building, It’s the People

I’ve been raised in the church, and while I’ve bumped into a few doors, the actual building has never hurt me. The pain comes from the people within it. Just like guns don’t kill people, people do. Churches don’t hurt people, people do.

This brings us to Romans 12:9-21, a passage that outlines the “Marks of the True Christian.” These verses paint a picture of how we, as followers of Jesus, should be living.

Marks of a True Christian (Romans 12:9-21):

• Genuine Love: (v. 9a, 10a)
• Hatred of Evil: (v. 9b)
• Outdoing one another in showing honor: (v. 10b)
• Zealous in Service: (v. 11)
• Full of the Spirit: (v. 11)
• Serving the Lord: (v. 11)
• Rejoicing in Hope: (v. 12)
• Patience in Circumstance: (v. 12)
• Never Ceasing to Pray: (v. 12)
• Generous and Hospitable: (v. 13)
• Bless When Wronged: (v. 14)
• Shared Joy and Burdens: (v. 15)
• Harmonious Living: (v. 16)
• Associate with Everyone: (v. 16)
• Do Not Repay Wrong with Wrong: (v. 17)
• Live Peaceably: (v. 18)
• Do Not Seek Revenge: (v. 19)
• Care for Enemies: (v. 20)
• Overcome Evil with Good: (v. 21)

What Would a Church Marked by These Qualities Look Like?

Imagine a church where these marks were truly evident. We would be:

• A Humble People: Genuine love requires humility. Pride creates judgment and division. We must consider others more important than ourselves, showing hospitality and sharing burdens. Church hurt often stems from pride, from people believing they are superior.
• A Generous People: We are called to contribute to the needs of others and show hospitality. This isn’t about obligation, but a natural outflow of genuine love. We should be eager to share the blessings God has given us.
• A Serving People: We should be zealous and on fire for the Lord, channeling our enthusiasm into serving Him and His people. Every talent and ability can be used to build up the body of Christ.

The Root of the Problem: Lack of Genuine Love

All these qualities stem from genuine love. If we truly loved one another, we wouldn’t see so much “church hurt.” We would prioritize others, showing grace and compassion.

A Call to Action

Why is it that often those within the church are the quickest to judge? Why do people associate Christianity with hypocrisy? Jesus commands us to love one another (John 13:34, 15:12-13). Let’s strive to embody these marks of a true Christian.

For those who don’t know Jesus: You can only live this way through a relationship with Him.

For those who think they know Jesus but don’t live this way: Jesus is waiting for you to truly follow Him.

Let us be a church that reflects the love of Christ, a church where people find healing and hope, not hurt and judgment