If you're reading this article, I can only assume that it may be because the church, or someone who claims to be a Christian, has hurt you. And for that, I am so sorry.

Like you, I have also been hurt very deeply by the church. It created a time of a great hit to my personal faith and caused some very tough scars. Pastors and other Christians have done and said hurtful, mean things to myself and my family members. If it weren't for my knowledge of what Jesus was truly like, I am not sure that my faith and relationship with Christ would have made it through.

It is so easy to let yourself be run over with bitterness if you are in this place. However, I would like to challenge you to keep some things in mind. First of all, what happened to you is not okay. You are allowed to be hurt. However, letting yourself become hard and bitter over this wrongdoing is ultimately only hurting you. Odds are, that person doesn't even know that they hurt you. So learn to accept that you may never get the apology you think you deserve. Trust me, that will help you.

Second of all, you have to remember that those people are just human. Yes, as proclaimed followers of Jesus, they should be holding themselves to a higher standard. But, we all fall. We all fail. And sometimes, we all just need a little grace. And you can be the bigger person to extend that grace.

Thirdly, remember who Jesus really is. As Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (ESV)." Jesus was full of love for the lost of the world. He had empathy for the hurting and compassion for the marginalized. His followers may get it wrong sometimes, but that doesn't mean that this should be taken out on your view of Jesus Himself. He loves and cares for you. He wants you to walk in the light of His glory. He also desires to heal those wounds that you have deeply engrained in you. Let Him.

Lastly, as cliche as it sounds, you have to be the change that you want to see in the world. If you want to see a world full of more loving Christians, be a more loving Christian. If you want a society that is rid of hate, rid yourself of hate. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35 NIV)." So go out there. Heal from your hurt. Love like you would want to be loved. You can be the prevention of someone else being hurt from the Church.