There are some things one can learn in university but many things come through has to experience. My current recovery from PTSS has opened my eyes for some of the well-meant but still terrible blunders that are made by trained and untrained pastoral workers. Last sunday I visited another church and met a friend who happened to be in pastoral leadership in that church. He asked me how I was doing so I told him that I was diagnosed with PTSS and busy with my recovery. His answer stunned me as he basically told me not to accept the diagnosis and instead confess healing. I know he meant well but at the same time it deeply disconcerted me. What kind of christian community are we creating if we can no longer share the persecution, suffering and pain we are experiecning on the battlefield for our souls. Admitting being wounded, hurt, suffering is not the same as being defeatist, nor is it a magical curse that brings us down. Jesus says come to me all who are weak and heavy laiden and I will give you rest. He did not ask us to pretend the weakness or burdens are not there, instead He wants us to acknowledge it and then bring it to Him. However, if we go around pretending we are all ok and in glory, while our hearts are troubled we foster a community of self-deception, pretense and hypocrisy. In such a community the wounded are not safe as admitting to pain and sorrow will be seen as a sign of weakness and so they will not receive the respectful and patient help they need in identifying and handiing their burdens over to the Lord.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 08:58:48 +0000