I have noticed a particular phenomenon. When new or less secure relationships share a profound vulnerability, the relationship becomes at risk.
There is a lady in the church who is a “closet alcoholic”. She did some rehab at a clinic. Through the process she asked the Shepherd to be her counselor, but he had to decline. She also told her family of her alcoholism. Now, she is not attending church.
Time and again I have seen people get excited about their new found faith. As they begin to search for answers about God, they reveal something they are embarassed about in their life. And then in a short period of time, they are no longer around. They have shown a blemish that everyone now knows about.
I wonder what the solution is. Obviously, it is a pride issue. But, would the pride be less cumbersome if there was more conversation quickly after the revelation? If there was conversation after the vulnerability that brought us back to safer common ground, would the revelation be okay?
Do you know if she is attending church somewhere else? Does her family attend the same church that she quit? It’s tough enough to reveal a blemish about ourselves in a group in which you feel safe (ladie’s bible study for example). Or with your very best friend. As God lovers, I sure hope we go the extra mile to make people feel accepted, blemishes and all.