Church And Stigma

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

– Ephesians 4:29

Jesus told His disciples to create churches to spread God’s message of love to the world. Unfortunately, in modern times it isn’t uncommon for people of faith to be looked down on, their spirituality seen as conservative, outdated, or even dangerous. Much of this stigma was caused by the terrible things some Christians did in the past, such as boarding schools; but as a Native American Christian, I can accept that the crimes of worldly people do not reflect the love of God, and the sins of our ancestors are not something we as separate people need to apologize for.

“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” – Romans 12:16.

So, what can a church do to avoid stigma? Even today, some churches have turned people away from the House Of God, participated in corruption, and Christian leaders committing abuse to the weakest and most precious of God’s children. For most churches, it’s pretty simple: don’t be “bad,” welcome all, use money righteously, and protect youth- but how do you compete with the stigma associated with the Christian faith caused by others who do evil while using God’s name?

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary,

repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9

Acknowledge the stigma in your church with your church-goers. It’s an important conversation, especially when most negative energy is directed toward Christian people rather than the church itself. Pinpoint where we have the most stigma, such as judginess and intolerance. As a Christian community, we can avoid this by showing other Christians how to respond to things that seem wrong or treat people who seem different like Jesus does: With love. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1. It can be exasperating responding to such stigma and hate with kindness, but we must be better. By showing the world our love, we are being ambassadors of Heaven.

Churches can reflect the love of Christ by speaking about how valuable children, women, and those suffering from gender dysphoria, mental illness, and addiction are to God. Show your support for people often targeted with hate (including Christians) by creating small groups for them and providing a prayer team and Christian counseling. Educate your team on handling conversations when someone in need comes to your church for help, especially for these vulnerable topics.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” – Colossians 4:6

Another way for a church to combat stigma is by fighting against what causes it. Recently, the Vatican Church has made an effort to advocate for the rights of children after centuries of child abuse within some churches. Smaller churches can do their part by supporting causes and organizations that aim to end human and child trafficking, build homes for women who’ve suffered from abuse, and provide mental health resources for addiction and mental illness. A church can donate to these organizations, recruit volunteers to help further, spread awareness, and pray as a community.

“Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:24. Because we are all human, we make mistakes, even members of churches and staff. If your church leader has wronged someone or made a mistake, encourage them to apologize and be honest about it. This keeps your church transparent, prevents gossip and corruption, and provides an example for Christians to follow.

“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.” – Ecclesiastes 3:7. It feels awful to be associated with hate when you are trying to spread love all because of the mistakes of your brothers and sisters, but Jesus also faced stigma. Jesus was from Nazareth, a place so insignificant it was believed nothing good could come from there, let alone a Messiah. He received stigma for the people He healed and ate with, for having women in His ministry and speaking out against the ways of the Pharisees- the ways of the world; all because He tried to spread love. Sometimes Jesus stayed silent when He was accused, others He showed God’s glory. Throughout your battle with the stigma of being a person of faith and spirituality, remember who Jesus is and what He does, and be a person of love.