Jesus is a builder. When He said, “I will build My Church,” He promised to create something lasting, life-giving, and beautiful. Yet for some, the phrase “building the Church” can feel complicated—or even painful—because the Church has also been a place of hurt. If that’s your story, know this: Jesus sees your pain, and He grieves with you over every wound. Still, the failures of people do not diminish the beauty of His purpose for His Church. In today’s episode, we begin Part 1 of this important conversation. Our hope is that it brings encouragement, healing, and fresh perspective.

Thought 1: Jesus Is a Builder

• Jesus identifies Himself not as a destroyer, but as a builder: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
• This is not a call to cover up wrongdoing, marginalize abuse, or pretend the Church doesn’t have a lot of repair work to do. It is a call to be prayerful for leadership and for people who’ve been hurt. It is a call to solution rather than slam.

Thought 2: Unity is not Uniformity

• John 17:21, 23 – “I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent Me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
• Biblical unity is people from different walks of life being held together by a common faith, a common love, and a common mission in Christ.
• Uniformity is maintained by pressure from the outside; unity is sustained by love from the inside. Uniformity stifles; unity strengthens.

Thought 3: The Church Is His, Not Ours

• The Church belongs to Him. He says I will build “My Church.”  
• Leaders are works in progress leading people who are works in progress.
• To attack, belittle, or try to dismantle the Church is a dangerous posture to assume.

Action steps for organizations responding to spiritual abuse:

• Acknowledge Harm Honestly.
• Create Safe Avenues for Reporting.
• Engage Outside Help.
• Offer Care for Survivors.
• Take Corrective Action with Leaders.

Remember . . . It is always easier to demolish than to build.