When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage

“Dave allowed God to navigate him through the pain of religious moralism to arrive at insightful, compelling, and gracious wisdom. He remains a sincere lover of God’s church and people as he directs weary pilgrims to safer lodging.”

—John Lynch, coauthor of TrueFaced and Bo’s Café

 

Have you been betrayed by a Christian friend?

Are you disillusioned with the church?

 

If you have been hurt by Christians, you know all about anger and resentment. But what about a workable solution? How can the words and actions of “bad Christians” be addressed so the mistakes are not repeated? 

 

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People offers a workable response and, ultimately, a new way of living. In this revised and updated edition, you will find healing for hurts infl icted by others. At the same time, you will discover ways to help Christians and church leaders recognize the damage that is done by unexamined assumptions, words, and actions.

 

After dealing with his own hurt, Dave Burchett now shows believers how to:

■ Live as Jesus followers, not rule enforcers

■ Stop using religious performance as the standard for accepting others

■ Let go of moralism, legalism, and an allegiance to trying harder

■ Discover God’s grace as a daily reality, not just a word to use in evangelism

 

Working toward a solution will benefi t your own life at the same time it helps

others. Whether you have been a bad Christian in the past, or have been hurt by one,

there is a better way to live.

Discussion Guide Included for Individual and Small-Group Use

Real Help for Bad Christians (and Those Who Have Encountered Them)

 

Dave Burchett’s family was hurt by the thoughtless and insensitive actions of Christians, and out of his pain he decided to help others. The church can come across like a religious club where the uninitiated are kept at arm’s length. Even the faithful grow weary of battles over manmade rules and requirements. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

 

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People is filled with wisdom and biblical solutions for anyone who wonders: 

   · Why guilt is used to enforce spiritual conformity.

   · Why so many Christians aren’t happy.

   · Why those who have not mastered the accepted religious vocabulary are suspect.

   · Why Jesus’ priorities keep getting left off the church agenda.

 

If you have suffered at the hands of bad Christians, help has arrived. Burchett’s straightforward advice shows injured Christians how to become part of the solution. There is a better way.

Help for those who have been harmed by Christians-and those who have inflicted the wounds. Throughout history, Christians have done considerable damage to others-both independently and in the name of Christ. Each time this occurs, one of God's precious creations is wounded and the church's witness to the world is grievously weakened.

For years, unbelievers and Christians have rejected the church because of damaging encounters with a Christian, a Christian leader, or a group of Christians. No matter how much we wish to reverse the damage, however, we cannot reach the unchurched with the life-changing message of the gospel-nor can we protect those still within the body-unless we insist upon dramatic changes within our church communities.

Targeting every person who has ever been hurt by a Christian-as well as those believers responsible for inflicting such damaging wounds-author Dave Burchett calls for a new way of relating that will bring healing to the church and transform our witness to the world.

Dave Burchett started his career as a disc jockey in Ohio, and later moved into sports broadcasting. An Emmy Award-winning television sports director, he has directed events ranging from baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan’s sixth no-hit game to the Summer Olympics. The author of Bring ’Em Back Alive and a blogger on Crosswalk.com and theFish.com, Burchett writes honestly and authentically out of his personal experience. He and his wife, Joni, live in Texas and have three adult sons and a daughter in heaven.