But take a poll. Ask any ten church attenders if they have ever suffered any of these injustices from church people, and see what responses you receive. The truth is, we all partake of the sinfulness and frailty of the human race, which includes personal bias, all types of myopia, and other imperfections. It follows that we sin all too often against our brother or sister in the church in abusive ways. Pastors are guilty, elders and deacons are guilty, other church leaders are guilty, and so is virtually every other member of the church at one time or another.
Scripture teaches eloquently how important humility is in the gracious process of reconciliation.
When the prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin he repented in great humility. Psalm 51 is persuasive testimony to his personal honesty and open humility concerning his own misdeeds. When Jesus turned and looked at Peter after his denial of Christ, Peter went out and wept bitterly. Sadly, when pastors, church leaders and members alike are confronted with their offenses they often make excuses. We hear these and other phrases all too often.