If you mean should you run from a toxic congregation that is putting religion before Jesus, then yes—by all means. But find another congregation. The Church is the body of Christ—that is, all the believers on Earth. Never let individual members or a bad experience at one church lead you away from Christ. Christians are imperfect. We are mean, bitter, lying, cheating angry people. We are not good and are not capable by our own merits of ever being good. But the Christ whom we serve is loving and forgiving and perfect. He is everything we are not—and then some. So please, don’t be turned away by us.

And for those of you who have been turned away because of the mess we’ve made and the damage we’ve done—please forgive us. We didn’t know how our actions would hurt you and we weren’t representing Jesus. We understand if you hate us for it, we don’t blame you one bit if you never want to step foot in a church again or if you never want to talk to us again, but please don’t give up on Jesus. Whatever we did that hurt you may have been done in His name, but it wasn’t Him.