Wounded Fighters

I have severally written about hibernating ministers. These are ministers who suffered severe injuries as they ministered that they more or less decided that ministry was too hurting to attempt or that the risks of injury were too many. They therefore rejected ministry, or something like it.

It is important to state that they did not go back to sin or turn back from the faith as many would want to think. It was that they gave up on ministry from the many injuries they received as they served.

Today I want us to look at another category of ministers and their response to injuries. And they are more dangerous than the hibernators.

These decide to continue fighting despite their injuries.

The sad part is that those injuries make them extremely sensitive, even to a supportive touch.

Imagine receiving a caress on a sore wound! Even a simple touch makes someone wince.

This means that a friendly tap is very easily interpreted as a deliberate blow. He might therefore hit at someone who was just trying to be friendly.

It goes without say that serving despite an injury is detrimental to ministry. Yet a lot of ministries nowadays are started and run by wounded ministers.

Just imagine an army marching to war. They are crawling close together like we see in movies towards their embankment.

Imagine that one of them has a festering wound.

Then the one next to him, as must happen, rubs against that wound.

Of course he won’t just say ouch as the pain would be extreme.

He would most likely kick at the ones behind him and probably stand to see this enemy who was so cruel as to hurt him.

Then the ones he kicked would also react in shock and anger at this fool who was compromising their march. They may also stand to prove a point to this idiot.

What then happens?

The whole unit becomes exposed. All because they allowed a wounded soldier to join them.

This speaks of the church. In fact, it is prevalent in church as the army will never allow anyone who is hurting to join in the war. But the church does.

A wounded fighter is therefore a negative impact to the church of Christ.

He should be first healed before going back to serve as happens with any army.

God will never allow any minister to serve suffering the kind of injuries we receive in the course of our ministering. He wants us to first heal. And He does heal us when we give Him the chance.

I am writing this because I have been severely wounded. And the wounds are even worse when they come from people we honor and respect, those we hold in high esteem.

But even better is that God has consistently healed me and gave me enough fresh starts to minister to Him. I therefore understand firsthand how a wound can affect ministry.

What happens when a minister with a wound refuses to retreat and receive healing?

The first is that they are unable to distinguish between a friend and an enemy. Like in the illustration I have given, an innocent question can open the floodgates of unwanted reaction on innocent bystanders.

The hurting will normally hurt others. That is why in the event of a relationship breakage the couple is advised to heal first before making another move.

Again that break doesn’t happen in ministry.

Most will run off in a huff to start a ministry or church to prove to those who hurt them that they can also or still minister, transferring all that hurt to a new ground.

Then they will start a new hurting process on others.

Treat this as an introduction