Fixing our eyes on Jesus

The failures of professing Christians have unfortunately damaged the public testimony of the church. Yet even the apostles were imperfect, and their weaknesses did not diminish the perfection of Christ. Therefore, instead of judging Jesus by those who represent Him poorly, we must look directly to the Savior, whose character is completely pure and trustworthy.

Do Not Judge Christ by the Failures of People

Many unbelievers have looked at the conduct of certain church members and said, “If being a Christian means behaving like that person, I would rather remain as I am.” Their disappointment is understandable, especially when they have witnessed hypocrisy, dishonesty, pride, manipulation, abuse, or a lack of compassion among people who publicly claim to follow Jesus.

The church should never dismiss these concerns as though a damaged testimony did not matter. Scripture calls believers to live in a way that honors the gospel. When someone speaks about holiness but lives in secret sin, or preaches love while treating others cruelly, the name of Christ can be dishonored before those who are watching.

Nevertheless, the sins of human beings do not change the identity of Jesus. Christ remains holy even when religious people behave hypocritically. He remains faithful when others are unfaithful, truthful when others deceive, compassionate when others become cold, and righteous when others act unjustly.

Dear reader, perhaps you have been hurt by someone in a congregation. Perhaps a pastor disappointed you, a trusted leader betrayed your confidence, or a church member treated you in a way that contradicted everything that person claimed to believe. Those experiences can leave deep wounds. However, the failure of that person is not proof that Jesus has failed.

It is important to distinguish between Christ and those who merely use His name. Christianity is not founded upon the moral perfection of pastors, teachers, congregations, denominations, or religious institutions. It is founded upon the perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Church Has Never Been Perfect

The church has never been composed of people who have already reached moral perfection. From the earliest days of Christianity, congregations have faced disagreements, immaturity, selfishness, doctrinal confusion, and sin. The New Testament itself contains many letters written to correct serious problems among believers.

The church in Corinth struggled with division, pride, sexual immorality, disorder, lawsuits, and the misuse of spiritual gifts. The churches of Galatia were being disturbed by false teaching. Some believers addressed by James showed favoritism toward the wealthy. Several congregations mentioned in Revelation had abandoned their first love, tolerated error, or become spiritually lukewarm.

These realities did not mean that Christ had abandoned His church. They demonstrated why the church continually needed His correction, grace, discipline, and transforming power. The presence of imperfect people does not make the gospel false; it reveals how desperately human beings need the gospel.

A statement commonly associated with John MacArthur expresses the point humorously: some people refuse to attend church because there are hypocrites there, but there is always room for one more imperfect person. The purpose is not to excuse hypocrisy. Rather, it reminds us that none of us enters the Christian community because we have achieved perfection.

Every genuine believer comes to Christ as a sinner in need of mercy. The church is not a gathering of people who can boast about their goodness. It is a family of redeemed people who confess that salvation is found in Jesus alone.

Jesus Is the Perfect Standard

The pastor has weaknesses. The person sitting beside you has weaknesses. Christian parents, teachers, musicians, elders, missionaries, and longtime church members all have weaknesses. Even the most mature believer remains dependent upon the grace of God.

However, there is no moral defect in Jesus. He is the perfect revelation of the Father. His words were true, His motives were pure, His compassion was genuine, and His obedience was complete. He never used people for personal advantage. He never lied, acted unjustly, or pursued selfish recognition.

Jesus welcomed children, touched lepers, defended the vulnerable, confronted hypocrisy, forgave repentant sinners, and showed compassion to those who were suffering. He did not avoid difficult truths, but neither did He use truth as a weapon to exalt Himself. His holiness was never cruel, and His mercy was never indifferent toward sin.

This is why we must understand that being a Christian is more than carrying a religious title, attending services, or appearing spiritual before others. Genuine Christianity means belonging to Christ, trusting in His work, submitting to His Word, and being transformed by His Spirit.

Some people may use Christianity as a costume. They may learn religious vocabulary, participate in public activities, and appear devoted while their hearts remain unchanged. Jesus warned that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” truly knows Him. Therefore, we should not assume that every person who uses the name of Christ accurately represents Christ.

Jesus must be evaluated by His own words, works, and character—not by the worst behavior of those who claim to follow Him. When we examine the Gospels, we encounter a Savior worthy of complete trust.

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

The writer of Hebrews gives believers a clear instruction:

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2

To fix our eyes on Jesus means that He becomes the central object of our faith. We do not deny the existence of human failures, but we refuse to make those failures the foundation of our spiritual conclusions. We measure Christianity by Christ.

Jesus endured betrayal, rejection, false accusations, physical suffering, public humiliation, and crucifixion. One of His disciples sold Him for money. Another denied Him three times. His closest followers fled when He was arrested. Religious leaders accused Him unjustly, and the crowd demanded His death.

Yet Christ remained faithful. He did not abandon His mission, return evil for evil, or allow the sins of others to corrupt His character. He willingly gave His life for sinners and demonstrated a love greater than all our offenses.

When we become discouraged, we must look to the Lord and His strength. Human examples may encourage us for a time, but only Christ can sustain our faith completely. People can inspire us, teach us, and help us grow, but Jesus alone is the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Looking to Christ also protects us from unhealthy dependence upon religious personalities. No preacher should occupy the place that belongs to Jesus. No ministry, denomination, movement, or teacher should become the ultimate foundation of our confidence. Faith that depends entirely upon a human leader will be shaken when that leader fails.

Our confidence must rest upon the unchanging Savior. Christian leaders should be respected when they faithfully teach Scripture, but they must never become substitutes for Christ.

The Failure of People Does Not Cancel the Faithfulness of God

The Bible does not hide the failures of its central human figures. Abraham acted out of fear. Moses became angry. David committed serious sins. Elijah experienced discouragement. Jonah resisted the mercy of God. Peter denied Christ, and Thomas struggled with doubt.

Scripture records these failures honestly because its purpose is not to glorify human beings. The true hero of the biblical story is God. Again and again, He demonstrates His faithfulness toward weak, sinful, and dependent people.

Peter’s denial of Jesus was shameful, but it was not the end of his story. Christ restored him and later used him to proclaim the gospel boldly. Peter’s restoration does not make his denial acceptable. Instead, it reveals that the grace of Christ is greater than the failures of His repentant people.

This distinction is essential. Grace does not call evil good, overlook abuse, or eliminate accountability. Serious sin must be confronted, victims must be protected, and those who commit wrongdoing must face appropriate consequences. Forgiveness should never be used to pressure wounded people into remaining in unsafe situations.

At the same time, the gospel teaches that repentance and restoration are possible. God can transform proud people, heal broken relationships, restore fallen believers, and produce lasting change. The church should be a place where truth and grace work together.

The Church Is a Community of Restoration

The expression “the church is not a museum for perfect saints but a hospital for wounded sinners” communicates an important truth. People do not come to Christ because they are spiritually healthy. They come because they recognize their need for forgiveness, healing, and renewal.

A hospital does not celebrate sickness, but it receives sick people for the purpose of recovery. Similarly, the church must never celebrate sin or treat destructive behavior as unimportant. Its mission is to proclaim the truth that exposes sin while pointing sinners toward the Savior who forgives and transforms.

Believers are also commanded to care for one another. Paul teaches Christians to restore those who fall with gentleness and to bear each other’s burdens. This requires humility because those who help the fallen must remember that they, too, are vulnerable to temptation.

A healthy congregation does not pretend that problems do not exist. It addresses them biblically. It corrects error, practices accountability, protects the vulnerable, encourages repentance, and offers compassionate support to those who are struggling.

The church becomes dangerous when leaders act as though they are beyond correction. It also becomes unhealthy when members protect reputations instead of protecting people. Biblical authority is never permission for manipulation, secrecy, intimidation, or abuse.

Christlike leadership is marked by service, humility, truthfulness, and sacrifice. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and taught that greatness in His kingdom is expressed through serving others. Therefore, anyone who uses religious authority primarily to enrich, exalt, or protect himself is contradicting the example of Christ.

What Should You Do After Being Hurt by Christians?

Being told simply to “forget what happened” rarely brings genuine healing. Spiritual wounds should be acknowledged honestly. If you have been mistreated, you do not need to pretend that the experience was insignificant. Bring your pain before God and ask Him to give you wisdom, comfort, and direction.

You may also need to speak with mature and trustworthy believers who are not controlled by the person or institution involved. In situations involving abuse, threats, criminal behavior, or danger, seeking help from the proper civil authorities and qualified professionals may be necessary. The reputation of a religious organization must never be valued above truth and safety.

At the same time, guard your heart against allowing one painful experience to define every Christian congregation. There are unhealthy churches, but there are also faithful congregations where leaders sincerely love Christ, teach Scripture, practice accountability, and care for people.

Ask God to guide you toward a church where the gospel is clearly proclaimed and where character matters more than charisma. Look for leaders who are teachable, transparent, and willing to be corrected. Observe whether vulnerable people are protected and whether questions can be asked without fear.

A healthy church will continually direct your attention beyond itself and toward Jesus. It will not demand blind loyalty to personalities. It will encourage you to read Scripture, grow in discernment, cultivate prayer, serve others, and become increasingly conformed to the character of Christ.

Examine Your Own Testimony

This message is not only for those who criticize the church. It is also a call for every Christian to examine his or her own conduct. We must ask whether our lives make the gospel attractive or give others a reason to speak against it.

Do our words reflect the kindness of Christ? Are we honest in our business dealings? Do we treat our families with patience? Are we compassionate toward those who disagree with us? Do our private actions correspond with our public confession?

Christians will not represent Jesus perfectly, but they should represent Him sincerely. When we sin, we must not hide behind excuses or religious appearances. We should confess our wrongdoing, seek forgiveness, accept correction, and pursue meaningful change.

A humble apology can become a powerful testimony. Admitting failure does not weaken the gospel. Pretending to be perfect does. The gospel already declares that we are sinners who need grace, so Christians have no reason to construct an image of sinless superiority.

Our testimony becomes credible when people see repentance, humility, love, perseverance, and genuine transformation. The Christian life is not defined by never stumbling, but by continually returning to Christ and being changed by His grace.

Christ Will Never Disappoint Those Who Trust in Him

Dear reader, do not allow the failures of others to keep you permanently separated from the One who gave His life for sinners. People may disappoint you, but Christ is faithful. Religious institutions may fail, but the promises of Jesus remain true.

Look at His patience toward the weak, His mercy toward the repentant, His courage before injustice, and His obedience to the Father. Look at the cross, where He carried the punishment deserved by sinners. Look at the empty tomb, which declares His victory over death.

The more clearly you see Jesus, the less power human hypocrisy will have to define your understanding of Christianity. You will recognize that the beauty of the faith is not found in pretending that Christians are perfect. It is found in the perfect Savior who rescues imperfect people.

Therefore, fix your eyes on Jesus. Learn from Him, trust His Word, rest in His grace, and follow His example. Do not build your faith upon the reputation of a preacher, the popularity of a ministry, or the behavior of another believer.

Build upon Christ, the solid foundation. He is pure when others are corrupt, constant when others are unstable, and loving when others become indifferent. In Him you will find the truth, holiness, compassion, and faithfulness that no human being can reflect perfectly.

The church may have visible imperfections, but Jesus has none. Come to Him with your questions, wounds, disappointments, and sins. He receives those who approach Him in faith, restores the brokenhearted, and gives eternal hope to everyone who trusts in His name.