Hurting People Hurt

Good Morning,

I have heard the statement “Hurting People Hurt People,” and I believe that is one of the most idiotic, psychology-classroom inventions ever! Educated people love to invent, explain, and often excuse behavior, and they do so without the Bible (their biggest mistake). 

Let us dissolve this foolish quote.  Who in history hurt more than any human being?  If you said Jesus, you are correct.  Jesus was hurt physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  Jesus was hurt by His nation, His friends, His religion, and His family – yet, no one in history helped more people than Jesus. He did not vent His anger and suffering on others; Jesus loved people and helped them.

We can follow the same line of thinking with the Apostle Paul; read of his suffering and the love he expressed for others.  If you have been hurt, you do not need to hurt anyone else. That is the “blame game” our culture has taught us to play.  If we hurt people, it is our choice – our own sinful, shameful, godless decision. 

Everyone has a chance to do right on their own.  Perhaps, it is harder for some than others; perhaps, good training makes doing some things easier for one than another, but we all have a choice to make every day!  Our own choice! 

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

Who has not been hurt to some extent?  Who has not suffered physically or emotionally?  

I sat talking with a veteran of well over a dozen deployments, and he made a simple comment, “I do not buy the idea of PTSD.”  (Not my words, I have never been there, and could not even comment; I am quoting a veteran of over thirty years of service.) He felt those who suffered would have had the same emotional troubles had they never served; he said it was them who had the problem, the military just gave it a release.  That perspective aligns with the things Paul and James said: 

Acts 14:15 “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you…”

James 5:17 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are…”

We are all subject to “like passions” (the same trials and troubles). 

The book of Job tells us, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” and “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” 

We will face troubles.  We can do right. We choose how we respond to troubles.  

Early in my ministry, I remember responding to something my wife said, and it was only a feeling, not words or actions, just an inward impulse. I remember thinking, “That is just how my dad acted, and he left when I was a little boy; I’m not going to act like that man.”  I made a decisions how to act. Perhaps, some internal genetic things moved me, or perhaps it was an impulse trained into me by watching my dad, but one thing was clear, I was going to determine my own behavior! 

We know the verses, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and “There is none righteous…”  We all sin, and we all face similar temptations. We all live in a cursed world, and we are all surrounded by evil.  How does someone like Corrie Ten Boom suffer such injustice at the hands of the Nazis, yet live a life so full of love and care for others?  She choose to do so, and she had a relationship to God as well.  Consider Joseph and his suffering, yet he brought forth love and forgiveness. All of these hurting people helped others, they did not hurt others. 

Classroom “shrinks” are busy trying to explain and excuse behavior while leaving God out of the equation. There is a God Who helps, Who strengthens, and Who may also leave us to our own devises.  

Hosea 4:17 “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.”

Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind…”

I do not want to find myself in a situation when God will leave me alone. I want God near, and I want His help.  Do not be so foolish as to think you can run through life without the mercy and help of God.  God may just leave you on your own, and that would be frightful.

I have three books that are nothing but stories of men and women who faced the most horrific challenges and injustices, yet found victory.  No, hurting people need not hurt people – it is a choice.

All things can work together for good, if we want them to. (Romans 8:28)

If you want to go through life blaming others for your behavior, that is your choice – but it will create a miserable existence.  If you want a different path, draw near to God, trust Christ to save you, then begin to commit every situation into the hands of a loving Father in a way directed by the Word of God. 

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” 

Pastor