When those outside the church criticize our lack of love and hypocrisy, we respond as if we are being persecuted. But much of the perceived “persecution” is self-inflicted. We are rightly condemned by the culture around us when we fail to represent Jesus well.
A victim of friendly fire
It has been said that the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Sometimes the wounds are caused by friendly fire. It is the responsibility of church leaders to identify and correct this when it happens.