My name is John T. (Jack) Watts. I’ve established the Blog, Pushing Jesus, because I’ve seen so many people hurt over the years by Christianity. Recognizing the severity and magnitude of the problem, I wanted to create a safe place for wounded believers to come and receive healing words of encouragement. It is my firm belief that wounded believers, those crushed by institutionalized religion, constitute the single largest source of wasted talent in God’s Kingdom.
Many people rescue cats and dogs, but what about beaten and abused believers? It seems like nobody cares about them.
Well, I do.
At the end of many church services and evangelistic rallies, there’s a “call” for the unsaved to come forward. But there’s never a call for wounded believers to come forward and heal. Everybody knows they are there, but all they are allowed to do is lick their wounds in the corner. If they bring their problems out in the open, they are judged, so most just keep to themselves and bleed silently.
If this is you, Pushing Jesus is a safe place for you to come and heal. If you’ve been used, abused, and discarded by the church or ministry you love; this is the place for you to come every day. You will not be judged—no way. Instead, you will be encouraged to bring all of your hurts and fears to the light, which is the only way God can heal them. No matter how far down you have gone, there is hope for you.
In just about every city there are groups that ask you to donate an old car or boat to their group so they can fix it up and sell it. That’s what I’m after—broken down Christians. I want the people who have had head-on collisions with a Big Mack truck and barely survived. If that’s you, this is the place for you.
I know how you feel. I’m a survivor of spiritual abuse myself. It took me years to pick myself back up off the floor, but when I did, I realized God had been with me every step of the way. He still had a plan for my life, and helping you is part of it. He still has a plan for you, too.
Whenever you’re ready, let’s begin. There’s a long way to go, but when you’re healed, you’ll never be the same again. You’ll be stronger than you ever dreamed you could be. Your tentative, hesitant nature will be transformed into one of calm, strong sanity. Are you ready for that?
If so, let’s start today!
Thank you for your wonderful blog. I believe God wanted me to find your blog to sort out my recent experiences with some people in the family of Christ.
Jack, I just got this from a friend. He showed a guy your blog the other night. Here’s what he said:
“I took the security officer for the church, who quit going to church years ago, to your website last nite. When I left, he was on page four reading thru it page by page…I will be interested in hearing what he has to say… ”
-Dr. J.
Cool! Hope you’re able to help lots of hurting people. Best, -eb
If what I am doing helps people nobody seems to care about, I’m gratified beyond measure.
–Jack
Christian people who hurt are looking for help.
They know real help when they see it.
This site is real help.
Keep it up.
Jack, you and I have seen it all in all of our years of working with and for ministries. I once was describing the hurt that one religious leader had created in the lives of so many people, to a friend. I stated that I would love to be in heaven when he arrived to watch God dress him down.
My friend said, “No, that is not the character of God. God will first show him a panoramic 3D view of all of the good he did in life; all the people who got saved through his ministry–lives that had been changed. When that is through, God will also show him a panoramic 3D vision, but this time of all that might have been.”
That really helped me through a tough time and spoke to me of God’s incredible grace–even to those we might feel abused us.
You are a great friend. Go for it!
Jack:
Appreciate your call and interest. Hopefully we will have the pleasure of meeting you tomorrow night at 6:15.
Blessings,
C. Brooks
Wow! one more blog which proclaims my saviour’s word…Great.
Keep the good work going…Do visit my website…and comment if like the articles…
Hi Jack,
Thanks for showing me your website! What a wonderful tool! All God’s children have problems right from time to time? Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Raised in a Baptist church there have been many occations where words for well intentioned folks have wounded. Thanks be to God, He has taught us the power of forgiveness! God Bless you in what you are doing here. God’s love is awesome, the more of it we share with others, the better our lives become. It is then we experience the love and peace and joy of Christ. Nothing like it! We are all in this imperfect human condition and as such we disappoint and fail each other. Thanks for pointing people to Christ and His power to heal!
God bless your work and service to Him!
Dale
Jack: I look forward to reading more! C.S. Lewis once said something to this effect: “The church is the only hospital that kills its wounded.” I was always saddened by the truth in that statement. Thank you for writing!
All I can really whisper out of my heart at this low point in my life is, “Thank you”
Jen:
My experience is that I grow the most while in pain and difficulty. While there, try and learn as much as you can, so you don’t have to repeat the lesson.
Thanks for sharing your heart. It means a lot.
Jack
It’s great to come across another brother who loves the church but is in some ways sickened at what it has become…You might find this blog I wrote interesting.
http://altonwoods.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/er-theology/
Just came across your blog this afternoon, and as a fellow survivor of spiritual abuse, I resonate with what you are doing here. Thank you for providing this forum. I will definitely be sending my readers over for a visit.
It would be wonderful to read your thoughts on the abuse that takes place in such cultish 12 step programs as alcoholics anonymous as well as any other 12 stepping program that professes their dogma.
Jack, I just finished reading, “Hi My Name is Jack”.
Congratulations on this brilliant story. It reads like fiction…and that’s a compliment for it’s page-turning, riveting quality. Best of all, it had a healing effect for me. I’ve had alcohol abuse issues around me my entire life – parents, partners and my own issues – and your book was so cleansing, insightful and helpful. It’s a great contribution to the recovery message and community.
Tom
Hi, nice to meet you !