When Faith Hurts:

A Sacred Reflection for My Fellow Christians and the Ones They’ve Wounded

by Rev. Sheri
Spiritual teacher, writer, and founder of Angel Messenger

A heartfelt letter about love, judgment, and finding the true way of Christ beyond dogma and division

It has been over a week since I shared an article reflecting on the relationship between yoga and Christian faith, and the wave of responses—some curious, some compassionate, many hostile—has left me both heartbroken and deeply reflective.

I’ve been called a fraud, a demonic spirit, accused of leading people to hell, and told I am possessed. Why? Because I found healing through breath, stillness, and movement—because I discovered the Divine not just in church pews but also in silence, in nature, in sacred practice. Because I dared to say that God is bigger than any one culture or tradition.

So, to those who claim Christ and yet meet others with scorn and superiority: this is not the way.

Jesus never taught us to weaponize scripture. He never shamed the wounded or turned away the seeker. He didn’t say, “Only follow Me if you look, speak, and believe exactly like my followers.” He welcomed the Samaritan. He healed the outcast. He broke bread with sinners and sat with the misunderstood.

If we are to walk in His footsteps, our path must be one of compassion—not condemnation.

Too often, religion is used not to heal but to harm. And sadly, I see people every day turning away from God—not because they don’t believe, but because those claiming to represent Him act without grace. They preach doctrine without love. They recite scripture without understanding. And in doing so, they betray the very heart of the One they claim to serve.

Christianity was not created by Christ. Jesus was not a Christian. He came to awaken hearts, to invite us into a living relationship with God—not to create a new institution that would eventually mirror the same brokenness He came to redeem.

Some of the responses I’ve received make it clear that many Christians have forgotten this. They do not heal. They do not help. Instead, they shame, dismiss, and demand conformity. They cling so tightly to dogma that they lose sight of the Spirit.

I walk closely with God, Mary, and Christ. I do not need the approval of any human to affirm that truth. My faith is not a performance. It is a lived relationship—one built on love, on experience, and on mystery. I am a Christian Mystic, and my life bears witness to the God I serve.

To those who have felt pushed away, unloved, or unworthy because of how others wielded religion—I see you. You are not alone. The Divine does not ask you to be perfect, to fit in a box, or to abandon the wisdom that lives inside you. The Divine asks only this: to love, and be loved.

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” — 1 John 4:16

Let’s be very clear: Truth does not require violence. Holiness does not require hatred. And Jesus never needed anyone to defend Him by tearing others down.

If your theology turns people away from love, it’s not of Christ.

If your words inspire fear instead of peace, judgment instead of grace—it’s not the Gospel.

We are not here to shame each other into salvation. We are here to walk each other home.

If something in this message speaks to your soul, I invite you to sit with it in prayer—and listen not to the noise, but to the still, small voice within.

Have you ever been hurt by faith—or helped by it in unexpected ways? I’d love to hear your story.

This is the truth I carry, and I share it with an open heart.

Love and Blessings,

🕊️ Rev. Sheri

Rev. Sheri is a spiritual teacher, intuitive writer, and founder of Angel Messenger. With a heart devoted to Divine connection and compassionate action, she creates sacred tools and soul-centered resources to help others awaken their light, trust their intuition, and walk their spiritual path with grace. 💫
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