We hear the deep hurt and anger in your words and we grieve with you over the humiliation and disappointment you have experienced. We understand feeling reduced, insulted, mocked, and pushed aside in your vocation, and feeling wounded by people in the church who should have shown love and respect. We want to pray with you and also speak truth gently where it is needed, because we care about your soul and do not want hurt to drive you away from the Lord who loves you.
We must first address with love and reverence what you have said about Jesus needing to repent. Jesus does not need to repent, for He is holy and without sin. Scripture is clear that He was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin, Hebrews 4:15, that He knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and who did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, 1 Peter 2:22. It is we who must repent, for God commands all people everywhere to repent, Acts 17:30, and Jesus Himself said unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way, Luke 13:3. To say Jesus should repent turns the gospel upside down. We urge you to repent of that thought and to see that while the church is made of imperfect people who can fail to love well, Jesus never fails. He laid down His life for us while we were still sinners, Romans 5:8, and His love does not mock or humiliate. If people in His name have wounded you, we are sorry and we ask God to forgive them and to heal you, but we must not blame the perfect Savior for the failures of imperfect servants.
We also hear your frustration about being moved from work as a Business Analyst to work that feels beneath you, and your feeling that this was presented as God's will or humility when it felt like humiliation. We agree that we should never use God's name to demean or to disguise contempt for others, for love suffers long, and is kind, 1 Corinthians 13:4, and we are to do nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself, Philippians 2:3. At the same time, the Bible teaches that humility is not humiliation by men but a posture before God, for He has said humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you, James 4:10, and humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 1 Peter 5:6. And we are taught that whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, Colossians 3:23. All honest work has dignity before the Lord, whether in an office or serving food, and God sees faithful labor. If you were counseled in a harsh or belittling way, that was wrong, but we also encourage you to guard your heart against pride and against despising small beginnings, and to trust God to open doors for the gifts He has given you, for we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose, Romans 8:28.
You mention equally yoked as restrictive nonsense and that leaving it behind feels like freedom. We must speak plainly here because this is for your good. The call not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14, is not a man made rule to restrict you but the loving command of God to protect your faith and your future marriage. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives, but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she desires, only in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 7:39. Courtship should be with the goal of marriage to another Christian believer, a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, and this is not to steal joy but to preserve it. To reject this and pursue relationships outside of God's design will not bring freedom but deeper hurt and distance from Him. If the teaching was delivered without love, we grieve that, but the truth itself remains good.
You speak also of foreigners stealing opportunities and of wanting back what belongs to you. We understand the pain of feeling displaced and overlooked in your own land and of economic hardship. Yet we must guard against letting that pain turn into bitterness or hatred toward others, for that will poison your own soul. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up troubles you, and many be defiled by it, Hebrews 12:15. We are to not covet, Exodus 20:17, but to learn contentment while also working diligently and seeking justice honorably, for we have learned in whatever state we are, to be content in it, Philippians 4:11, and God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:19. We are called to pray for those in authority and for our nation, for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence, 1 Timothy 2:2, and to remember that the foreigner among you should be as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, Leviticus 19:34. If there are unjust policies, we can seek lawful and peaceful ways to address them, but we must not harbor contempt for people made in God's image.
Most of all we are burdened by your words that you have stopped going to church and left it for good, and that you feel pushed toward apostasy. We plead with you not to forsake the fellowship of believers, for we are exhorted not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:25. The church is not perfect, but Christ loves the church and gave himself up for it, Ephesians 5:25, and He uses the body of Christ to strengthen, correct, and comfort us. To walk away because people hurt you leaves you more vulnerable, not more free. There is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, and Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6. It is only through Jesus that we have access to God and forgiveness of sins.
We pray together for you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who alone is sinless and worthy. We lift up this dear one who is wounded, humiliated, and angry. Lord, heal the hurt that harsh words and belittling counsel have caused. Forgive those in the church who failed to show Your love and respect, and forgive our own sins where we have harbored anger and spoken against You. We ask You to soften this heart to see that You do not mock, but You came to save. Grant repentance and faith, that there may be turning from sin and refreshing from Your presence, Acts 3:19. Restore a love for Your church and a desire for fellowship. Provide for vocational needs, open doors for work that uses the gifts You have given, and give grace to work heartily for You in whatever place You set us. Remove bitterness toward others and toward foreigners, and fill this heart with Your love and contentment. Guard against apostasy and draw this one back to Yourself, for You are not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. Let Your will be done in this life, and let healing and hope be restored. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to seek the Lord while He may be found, to open His Word daily, to find a faithful Bible believing church where the gospel is preached and love is practiced, and to talk with a mature pastor who will listen and counsel with grace and truth. Do not let the failures of people define who Jesus is to you. He is faithful, He sees your pain, and He invites you to humble yourself before Him and He will lift you up.