Pastor, Use Your Scars. Don’t Hide Them.

We all have wounds. Wounds that then lead to scars. Scars are the reminders of the reality of this life. It is dangerous. It can bring real pain. Scars serve us by growing us in wisdom. Scars help us to remember that the pain doesn’t last forever and healing is eventual. But we are also never the same. We’ve changed. Our body is different and we have the scar to prove it. Below is a story of how Paul used his scars.

[19] But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:19–23

Paul, no doubt, had his fair share of scars. In the passage above, it tells the story of Paul’s stoning. They stoned him to the point that they thought he was dead. Not to get too graphic, but the way someone would usually die in a stoning was blunt force trauma to the head. So most likely they stood over Paul and could barely recognize his face and declared him dead. Paul seems to be healed miraculously in some way by the disciples or they at least nursed him back to health.

We are not sure how long it would be exactly until Paul would be back in Lystra and the other places he ministered before the scars. I’m sure the scars were so prominent on his face and hairline. There was no hiding them. Those that knew Paul before the scars were most likely grieved to see Paul like this. There was probably a hush when he entered the room.

It can be hard to comprehend for Christians to see the scars of their pastors. It can be difficult to know how to react in these moments. What we see in this passage is that Paul used these moments to strengthen, encourage, and teach. Paul didn’t try to hide his scars for the benefit of these believers. He showed them his scars. He told his story. He shared the pain and fear of those moments. He spoke of the deliverance and healing of the Lord. He spoke of his life now with the scars. His scars and testimony strengthened, encouraged and allowed the saints to persevere in the faith.

Pastors, we have scars. Scars of hardship and suffering. How are you allowing these scars to minister to your people? Most of us think that our scars should be hidden to project strength and invoke trust. We believe that when this happens that our people will be moved to follow harder after Christ. It seems though that the opposite is true in Acts 14. It was the suffering, hardships, life lived, the wounds caused by others. It was the scars that made Paul’s message of perseverance so meaningful.

Pastor, there are people in your congregation and city that have scars themselves. Memories of deep pain inflicted by life circumstances. In particular, people who have been hurt by other Christians in the church don’t need to hear how great your church is. They don’t need to hear how your church will be different. They need to hear the story of how other Christians have deeply hurt you. They need to hear how you healed. What you learned. Why you stayed. They need to see your scars.

When your people are doubting, they don’t need to hear how your faith is grounded. They need to hear the moment when the pain was so great that you questioned your faith. Then tell them what made you persevere.

When your people have been hurt, use your scars. Never hide them.