Since When?

Since when has church become such a breeding ground for hurt? I remember not too long ago, church was a place of refuge and shelter, a place of encouragement and inspiration, a place where burdens were shared, not gossiped about. Since when has someone's internal pain become such a spectalcle to all others around us? God save your people from themselves! It has honestly come to a point, sad to say, that I have become skeptical of entering my church prayer room. No matter how badly I feel I may need that intercession, I won't let myself enter. One internal struggle shared in confidence becomes next week's gossip in the church foyer. Who can I trust but God? Why must secret pain become shared whispers among my "brethren?" Instead of mocking me, why aren't God's people praying? I remember in high school I had this amazing friend. She would always ask me how I was doing, and no matter if it was good news or bad news, she would drop everything, right then and there, to pray in intercession or thanksgiving. I cherished that. I cherished the fact that I could tell her my prayers and she would share my burden, not gossip about it. My family has been through so much pain. I don't want to hear of my name being brought up in Friday night Bible Study when I am not there. I don't want phone calls from "brothers and sisters" in Christ wondering how I am doing only to tell the rest of the congregation so they can laugh at me on Sunday morning or tell me the latest news about myself. I'd rather you tell me to my face or ask me how I'm doing then to have an impostor tell you through second hand information. I was already a skeptic when it came to vulnerability. When you can't trust the body of Christ, who can you trust? And yet it happens everyday. Since when did church become such a place of mistrust? Of betrayal? Of fear? This is not what God intended. God save your people from themselves!