legal disclaimer at the bottom.
When Faith Becomes a Lawsuit
I used to believe the church was a refuge, not a battlefield. But lately, what I have seen looks more like politics with Bible verses attached. Equippers Church Taupō has become a place where truth is managed like PR and where people are punished for honesty.
The phrase “church hurt” serves as a brand, a euphemism designed to downplay the severity of systemic church negligence and power abuse. It sanitises trauma so the institution can keep its image intact, while the people it wounds are told to “heal quietly.” And if they don’t heal quietly, here is a lawsuit to silence them instead.
The Bible is clear about this. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, frustrated that believers were taking one another to court instead of settling things in love. “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” (1 Corinthians 6:1). Yet here we are.
Someone I once worshipped alongside is now being dragged into court, not for lying, but for speaking honestly about what she experienced. The same church that preaches forgiveness has chosen litigation over reconciliation. They could not pursue defamation, so they are trying harassment instead. How does that reflect Christ?
A Church Turned Courtroom
This is not about old church politics or doctrine. It is about a bizarre lawsuit calling it “digital harassment” only because they could not make a defamation case stick. For goodness’ sake, these people once prayed together, led together, and did life side by side. Then it all turned ugly the moment she called out bullying and pride. She was banned from church for speaking up. And even after that, she still tried to make peace, offered olive branches more than once. But the moment she spoke about it online, suddenly it became “harassment.”
This did not come out of nowhere. It has been brewing for nearly two years, two years of her trying to have a simple meeting, a sit down, a conversation that never came.
She later took down several of her videos, most of which never tagged or identified anyone. From what I saw, there was no intent to shame or harm, only to tell the truth about what she had lived through. It only became “targeted” when someone outside the situation recorded her content and handed it over to the very people she was speaking about. That is not harassment. That is silencing.
She was not hiding behind a screen waiting to pounce or verbally tear anyone down. She wanted a fair, mediated conversation to resolve what had happened after being banned from the church. That is not harassment. That is a cry for peace that was ignored. She later took most of the videos down, not out of guilt, but to protect her family while still being honest about the pain of being rejected by the very people who preached love.
I am not naming her here, because she has already been through enough. My point is not to stir things up, but to question why a church would take a hurting member to court instead of taking her hand.
My Own Experience
I have watched this play out before. I was once part of that same church community. When I stood by my principles, I was pushed aside, replaced, and spoken about behind closed doors. Later, I was met with a forced apology, tears and all, meant to make them feel better, not to make things right.
I was just shopping when I was confronted about my connection to this situation. I felt caught off guard and did not really know how to respond. I said sorry for my earlier comments, but I still stood by them because they were true to my experience. It was awkward, tense, and confusing all at once. Somewhere in that uneasy moment, I brought up what happened during COVID, how my reputation had been damaged and how powerless I felt back then. I was younger and did not have the words for it, so I said nothing. This time, I found my voice.
I did not leave the church because of one disagreement. I left because it stopped feeling like a place of healing and started feeling like a place of hierarchy. Over time, I saw patterns of behaviour that did not match what was being preached. People were quietly replaced, conversations were controlled, and anyone who questioned things was made to feel disloyal. I was raised by former pastors, so I know Scripture well enough to recognise when something is spiritually off. That knowledge made me a problem. I spoke up about certain practices that blurred the line between faith and performance, and instead of being heard, I was slowly pushed out.
If Equippers Church truly believes in Jesus, they should know what He said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). Dragging someone through the courts does not look like love. It looks like pride.
The Corporate Church
Mega-churches talk about community, but often they act like corporations, polishing their image, managing reputations, and covering scandals. Paul warned the early church not to behave like the pagans they were meant to stand apart from. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). Yet here we are, back to the same patterns, control, fear, and image.
I realise church is full of imperfect people, but taking a brother or sister to court after Scripture clearly says not to is hypocrisy at its finest. What are you trying to prove? That you are right? That you can police people’s stories? When your own behaviour mirrors the world, what gospel are you actually preaching?
By taking one sister in Christ to court, you are taking the whole body of Christ to court. Jesus did not die by proxy so you could drag His name through the mud in a courtroom. He already paid the price. Every believer represents His body, and when you attack one, you wound them all.
The Waves of Devotion
As John Reuben once wrote in “Out of Control”:
“It’s either break or be broken. Forget dry land, I’d rather stand in the ocean.
And let the waves of devotion roll over me.”
That line stays with me. Because maybe this is what faith really looks like, standing in the waves, letting truth and grace do their work, even when it costs you your comfort.
I may have been part of that church once, but speaking out should not cost me peace. I have already lost enough, but I am not a victim of their bullying, not anymore.
I am not walking away from faith. I am walking toward the real thing. I will keep serving people, loving my community, and following Christ. The rest is in His hands now.
On Speaking and the Law
For anyone wondering where the line between speaking up and breaking the law sits, New Zealand has clear protections for both truth and free expression. The Defamation Act 1992 covers false statements that harm reputation, not honest experiences. The Harassment Act 1997 and Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 are meant to stop ongoing, targeted harm, not silence people who tell the truth once and move on.
Relevant New Zealand Law References
- Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 – governs online communication and harassment.
legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/0063 - Defamation Act 1992 – protects individuals against false and damaging statements.
legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1992/0105 - Harassment Act 1997 – defines what constitutes harassment and intimidation.
legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1997/0092
Legal Disclaimer
This post reflects my personal opinions and lived experiences. It is written in good faith and in accordance with my right to free expression under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Section 14, which protects freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind.
Under the Defamation Act 1992, particularly Section 10 (honest opinion) and Section 8 (truth), individuals may express opinions and share true statements based on their own experiences, provided they are not made with malice. Nothing in this post is intended to defame or cause harm to any person or organisation.
Under the Harassment Act 1997 and the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, this post does not constitute harassment or harmful communication. It does not involve repeated contact, threats, or intimidation, and is a single expression of personal experience on a matter of public interest.
This publication is intended to raise awareness of ethical issues within church culture and to encourage open discussion about accountability, reconciliation, and faith in practice.
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