The mostly healthy church

I was at a pastor’s gathering where I heard someone recommend a church leadership book. The book is called The Emotionally Healthy Church. It’s not a bad book. But the funny thing is that I misheard my friend when she brought it up. I thought that she was recommending a book called The Mostly Healthy Church. At first, I thought, “Who would use a title like that?” But on reflection, I decided that would be a great book title.

 

There are hundreds of leadership books for pastors. The titles offer big promises. Your pastor probably has a few of these on his shelves. There is the Triumphant Church. There is the Purpose-Driven Church. There is the Thriving Church, the Unstoppable Church, the Equipping Church, the Break-out Church, and the list goes on and on.

 

I could never write a book like that; or at least I would never use a title like that. My church has not yet arrived. I don’t expect my church to say that we have discovered the secret of success. We’re not a “healthy” church. We are a support group for the unhealthy. “Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

 

How healthy can a church be if it is full of people? People fail. People have insecurities and fragile egos and blind spots. People have doubts. People disagree on styles of music, preaching, programs, and social issues. People have conflicts. A church is only as healthy as the people who attend and serve. I do think we are improving. Every day we get a little bit healthier. So, I like to think that ours is a “mostly” healthy church. Maybe that is the best we can be.

 

These thoughts were on my mind as I traveled to speak at another pastor’s gathering. I was practicing my message in my car as I drove. I asked out loud, “What does it mean to be a healthy church?” Somehow, I triggered my phone to reply: “I don’t think I can help you with that.” That question baffles even Google. There is no consensus on defining a healthy church. The good news of course is that we serve a healthy God. We serve a triumphant, unstoppable, thriving and purpose-driven God. Any health in a church is due to the grace and power of our God and He gets all the credit. This healthy God has asked us to take responsibility for some things. The following come to mind, not necessarily in order of importance. A church’s health depends on being built on Jesus, not personalities, programs, or traditions. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

 

A church’s health is seen in the quality of the friendships inside the congregation. Early believers shared resources, worshiped together, and cared for each other. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42–47)

 

Mostly healthy churches welcome different backgrounds and gifts. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts... so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) Godly churches don’t exist for themselves alone but witness for Christ in word and action. “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20) And the defining quality of a church’s health is love. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

 

These are just some of the ways we might measure the health of our churches. But don’t be too harsh. Be thankful if you find a mostly healthy church. And try to be a mostly healthy churchgoer.