Modern Americans are increasingly concerned about their health.Billions of dollars are spent on improving people’s health and well being, but in spite of this and the availability of the most advanced technology in the world, our national worry about health issues continues.
While people worry about their physical health, often they neglect their mental and spiritual health. Physicians say that a lot of our physical symptoms are rooted in psychological problems. Psychologists, on the other hand, say that much of our psychological problems can be traced to the dysfunctional families from which we came or in which we now live. Preachers often laugh at this suggestion, but family therapists spend considerable amount of time and money doing research on improving the health of families. Published studies show that we can learn much from their research about maintaining healthy families.
The church of Jesus Church is more than an organization; it is a living organism. All living organisms must grow, develop and maintain their health. But what does a healthy church look like?
Pastoral theologian Charles Gerkin has written on the subject of Christian congregations. In his book, An Introduction to Pastoral Care, Gerkin examines the congregation as a community of faith and describes five characteristics of a healthy congregation. I believe all churches will benefit from examining themselves in light of these characteristics.
First of all, according to Gerkin, a healthy congregation is a community of language. Secondly, a healthy congregation is a community of memory. Thirdly, a healthy congregation is a community of inquiry. Fourthly, a healthy congregation is a community of mutual care. Finally, a healthy congregation is a community of mission. In other words, a healthy church must be a Christ-centered community of language, memory, inquiry, mutual care and mission.
1. A Community of Language
By the term a community of language, Gerkin is not talking about any particular native language. He is talking about the language of the bible and the images and metaphors contained in the bible. According to Gerkin, we must become a community that uses biblical language, images and metaphors. We must see the word of God forming and informing our worldview. He is talking about By the term a community of language, Gerkin is not talking about any particular native language.
The bible is the history of a people called by God to follow Him.
It contains the history of the people of God in migration as well as exile. Migration and exile are two different things. Exiles are forced to live the way they do. Migrants are volunteers. Modern Americans are migrants and their offspring. According to the biblical language, we must see ourselves as aliens and pilgrims in this world looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
2. A Community of Memory
A community of memory is the one that remembers its past, especially the ways in which the Lord has brought it thus far. We are told not to forget all His benefits (Psalm 103: 2). It offends God when His people forget His mercies.
We must not forget our past and what the Lord has done for us. Moreover, we should teach our children about our past lest they forget their roots. This means that we must find ways to keep the memory of God’s dealings with us alive. We need preachers and teachers who can remind us of our past as well as take us to a better future.
3. A Community of Inquiry
Adult students often tell me how their own communities do not encourage them to continue their education. This is true especially of those who study theology and ministry. Somehow we think that only young people should be learners. We are ignoring the fact that the whole world is moving to the concept of lifelong learning. This is especially true in North America. All major corporations are supporting their employees in their quest for lifelong learning. The world is changing so fast and new information is generated so rapidly that unless one remains a student for life, it is impossible to excel in one’s field. The old Sunday-school-is-for-kids mentality must change in our churches. Being ignorant does not glorify God.
The average adult in America changes jobs several times within a lifetime. Student days cannot be limited to young adulthood. There are so many user-friendly ways in which adults can learn now. We must take advantage of these. A typical seminary student in North America is in his or her thirties. We must not discourage adult learners. Learning is the best form of investment.
We must get beyond the fear of education.We must become an inquiring community – inquiring about the profitable things of this world and the things of God.
4. A Community of Mutual Care
The church must become a truly caring community. Being so caught up in seeking our own well being, we tend to neglect the needs of others. To ensure a good future for all of us, we must find ways to care for one another. Let us seek the kingdom of God – the well being of others in the name of Christ - first. God has promised that as we seek His kingdom, all the other things we need shall be added to us (Matthew 6: 33).
Many churches are growing, but are not providing enough mutual caring for their members. A healthy church is a caring community. We must all become caregivers by being trained to assist others who are struggling with various challenges.
5. A Community of Mission
Christians in America need a missions strategy that is bigger than themselves. We have been too shortsighted in our missionary strategy. Short-term missions are definitely in God’s plan. However, we should not assume that God has exempted us from long-term commitments. I believe that we need to be
involved in the great Commission in multiple ways. The world needs the good news we carry.
How about engaging in dialogue with those who have been successful in short-term and long-term missions? How about learning about home missions and urban ministries from fellowships that have been successful in these? Any energy spent on these can make us a stronger community of mission.
God wants His church to be a healthy one. In this article we have examined five ways in which Christian churches of all denominations can be healthier. How healthy is your church?