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Author Topic: What Do Healthy Churches Look Like?  (Read 2444 times)
Janet Easson Martin
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« on: August 23, 2016, 08:12:20 pm »

What Do Healthy Churches Look Like?


The following is a small excerpt from part of an article from Christianity Today that highlights an important characteristic of healthy churches.  I have underlined and made bold key words or phrases.


"Finding the Focal Point

by Tracy Keenan

Church health is a matter of focus: a focus on Christ, not the church. Our focus determines whether we have a survival mentality or a service mentality.

If the primary emphasis is on maintaining our building, or on getting more people or money, it's a clue that our focus is on survival.

A willingness to serve is the greatest indicator of a Christ-ward focus. It's a sign that faith is strong and the people are open to the workings of the Spirit...

...A focus on Christ allows us to support one another, even in our differences. I was called to this church to develop a contemporary worship service. We added a third service that was, stylistically, quite different.

Yet I've had a surprisingly large number of people say to me, "This contemporary worship is not my cup of tea, but if there's any way I can help support this, let me know."

That was a healthy thing to say. It shows people's respect and appreciation for our tradition, but also their unwillingness to make it into an idol. You won't see that apart from a clear focus on Christ."



Tracy Keenan is associate pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.



Here is the link:     http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/1997/summer/7l334a.html


« Last Edit: August 24, 2016, 06:41:25 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
Janet Easson Martin
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« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2016, 07:59:06 pm »

    What Do Healthy Churches Look Like?

    Choosing Our Spiritual Family


    In the excerpt below from When You Are Ready To Try Again: Going Back to Church, Jeff VanVonderen raises very good questions about any church we are considering being part of.  He lists them as healthy guidelines to aid our search.  I have underlined and made bold what I found particularly helpful.  The link for this article can be found at the end.


    "When we were born we had no idea what was in store for us in our physical family. And we had nothing to say about the behaviors, character traits, or priorities of our biological family. None of us could choose what our family would be like.

    But what if it weren’t impossible? What if we did have a choice? What if, prior to actually becoming part of a family, we were given some choice in the matter and some guidelines that would help us look for a healthy family? We do have this kind of opportunity when it comes to our church family. We do have a choice. And guidelines do exist. The New Testament tells us some of the things we can expect in our spiritual family, among them support from one another, love, and a place to be in process.

    Based on those guidelines, here are some questions that I would ask about any family I was considering becoming a member of:

    • Do people in this family care about things that really matter?
    • Do people in this family respond to people’s mistakes with grace and patience?
    • Are the people in this family gentle and giving?
    • Or are they mean, caring only about themselves?
    • Is telling the truth in this family more important than image management?
    • Does honesty get sacrificed in the service of maintaining a superficial, false peace?
    • After being with this family for a while, do I have a growing dependence on the work of Jesus? Do I revel more and more in his love?
    • Or do I feel emotionally and spiritually heavier as time goes on, and less qualified to be a family member?


    I hope that you have gained permission to be in a healing process. And I hope you have had a glimpse of what is yours as a son or daughter of a God who loves you and is patient with that process..."

    (http://www.spiritualabuse.com/?page_id=53)


    I think we should be wary of church groups who try to possess us without our careful consideration and own choosing.  We should also have our antennae up for who they grant respect and dignity, and be certain it is not a given few, but all.

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    « Last Edit: August 25, 2016, 05:39:51 pm by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

    For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
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