Quest for a healthy church begins with God-given vision, other characteristics

Quest for a healthy church begins with God-given vision, other characteristics

Healthy churches, or least what we think are healthy churches, are being identified, analyzed and studied. We have a tendency to assume that if we can just find the right formula, write it down and then copy it consistently we will experience optimum church health. Our experience indicates our assumptions are not always correct.

How many leaders have attended church growth or church health conferences and returned home ready to duplicate the patterns learned? Shortly into the process and sometimes painfully into the quest we realize that what worked over there doesn’t work over here. Frustration leads to disappointment and disappointment leads to feelings of defeat. We feel like we took two steps forward but found ourselves mired in mud three steps back.

With that disclaimer, let me suggest that there are at least eight identifiable characteristics of churches that have embarked upon the church health marathon. Healthy churches demonstrate these eight characteristic factors:

  • God-given vision
  • Transformational leadership
  • Functional strategy
  • Meaningful membership
  • Passionate spirituality
  • Loving relationships
  • Sacrificial generosity
  • Kingdom orientation

God-given vision expresses a vital issue for all churches. Based on the fact that Jesus made it quite clear that the church belonged to Him (Matt. 16:13–18), we need to know His desire, His design and His direction. We often quote Proverbs 29:18 and declare that we must have a vision so the people will not perish. However, it is not a manmade or human-contrived vision that we need. We must seek God together as the body of Christ. God will more than joyfully reveal to us His vision for our particular church.

Transformational leadership may be seen in contrast to transactional leadership. While it is true many of our churches are over-managed and under-led, some churches plateau prematurely because the leadership style they follow is transactional rather than transformational. Transactional leaders get the job done by telling others what should be done.

Transformational leaders join with those whom they lead in seeking God’s desire, design and direction. These leaders focus on God’s will and way so that even if the leader leaves the scene, those who have followed and have been transformed can carry out God’s plan.

A functional strategy provides healthy churches with “a track to run on.” Clear direction is essential for effective functioning. The Book of Acts, the epistles of Paul, Peter and John offer authoritative counsel and ample indicators regarding appropriate church functions. Worship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, fellowship and prayer are the six functions of the church.

Meaningful membership, another healthy church trait, requires more attention than we usually realize. I have often asked groups of church leaders a question that seems to cause all of us a moment of concern. “How long does it take to join the average Baptist church?” The answers range from 30 seconds to two minutes to a reluctance to answer at all. Why? Because we do realize that one’s affiliation to a local church deserves serious and thoughtful and prayerful consideration.

All Christian churches share similarities with all other Christian churches. On the other hand, each local church is unique and quite special. Churches that take time to declare their mission and vision, their purpose and processes to potential members are to be commended. Likewise, an opportunity should be offered for prospective members to share their personal confession of faith in and commitment to Christ. Healthy churches unapologetically but reverently establish processes that indicate the high value of church membership.

Passionate spirituality is evident in healthy churches. How vibrant is the dialogue in your church when the conversation turns to God’s presence and activity? Can you say that you and your fellow members focus the lion’s share of energy, effort and enthusiasm on what God is doing in and through your fellowship? A large number of churches would reluctantly admit that some room for growth exists in this area.

Loving relationships characterize the acceptance and affection demonstrated by healthy churches. Relationships in general require time and attention. Loving relationships are no different even though Christians have a great advantage. By the loving grace and goodness of God, we have become children of the personification of love — God Himself. Jesus clearly expressed the necessity of loving relationships when He said that the world at large will know we are Christians by our love (John 13:35).

Sacrificial generosity receives more lip service that life service. Sacrifice is much easier to talk about than it is to practice. Most of us need a full reorientation of our thinking regarding our practices in giving. When we think of giving as reduction of what we have, we make a logical error. When we give, we appear to have less. But when we invest, we realize ultimately we will have more when dividends are paid. Giving to Christian causes, in particular those sanctioned through local churches, can and will result in eternal dividends. Now, that is an investment we should really like.

Kingdom orientation expresses another value held in high regard in truly healthy churches. It simply means that we focus attention on God’s work outside our fellowship as well as inside the confines of our own membership roll. We are here to build the kingdom of God and not just one church. Healthy churches realize that other churches are their allies and not their competitors in the greatest enterprise in the history of mankind — world evangelization.

Well, what do you think? How does the church in which you are involved measure up? Any room for improvement? Probably. But be reminded: Your church is special — because of God’s presence and power — and because it is composed of people like you.

Editor’s Note — Edwin Jenkins is director of leadership and church growth for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.