What is a Healthy Church?

Jenn (McGarvey) Blackston

MIN 5310

jennifer.mcgarvey@mailbox.ciu.edu

1-18-11

What is a healthy church? In my opinion, a healthy church is a safe haven; a place where people (from any walk of life) can come and be accepted for who they are. A healthy church is a place where the Bible is seen as the functional authority and where the Word is preached in such a way that it draws people to Jesus. A healthy church is a place where discipleship is emphasized and lived out in the body. A healthy church is a place where sin is addressed and confronted and yet, the people are not judged. A healthy church is one where people can journey through life together and impart both grace and truth to each other. We are able to love people only when we first receive from God and are fully present. As we allow the Lord to work in our hearts, we are then able to offer hope and  love to those around us. A healthy church is one where people are free to be themselves and are also free to use the gifts and abilities the Lord has given to them. There are many other things I could say about a healthy church, but those are just some of my thoughts. There is no such thing as a perfect church since we are all broken and in need of both a Savior and Lord. We have an unique opportunity to point people to Jesus and we need to come together as one body so that we can be a light to a hurting world.