How do I tell if I am at a Healthy Church?

This blog post is a companion of the sermon series currently at Theophilus Bible Church and essentially is trying to dig deeper to determine if I am at a healthy church and more importantly what makes up a healthy church. You need to determine the definition and components of that before you can make a quality statement regarding whether your church is healthy.

In asking if the church is healthy, I ask what would a Healthy church look like? This questions leads to the next question of what is the role or purpose of the church because a church should probably be considered healthy of it is fulfilling its role or purpose. To answer this question, we need to look at the bible and the words of the One who created the church God.

Role/Purpose of the Church
1. To be the Bride of Christ - Ephesians 5:25-27 and Revelation 19:7-9

     What does it mean to be a bride?

• Pure and Spotless
• An example that all want to look upon and see
• Faithful
• Waiting for the groom

2. To be the Light of the World - Matthew 5:14

• Once again and example to all the world
• To show the world the path through the darkness
• To reveal the dark things that have been hidden

3 To be the Salt of the Earth - Matthew 5:14

• to function as a preservative that sustains life
• improves the flavor (makes life better)
• Can be used for healing via antiseptic properties
• not having Salt in the body will cause issues

Given these variety of things a simplified summarization is that the church is made up of individual Christians and "Christians make a difference in the world by being different from the world."

To put it another way and quote Beau Hughes from the Village Church who also preached on this topic. (If you want to hear some good messages on this topic I highly recommend this)

The dominant theme in Titus, therefore, is good works, that is, exemplary Christian behavior and that for the sake of outsiders.

In order to do this Paul gives Titus the duty to choose from among the people elders. Based on the requirements set forth in Titus (Titus 1:5-9) which are as followers.

1. Above reproach - Means unable to be held with disapproval or disappointment. To understand this look at what is currently going on with Brian Williams. His job definition was to ensure he was above reproach. You can also see the fallout of what occurs when someone who is expected to be above reproach isn't.
2. Husband of One Wife - There is debate about if this means every or currently particular concerning the issue of divorce. I don't know the position of Theophilus Bible Church but my personal opinion is if a divorce occurred before a man became a believer, it does not disqualify him because he received is new life when he accepted Christ. If he divorced after being a professing believer it should disqualify him.
3. Having children who believe and are not accused of dissipation or rebellion - Provides evidence that he can properly lead his family and also removes another thing that those outside the church could point to as evidence Christians are the same as everyone else.
4. Not self-willed
5. not quick-tempered
6. not addicted to wine
7. not pugnacious - definition of pugnacious is "eager or quick to argue, quarrel or fight
8. not fond of sordid gain - success or gain through morally ignoble or vile means
9. be hospitable
10. loving what is good
11. loving what is sensible
12. loving what is just
13. loving what is devout
14. loving what is self-controlled
15. holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching
16. be able to exhort in sound doctrine - exhort means to give advise, caution earnestly or admonish urgently - thereby requiring knowledge of scripture to provide answers to those seeking
17. refute those who contradict - also requires knowing scripture to be able to push against in correct doctrine or interpretation of the Word

This list of things is something that we really all should be trying to reach and attain for. What is pointed out is those who are leading us should be a model even in their human imperfection that we can look to as an example or a standard bearer.

Ask yourself, which of these areas are you weakest in? What are you doing to make progress in those areas so your life is a better example to those around you?

I also want to say when you look at this you might see it as perfect that you can't attain that is true for all of us and will only be resolved when we are with Christ having shed this body that has the sinful nature in it. What is more important is the trajectory. What trajectory are you on and what trajectory is the church on. Where is it going and how fast. Maybe you look at yourself in the mirror and find you are lower than you would like and there are a lot of places you could improve, that is great because to means you can go through the growth faster. Maybe you look at yourself though and see a person who has labored and prayed for years to be everything that God has called you to be so you are higher in your process than someone who is just starting out, but the path and rate of change isn't as steep because of that.

In either case, remember not to be discouraged but instead pray, pursue and model Christ for he will bring you a greater joy and through that both you and the church will grow healthier.