Nevertheless, not every church that is unhealthy in this regard is so nefarious as to actively suppress calls for lament or repentance. It’s just that they hold the misconception that Christian joy necessarily avoids unpleasant conversations. This isn’t so much biblical joy as it is toxic positivity.
While churches should never be known for their negativity, healthy churches are ready and willing to wade into weighty and difficult issues with teary eyes and listening ears, seeking to bring comfort, recognition, and reconciliation to individuals and groups within their communities that are experiencing real pain.
4. Partisan Politics Overshadow Biblical Community.
A wise pastor once told me that a church’s statement of faith should never be so specific that people who are going to heaven aren’t allowed to be a member of your church. In other words, we don’t have to agree on everything in order to recognize our common bond as followers of Jesus.
Even more than doctrinal differences, some churches have unofficial litmus tests for membership that pertain to political affiliation. To these churches, coming under the banner of Jesus requires coming under the banner of a particular political party. While few would ever say that, it’s too often the unspoken reality.
But when partisan politics become closely associated with a church’s identity, the result is that our people are discipled in behaviors and tendencies that are antithetical to the way of Jesus. Outrage, fear-mongering, power-seeking, and hatred of neighbor are hallmarks of our partisan climate. Not only are all these things ungodly, they’re also unhealthy and do not create a church marked by unity, love, peace, or joy.
The truths of Scripture speak to civil and political issues. Engagement with important social issues is not itself a distraction from the gospel. But when “speaking the truth” is simply code for compulsory and uncritical adherence to a political party, it is. What’s more is that it is deeply unhealthy.
Healthy Churches Start With Healthy People.
Churches are full of broken and sinful people, led by broken and sinful people. Nevertheless, Jesus came to make all things new, and that begins within the walls of our churches.
When we pursue spiritual and emotional health—both individually and collectively—we create healthy environments that testify to the fact that Jesus offers something different from the world.
May our prayer always be that the heavenly kingdom would come and Jesus’ will would be done here on earth as it already is in heaven. And then may our actions map to the expectation that God can and will do just that. When this is our posture, we invite the Holy Spirit to work through us in ways that only he can.
A version of this article originally appeared here. It has been updated and expanded for ChurchLeaders.
