Our Health Depends on It!

 

 

 

Several years ago, I wrestled through being at a church I wanted to love, but struggled to be at.  My husband was pretty content and happy with it and I was not.  I didn’t appreciate his take on my wanting to leave.  Something along the lines of this was said…”there seems to be a common denominator with the churches we have gone to and you being unhappy with them for one reason or another—you.”  Harsh, but I knew my reasons for each change we had gone through, and they were validated in my spirit.  I also knew our current situation was not best and believed God had more for us than what we were experiencing.  I began praying for God to show me biblical foundations to anchor in, not just the sense in my spirit.  I discovered three things which gave me solid footing on which to base what my spirit was sensing.  I want to share them, as I believe they are important for everyone to have healthy participation in the Body of Christ. 

 

There are three pillars/legs we must have for a church to be a healthy place for us.  Please note, what is healthy for one and what is healthy for another may not be the same.  Also note that I am not calling a church unhealthy, but rather it may not be a healthy place for you or me.  The three pillars/legs must be present for us to have proper evenness for our experience to balance on.  Very few things can balance on just one or two legs…all are needed!  The three pillars are worship, fellowship and service.  Let me explain each in light of what I believe God has asked of us in His word.

 

Worship—we are called to gather corporately and worship the Lord together.  Through out the scriptures, we see examples of praise and worship through song.  In Ephesians chapter 5, it states to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (v. 19 ESV/AMP).”  There is such beauty in worshiping our King.  Styles and structures vary greatly in the body of Christ.  Preferences play a large part in this pillar.  However, we must feel like our worship both draws us nearer to Him and also relays our desire for Him to come nearer to us.  I love great worship.  Honestly, it rarely happens for me, but good worship will do.  I enjoyed a story shared recently on the radio.  A boy told his mom he really didn’t like a particular song they often sang at church, but was glad they sang it anyway.  When his mom asked why, he said because it meant other people wanted or needed to hear it.  Conviction!  I can choose to worship no matter the song, but must remember, it’s not all about me.  We are human, as are our worship leaders.  There will be off days, poor song selection, technology issues and a dozen other things that try to derail the praise and adoration of Our Lord.  We can get past those obstacles, but the enduring call to worship must be present for our health.

 

Fellowship—we are called to gather together not only for worship, but for teaching and doing life together.  Hebrews 10:24-25 spurs us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together…but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  Through breaking bread, sharing stories and helping each other, we experience a fortifying of our soul which was designed by Him.  We make each other stronger. When I share one of my faith experiences with you, you get to ‘borrow’ some of my faith to help you trust in His faithfulness to you and growth happens.  We encourage each other to obey, step out and closely follow the One who is leading us.  There are opportunities to share in each other’s joys and sorrows.  These are made sweeter and more bearable when shared.  Fellowship with our church family can’t be forfeited because we truly need each other…He created us as relational beings.  So, it is best for our health.

 

Service—each of us has been gifted for service to use on behalf of the body of Christ.  Through the variety, every need can be met in Him.  When a church limits or neglects to use those whom Christ has brought to participate in a particular church, the health of all involved is affected.  We need to be able to use the gifts the Spirit gave us for the benefit of the whole and we need other to use theirs too.  “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10 NIV).”  Gifting is not limited to teaching, singing, welcoming and rocking babies.  From the letters written to the Romans and the Corinthians, we see a number of gifts listed for blessing the body.  Things from knowledge and wisdom, healings and prophesy, encouraging and leadership to giving and mercy.  This list is not complete but allows us to begin to see what God had and has a plan for the body to care for itself and those being drawn into it.  Not using your gifts robs the others of what God wants to bless them with.  Not receiving the gifts of others does the same.  For a church to be healthy, it needs to desire and use your particular gifting.  Its health and yours depends on it.

 

Sensing and listening to God’s directions with regards to being a part of a certain segment of His body can be a challenge.  I believe His Spirit helps us perceive and discern these decisions.  By understanding the significance of worship, fellowship and service, we are able to focus in on biblical directives we know to be important to Him and healthy for us.  After sharing these with my husband, he was able to see the need to find the place God had for us.  Remember, if one of these areas is lacking, we can submit it to Him, petitioning for understanding and wisdom to know whether He is making adjustments where we are or if we are being led elsewhere.  The Spirit moves believers as desired to minister within the body using their given gifts to meet needs as He sees fit.  Moves can be for growth, service, depth, protection or any other number of reasons.  The purposes of the body of Christ are many and as believers, we are meant to engage with worship, fellowship and service so we can participate more fully.  We need each other, all-in, offering ourselves wholly to the benefit of all who gather.  Healthy engagement comes by making sure we are balancing on all three legs.