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The qualities that define health are
easily seen in the product or fruit of that entity. The Scripture
enjoins us that the way to distinguish a good tree from a bad tree
is by examining its fruit-"by their fruit you will recognize
them" Mt
7:20. In the case of the church, the product or fruit of
health are transformed lives who are discipled to become fully
devoted followers of Jesus Christ. This picture is the
C&MA/USA's attempt to describe the healthy balanced
environment that allows for the multiplication of healthy
disciples, small groups, leaders and new congregations.
This building analogy begins with a strong
foundation. The foundation is a commitment to obedience to the
Great Commandment-Mark
12:28-31. Loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbors
as ourselves is the essence of righteousness according to Jesus.
It rests upon four footers that assure balance and strength to the
ministries of the church as environmental factors change:
- Winning
the lost to Christ
- Building new
believers up in Christ.
- Equipping
disciples for ministry.
- Multiplying
emerging leaders.
- Sending out
new servant leaders.
Healthy churches will intentionally
structure an environment that philosophically aligns with these
ministry priorities and assures that they are the focusing values
for the various ministries of the church. Ultimately, a healthy
church will periodically send out the "called ones" from
its ranks to ministries beyond the local church. Thus, national
church planters and international missionaries emerge from healthy
local church ministry.
The walls of the church are the dynamics
that are described in the early church of Acts
2:42-47. Holy Spirit empowered, the early church modeled
health and multiplication of disciples. The roof that ties the
walls together and provides for the integrity of the building
represents the manifest presence of Jesus Christ Himself who
promises to "be present" when disciples gather in His
name(Mt.18:20)
and "build my church." (Mt.16:18)
The atmosphere around the church that is
conducive to health and reproductive ministry, depicted by the
cloud cover is one of repentance before God and dependence upon
the Spirit of God for health and fruitfulness.
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