Finding Healthy Churches
Welcome to the Finding Freedom series on Divide The Word. Much of this blog and ministry is dedicated to supporting individuals who want to leave unhealthy religious environments and to finding Freedom in Christ. In this final article in the series, we will discuss finding healthy churches.
Healthy Churches have very distinct characteristics, just as unhealthy churches do. Yet, for many, knowing those characteristics is very difficult. This article seeks to provide a foundational understanding of healthy churches and what makes them so.
If you have not read the previous articles in this series, I recommend starting with What Is an Unhealthy Church and When to Leave an Unhealthy Church.
What are Healthy Churches
Answering the question is trickier than one might think! Every Christian church calls itself a Bible-believing church. Or they claim to be a gospel-centered church. But with an estimated 30,000 denominational splinters within Christianity, are they? And even if so, are they healthy churches?
Furthermore, there is not one perfect church out there! With the numerous choices available, finding a healthy church is a challenge even for mature Christians. For those breaking away from legalistic, unhealthy, and even cultic churches, this task is more difficult. Thus, this is an attempt to outline an objective foundation to use in your search for a healthy church.
Healthy Churches are God-focused, not man-focused
If you have left an unhealthy church, you already know how deified the Man of God can become. Even nominal churches, as they grow, can become a cult of personality. The pastor becomes a star. They are elevated, even glorified. In some churches, the pastors have large, throne-like chairs, special parking spots, escorts, private entrances, security, and even servants.
This is why starting here is vital in finding a healthy church. When you begin to explore churches, look to see who the people cast their eyes upon. Is the pastor the people’s hero, or is Jesus Christ? If the pastor were to depart the leadership of the church, how would the body continue to function? Does the pastor keep himself aloof from the people, or is he simply just another person seeking after Christ?
Think of the pastoral relationship this way: The Pastor points you to Christ, rather than Christ pointing you to a Pastor. A good pastor will agree with this. Their mission statement is to lead you to Christ and then get out of the way. A false shepherd will want your devotion and to be the gatekeeper between you and God. Ezekiel 34 is an excellent read about this relationship and God’s attitude toward it.
Healthy Churches are Outward Facing, Community-Oriented
Another key indicator of a church’s health in the Gospel is whether or not it is fully engaged and supporting the community around it. According to the Scriptures, the mission of the body of Christ is to evangelize the world, making disciples of them, and in so doing, support the world around them. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” And what did both Christ and Paul do?
We never see the Christian body lost in the woods. Nor do we see them keeping a distance from the community around them. When Paul took up offerings, it was for the purpose of feeding those in need. As James spoke about religion and works, he said it this way: “To visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” And while Christ walked the earth, he fed the 5,000, healed the sick, visited the sick, the sinful, and the unwanted.
The Church is to be a light set upon a hill, not a body in a cave. Even early Christian writings, such as the Epistle to Diognetus illustrates this. Written by a 2nd-century man named Mathetes, we learn how the early church lived in a fallen world by sharing their food and faith with those around them while maintaining Godly obedience.
Healthy Churches are Disciple Makers, Not Fan Generators
Another important question to ask when finding a healthy church is, “Are they making disciples of Christ?” This, of course, is the commandment Jesus set forth for his followers, and a passage nearly every Christian can quote, found in Matthew 28:19. “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
But what is a disciple? Is a disciple someone who faithfully attends church? Someone who pays their tithes? Buys all the pastor’s books? Volunteers at the soup kitchen?
In the false religion/church I existed in for 17 years, one of the primary issues that led me to leave was this. At the time of my departure in 2017, the church was celebrating over 30 years in the community. In those years, that church had ordained, sent forth, and commissioned precisely 0 preachers, missionaries, evangelists, or teachers. There were many people there wholly devoted to the pastor, but not one of them had been sent away to fulfill Matthew 28:19.
When finding a healthy church, it is vital to know if they are creating fans, or disciples, men and women who are multiplying the Kingdom. Jesus taught this in the parable of Talents in Matthew 25. The only bad servant is the one who does not multiply his master’s kingdom. A disciple, then, is the one who puts their own ambitions aside and serves their master with all of their capabilities! And their master is always God, not man.
Healthy Churches Seek Theological Facts instead of Feelings
The final point in finding a healthy church is whether or not it is driven by feelings or facts. This one sounds like common sense, so here are a few things to consider. First, when communicating with people in the church, do you hear them saying things such as “I felt the Lord say to me…”, or rather, “When I read Scripture, it spoke to me.”
Secondly, listen for teachings that contradict scripture but are met with agreement from the body. Furthermore, feel out how disagreement is handled within the church. If you were to say, “I don’t necessarily agree with what was taught today,” would it be greeted with interest and study, or would it be shut down by other churchgoers and pastors? Is there discernment in the body, or do they simply agree with the teaching pastor regardless of what he says?
Thirdly, how do parishioners describe the church? If you ask them what they think of the church, you may hear things such as, “I feel God every time I’m here! And my kids love the youth group activities.” Or, “The worship and music are so powerful, you feel goosebumps!” More importantly, you may hear, “The church really studies the Bible in depth, and my family learns so much!” Or, “I really feel convicted by the teaching that there is more I could be doing for God.”
Finding a Healthy Church
In conclusion, finding a healthy church may take some time. As someone leaving an unhealthy church, you may be filled with distrust. You may still be relearning certain theological points from prior teachers. Perhaps the Trinity is difficult to accept for those coming from Modalistic or Unitarian backgrounds. For me, seeing people with drinks and coffee in church was difficult, after having been taught for so long that this was the symptom of fake Christianity.
The best advice to give, among the four topics above, is to focus on the primary positions of faith and let the secondary and tertiary issues take the back seat. When visiting a new church, is the pastor or Christ the hero in their story? Are they serving God by feeding His sheep both spiritually and materially? Are they making disciples who can stand on their own to multiply the kingdom? And are they focused on sound doctrine and not simply scratching the itching ears of humanity?
Finding healthy churches can be daunting, but it is God’s will for your life. There you will mature, and there you will serve. And by God’s grace, it is there you will make disciples and glorify the Kingdom.
If you have additional questions about finding a healthy church for you or your family, contact us, and we’ll respond to you as soon as possible. There are certainly additional factors that may be important to certain individuals. This outline is to highlight key characteristics of a healthy church, and cannot define every theological position churches may or may not take.
