Characteristics of a Healthy Church

[Sarah]

There are many things that can mark an unhealthy church but here are a few that I have seen over the last couple of years. When churches become focused on control in governance rather than governance supporting and guiding the greater church. Additionally, when a church has more spectators and specialists rather than releasing the congregation to walk out the call. I also think we have missed the mark when we are only internally focused and do not have any outreach focus in our communities or in the local and global missions field. Additionally, when churches substitute a focus on the spirit and close relationship with Jesus for a more relational based grace only gospel that calls people to comfortability rather than a real response in their faith. These are some of the issues I have seen in unhealthy churches and I think all of us need to be careful to check our own hearts and churches as it is so easy to fall into these traps.

[Taliya]

I would imagine people would be attracted to healthy churches – non-believers and belivers alike. You want to be in a church community that knows the scriptures and loves God and allows for the Holy Spirit to move. You want to be apart of a church community that leads and disciples well, allowing for you to see much personal spiritual growth. You wan tot be apart of a church community that commissions you to go and see the kingdom come.

I think an unhealthy church would – at its root – be overly religious. An unhealthy church would probably not be seeing much growth. It would most likely be a restrictive church, lacking grace, and strictly following their own structure for the church that may be opposite to what God is calling them to be following.

[Chris]

If a church isn’t healthy, it won’t grow – or if it does grow, it won’t grow in the way it is meant to.

Marks of an unhealthy church would include people warming seats, but not being discipled or discipling others, no real impact on the community, no intentional commitment to prayer and no clear purpose or mission.

[Deleted User]

It is important for churches to be healthy in order to continue on with the mission the Jesus gave us to make disciples of all nations. Unhealthy churches are marked by declining numbers, little to no interaction with the community, lack of commitment to prayer, no real direction or purpose.