RAISING A HEALTHY CHURCH: Health Christians, Healthy Churches

One of major dysfunctions of modern churches is the low quality of pastors being produced. Gone are the days of spiritually healthy, red-hot, dynamic, fire- splitting and holy ghost filled pastors that truly shepherd believers to great discipleship. Rather, what we have largely today are spiritually anemic and professional pastors who fleece rather than feed the sheep, set bad examples and are ineffective in leading the church forward in any way.

However, it must be clearly stated that healthy churches answer to healthy pastors. Churches rise and fall based on their pastors, and until we return to this inerasable truth, our churches will continue to flounder (Jeremiah 3:15).

A. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION – Acts 20: 28; 1Peter 5: 1-4; Ephesians 4: 11.

Pastor is one of the five- fold ministry gifts that functions as shepherd, nurture, minister and discipler of God’s people, relates with them and feeds them in aa balanced way for God.

Jesus the chief shepherd leads through the shepherd – pastor
The pastor must lead from the front by precept and practice
Jesus leads his church by one man that is supported by others
Pastors must be truly called to sheepherding ministry and church.
The spiritual, personal, mental, emotional, social, ministerial and family health of pastors will affect their churches.
No church can rise higher than the life of her pastors

The gift, name, title, office and functions of a pastor have been largely bastardized today. It has been thrown under the foot of men and it is being recklessly trampled upon. Yet, it is the gift and calling that will make or mar many local bodies of believers.

B. THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF PASTORS – 1 Timothy 3: 1-5.

Healthy churches demand that her pastors must be ablaze for God, heart on fire and holy vessels in his hand. They are not perfect, but must be in sound health in these areas:

Spiritual – alive to God, growing in the lord and spirit controlled
Emotional health – free from emotional reactions – anger, wrath and carnality
Mental health – filled with knowledge, wisdom of God and current
Social health – relates well and get along with all kinds of people
Communication health – speaks well, clearly, concisely and wisely
Ministerial health – minster with simplicity, power and turn-around grace
Family health – have a model family that fears God
Financial health – not greedy, covetous or with receiving mentality only.

C. TYPES OF UNHEALTHY PASTORS

Lots of churches are unhealthy because her pastors are unhealthy. Whatever condition the pastor finds himself will almost affect his church. The sin of the pastor will become the sins of the people.

Secret sin pastor – living in secret sin, disobedience and evil
Greener pasture pastor – always looking for where the grass is greener
Anger prune pastor – easily annoyed, angry and offensive
Do everything yourself pastor – pastor owns the work and trusts nobody
The insubordinate pastor – disloyal and unfaithful to authority
The money loving pastor – gambling, gimmicks in offering and misappropriation of church money.
The unhappy pastor – lack of joy in the lord and in the ministry
Hobby- horse pastor – directs church according to his fanciful hobby – one sided.
No boundary pastor – talks to, touches, kisses and handle opposite sex anyhow.
Maintenance pastor – satisfied with the status quo, no addition
Witchcraft pastors – using other spirit, means and powers than the scripture, prayers.
Stagnant pastor – non- growing, stale and tasteless.

These are not figment of my imaginations, but truthful pictures of pastors I have come across in our institute, conferences and seminars, across the board.

D. QUALITIES OF HEALTHY PASTORS FOR HEALTHY CHURCHES. I Timothy 3: 1-5.

For our churches to be healthy, every pastor must imbibe, possess and demonstrate these qualities in their lives:

Called by the lord into shepherding ministry
Maintain close relationship with the chief shepherd
Receives regularly from the bishop and shepherd of our soul
Lead by the anointing of the holy spirit
A good and godly model of Christ’s disciples
A green and growing minster of the gospel
A skillful and wonderful leader of men
A sound preacher of truth in a wise way
A credible problem solver with a large heart
A matured and competent family person
An investor of time and resources in others
An enabler and broker of gifts, graces and ministries
A prayer warrior and an intercessor for God

When pastors begin to demonstrate these qualities in their lives to great degrees, then health and dynamism will come back to our churches

Prayer Points:

Every spiritual attack against my spiritual life, backfire.
Heal me o lord and I shall be healed, in Jesus’ name.
Hand of divine healing come upon my life, in Jesus’ name.