WebMD and Churches

3 Questions to Diagnose Congregational Pain . . .

I’ve learned my lesson. Never go on a website like WebMD late at night! I should have known better and gone to the doctor sooner. Instead I tried to tough it out because first off, I am a guy and second I wanted to avoid the expense of a doctor. So I went online to “doctor myself” and figure out my symptoms. By the time I was done self-diagnosing, I decided I either had a sinus infection or I was about to die of a heart attack!

I wasn’t sure—was the infection only in my sinuses or was a bigger “body problem” in play, one that had “Mortal Danger” written all over it? My anxious, hypochondriac-self feared impending doom and got to the doctor a.s.a.p. While there, I was diagnosed as having a sinus infection and given a prescription for antibiotics. What a relief!

Diagnosing a church’s painful symptoms can be just as tricky for a pastor or church leaders. When a church is beset by ministry frustration and pain, church leaders often try to manage their symptoms by changing pastors, or adjusting programs or constitutions, or shifting policies in their bylaws.

These kinds of pragmatic “leadership” solutions only work if pain is “new,” is localized in one part of the body, and does not have a history behind it, much like our human bodies. However, in the church world, it is rarely the spiritual equivalent of a simple sinus infection that sickens a ministry.

When a church is carrying a lot of pain, more often the issues have been in play for years, things like poor communication, rebellious attitudes, or broken trust in leaders. Such illnesses spread through church bodies, and we at Blessing Point call them systemic illnesses. They are in the bodily system of the church, and changing bylaws or pastors will not heal them.

When churches bear healthy fruit, it is because they are properly linked to the Vine which supports them, and He pours His life into them. The body system He created us to be, linking us together in His Church, operates as He intended.

One thing modern church leaders fail to understand is how directly involved Jesus is in what happens in His churches, in what He permits and what He prevents. Nothing—absolutely nothing—touches His churches without His permission.

So, how do leaders know if their church faces the equivalent of a sinus infection or if there are deeper and more profound internal problems (which Jesus is permitting) that keep a ministry locked in an unhealthy state? Here are three diagnostic questions to consider:

• Are your church’s problems chronic? Systemic illnesses resist superficial treatment and the symptoms will reappear, even after you thought you addressed them.
• Do your church’s symptoms appear to be increasing in intensity? This would suggest that you have failed to address the true source of your church’s pain. The Lord is using the pain to get your attention and wants you to listen to His diagnosis.
• Does your church experience ministry frustration regardless of how much time and treasure you pour into the ministry? If this is the case, you must begin to ask the Lord to reveal the true nature of your church’s problems.

If your answers to these questions are in the affirmative, don’t waste your time trying to solve your church’s problems by changing pastors, shifting policies, or coming up with new programs. Address the systemic health of your church and discover the Lord’s diagnosis and prescription.  Then you will see ministry frustration and pain begin to recede.

To further investigate the health of your church visit our free online assessment at churchscaninventory.com.

Rev. Mark Barnard serves as President of Blessing Point Ministries.  Blessing Point works to heal congregations that have been negatively impacted by internal crises.  Barnard is the author of several books and coauthor of The Eighth Letter – Jesus Still Speaks!

PRAYER NOTE: Happy New Year!  If led to remember us in prayer, please pray that the Lord would make this a banner year for healing churches and restoring the radiance of Christ’s Bride.  Thank you so much!