At Blessing Point Ministries, we work to heal unhealthy churches. Based on our experience with churches, a friend asked me what to look for when shopping for a healthy church. The challenge with my friend’s question is that most corporate ill health operates behind the scenes, hidden from the eyes of visitors on Sunday morning. But there are signs of health you can discern in a couple of visits. Here are six of them:
- Is the worship service joyful and focused on Christ?
It is easy to get enamored with the style of worship and overlook the spirit of worship. It might be the fog machines and tattooed worship team that initially grabs you. Or it could be the robed preacher behind an imposing pulpit backed by a fifty-member choir that impresses you. Perhaps simple worship in a house church is your thing or a country church where they sing from well-worn hymnals appeals to you. Whichever the case, look beyond the style of worship to what is at its heart. It is a healthy sign if the worship exudes joy (Ro. 14:17; 15:13).
- What kind of reputation does the church have in the community?
If you are standing in the checkout line at Walmart and strike up a friendly conversation with the person next to you about the church you visited last Sunday and they respond with an arched eyebrow and an “Oh, you visited that church?”, you just gained a valuable (though negative) insight into the church’s reputation. If, on the other hand, they respond with “Oh, we love that church! We have heard nothing but good things about them!”, you receive confirmation that the church is healthy (Acts 2:46-47).
- How long has the pastor(s) been at the church?
A key sign of health, easily discovered, is how long the pastor has been at the church. If you discover that the pastor enjoys a long, happy tenure, it means the church has worked through its challenges along the way and come out the healthier for it. But if a church has a pastoral “revolving door,” with none of them staying too long (less than 5 years), think twice about how healthy things may appear. They probably aren’t (1 Tim. 5:17-18; Heb. 13:7).
- Does the church have a loving spirit?
If you are died in the wool Baptist, or Reformed, or Methodist, etc., you will likely not join a church outside your denomination. However, if you are open to visiting a church whose doctrinal beliefs or practices differs from your “comfort zone”, drawn perhaps by a loving spirit and/or good teaching, do not rule them out. A loving spirit is a sign of a healthy church and Jesus’ theological umbrella is a lot larger than our own (Ro. 12:10-13; Jn. 13:34-35).
- Is this a church you can commit to for the long haul?
Most of us look for a church home that meets our needs. Single folk look for a church with other single folk. Young marrieds seek other young marrieds for potential friendships. Parents want a youth ministry that enhances the spiritual development of their kids. But beyond your immediate needs, is the church you are considering one you can commit to for the long haul? A church needs stable, committed people to be healthy. Be willing to commit to the ministry and start to serve there. Such a long-term approach facilitates healthy relationship building and this in turn contributes to the health of the body as a whole (Heb. 10:25).
- What do you sense God saying when you pray about which church to attend?
You should be listening to God when searching for a church, for it is not just about what the church will mean to you, but what your gifts and resources will mean to them. When you settle on a church home, you quickly become part of its “body”, the spiritual entity which together reflects Christ’s presence in the community.
In some cases, a church’s worship style may not be your preferred choice. The congregation may need to repair its reputation in the community. The church’s doctrine may not be an exact match for you. And you may discover that the church is not as healthy as you initially thought it was, but don’t despair. God may need your gifts and insights to help it become healthy. No church is perfect, so the best thing is knowing that the church you select is the one that God has in mind for you. Praying about and receiving confirmation of His leading trumps our efforts to determine how healthy a church may really be (Prov. 3:5-6).
Rev. Mark Barnard serves as president of Blessing Point Ministries which works to heal churches that have been wounded by painful crises. Mark is the author of Diagnosing the Heart of Your Church: How Church Leaders Can Assess Systemic Corporate Dysfunction.
