The arrival of autumn brings the "birthday season" to our home. When our son and daughter were young children, they loved their annual parties and presents; they were not as equally fond of their yearly medical checkups! However, the examinations were vital to keeping our children healthy. The annual measurement of growth in height, weight, and developmental skills was particularly important. We knew that, if our kids were healthy, growth would occur naturally. If a lack of growth was detected, their doctor would work to locate unhealthy obstacles to their development and would seek to address them immediately.
Rick Warren, author of the best-seller The Purpose-Driven Life, wrote an earlier book entitled The Purpose-Driven Church. In that book, Warren writes that many congregations spend their time asking, "What will make our church grow?" However, he sees the key question to be raised by church leaders as, "What is keeping our church from growing?" After all, the church is "the body of Christ," a living organism, intended to grow "as God causes it to grow" (Colossians 2.19 NIV). Therefore, the challenge facing congregations is the need to focus on being healthy spiritually in order to grow naturally.
There is good news here for us as we navigate the difficult challenges of 21st-century American culture. God WANTS us to grow! All we have to do is "stay in shape" spiritually by removing unhealthy attitudes, habits, and lifestyles and by exercising the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, Christian fellowship, and sacrificial outreaching love in and through Jesus. The benefits of staying healthy will be enormous...naturally!
Comments