Life-Giving Church, Healthy People

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrew 10:25 (NLT)

I grew up in a wonderful family but I realize that’s not the case for many. When describing family, I often use personal experiences, but one Sunday I apologized because I didn’t want to seem as though I was bragging.

The response I received was interesting. Several people encouraged me to keep sharing stories. One told me “I didn’t grow up in a healthy family. Your stories help me paint a new picture of a healthy family. Please don’t stop!”

Many who have had unhealthy examples so desperately want to create health in their family. They fear that their past will be recreated without a clear revelation of what “healthy” looks like.

Many people have also experienced an unhealthy church—a stuffy organization that was boring, legalistic, judgemental or worse. If you do not intentionally create a healthy family, it won’t happen automatically. It is the same with church—a life-giving, healthy church family doesn’t just happen. It is created by love. It is demonstrated by laughter, forgiveness, and encouragement while working together to do something great for God.

You may have experienced an unhealthy church—but life-giving, healthy churches do exist! They are like a healthy family—a group of people who are there for each other, learning about God together, raising kids together, and helping to impact the lives of people for eternity. And just as healthy families create healthy children, healthy churches create healthy people.