A Church that Heals - pt 2
Thesis: A church that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News and the positive dimensions of life.
Scripture Text:
Philippians 2:1-5: 14, 15: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:… 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Philippians 4: 8, 9: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Introduction:
I picked up a recent book which I received from the AACC Convention called “Caring for People God’s Way.” The book is written by three people Tim Clinton, Archibald Hart and George Ohlschlager. The book is considered a new guide for Christian Counseling and is designed to help Christian Counselors assist people in the healing process as God helps them through the healing process. The book paints a picture of how sick our current society is and the need – the importance of becoming Christians who care for the sick God’s way. They open the book with this thought:
When good King Josiah dies around 609 B.C. Israel was prosperous, strong, and safe in the world. Yet the people of Israel quickly declined both morally and spiritually, and their leaders grew corrupt. The whole nation refused to hear the prophets God sent, including Jeremiah, to call them to repentance and restoration. Amid the ongoing search for the good life, a great terror was about to befall them-the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the forced slavery of the Jews by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. – but they would not turn their hearts. Jeremiah 6:14 captures the essence of that day, “They have healed the brokenness of my people superficially, saying, ‘peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (NASB). Interestlingly, as today’s prosperous generations search for purpose, meaning and value, many are experiencing a pervasive sense of emptiness and isolation. And why shouldn’t they? In a world flooded with distresses like father absence, abuse, violence, marital discord, and emotional problems there is a natural epidemic of escapism through consumerism, drugs, alcohol, sex, and suicide. Earnest Becker accents this thought concluding, “Modern man is drinking or drugging himself to death…or he is shopping which is the same thing.” Living in denial, today’s powerful and pampered generations have become ‘tranquilized by the trivial,’ though they find neither solace nor healing –crying “Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” Dallas Willard concludes, “Obviously, the problem is a spiritual one. And so must be the cure.” We agree. Our pressing concern at the inception of the 21st century is that people are hurting-and searching frantically for hope and new life. If there is ever a time for godly leadership, servanthood and biblical counsel, it is now” (Pages 3, 4).
The authors give hard evidence to back up there opening statement by sharing the following statistics from pages 4-7:
Marital Discord: Studies show 35% of persons who marry get a divorce, and 18% of those divorced are divorced multiple times. It is estimated that the divorce rate among young people is between 40-50% of marriages and those who get married this year will experience this unless there is a wave of healing for marriages.
Fatherlessness: Each night , nearly 40% of children fall asleep in homes where their fathers are not present.
Sexual Abuse and Assault: The present evidence of widespread sexual abuse is daunting. By age 18, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by someone they love or should be able to trust.
Domestic Violence: Violence at the hand of an intimate partner occurs across all populations, irrespective of economic, religious, social, or cultural affiliation-and accounts for 20% of all nonfatal violent crime against women.
Suicide: A suicide occurs approximately every 20 minutes in the United States. According to a 2004 study, over 30,000 U.S residents commit suicide each year, and over 130,000 are hospitalized following a suicide attempt.
Alcoholism: In the year 2000 there were approximately 85,000 deaths in the U.S. attributable to either excessive or hazardous drinking –making alcohol the third leading cause of death.
Substance abuse: The results of a 2003 poll show that 8.2 % of persons 12 and older have used illicit drugs in the last month.
Depression: An estimated 20% of the U.S. population will experience clinical depression at some point in their lifetime…according to recent studies, depression appears to be on the rise-those born after 1950 are 10 times as likely to experience depression as compared to their predecessors. Currently, individuals between ages 25-45 occupy the greatest percentage of depression, though adolescent groups possess the fastest rate of depression growth.
Anxiety: Maladaptive anxiety has become a common plague that affects approximately 19 million U.S. adults or up to 25% of the general population-and is distinct in that it progresses to consume one with overwhelming irrational fear, panic and dread.
Video Illustration:
This video clip is from Transformation in the Marketplace by Harvest Evangelism. This clip documents the revival going on in Elk River where business men and women are praying for people to get saved in their businesses. It paints a picture of the Body of Christ the church being a healing entity in Elk River Minnesota.
T.S. – Here are some Characteristics of a church that heals. The following thought’s are gleamed from Doug Murren’s book, Churches That Heal.
I. The church people must emphasize the good news not the bad news.
a. We must focus on the good going on in the church not the bad.
I. We must build thoughts and words of hope not negative and critical thoughts of all the bad.
1. Philippians 2:1-5: 14, 15: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:… 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
2. Philippians 4: 8, 9: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
i. We need to attain the positive attitude of Jesus and learn to approach things from the positive angle in life.
ii. We need to look at the wounded with the right mindset and heart of Jesus Christ.
II. We should have 2 positives for every negative thought in our lives to keep people encouraged in the healing process.
1. Too many people come to church and all they here is negative critical comments and decide I don’t need this.
a. Would you want to return to a place where all you heard were complaints and criticism?
2. Murren states, “They really don’t care how badly the church budget is doing. And even if they did, we should be sensitive enough to know that that’s not what they need to hear…Do you find yourself taking care of dirty laundry in public services? If so, you are detracting from a more positive healing environment in your congregation” (173).
b. The church people must emphasize affirming good news to one another not gossip and reckless remarks.
I. Proverbs 12:18: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
II. James 1:26: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
1. Quote from leading pastor of a great revival: He said revival will come to the church when the people of God get the revelation of the tongue. He stated, “When people begin to curve their tongue and the curses stop against their church, their ministers, their choir, their leadership, and other peoples families and homes then God will unleash the revival of the revelation of blessings.” But I add not before we receive the revelation of the tongue and repent and change.
2. This verbal force has destroyed more marriages and families than the recent bombings did. It is a deadly force and each of us needs to understand how lethal our tongues can be when they are out of control.
III. I have watched and observed the tongue literally destroy people’s lives.
1. With statements like these:
a. “You are worthless!’
b. “You are stupid!”
c. “Your lack of faith has made you sick!”
d. “Your lack of faith has made you poor!”
e. “You must be perfect or God does not love you!’
f. “You are a loser!”
g. “You cannot do anything right!”
h. “It’s all your fault!”
i. “I wish you were never born!”
j. “I hate you!”
k. “It’s their fault that I am angry!”
l. “Our marriage takes so much work. We must not be right for each other.”
m. “You are the one responsible for all our problems!’
n. “You will never change!”
o. “You should never have been born!”
p. “You don’t need to go to church!’
q. “You don’t have to tithe!”
r. “You don’t have to obey the ten commandments!”
s. “You can’t do anything right!”
i. Proverbs 12:18 “…reckless words pierce like a sword.”
IV. I have heard and read stories of people committing suicide because of the tongues of others.
1. I have watched others use their tongues to lead people away from Jesus and his word. All the time saying ‘I speak for God!”
2. I have observed people misquote Scripture and deceive people and eventually I have seen them lead by others to their destruction.
3. I have watched and observed people misuse the name of the Lord with their evil tongues way to often in the church.
a. All the time breaking one of the 10 Commandments.
b. “Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord thy God in vain!”
V. Don’t underestimate the power of your tongue. It’s usually quick to destroy and slow to build others up. The Bible states that this should not be.
c. Friends we need to take a reality check and check our tongues and evaluate if they are building others up or tearing others down.
d. The truth is when people come to church they want to be affirmed. They want to know what they are doing right and encouraged to keep on doing it.
I. We can deliver the message of Jesus in a positive way without beating people up with the Bible.
1. People want to know that others can see what they are doing right and affirm them for it. We are not to focus on the areas they are doing wrong and then shame them into healing. It does not work that way!
e. We need to learn to communicate what we are “for” not always what we are “against”.
I. The church people must learn to share why they are pro-something.
1. We need to tell people why we are pro-life
2. We need to tell people why we are pro-marriage
3. We need to tell people why we are pro-Bible
4. We need to tell people why we are pro-conservative
5. We need to tell people why we are pro-giving
a. We need to tell others why we are pro something instead of just talking about why we are against something. This approach to the good news will impact and heal more people than the other way.
b. We need to approach things in this life form the positive angle than from the negative angle in life.
II. We must also tell people about how other people got healed and transformed.
1. We need to tell people about our testimony and others testimony’s.
a. Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
i. In today’s culture and society people want to hear true to life stories about others not just word studies or hermeneutics they want real life dramas with miracles endings.
ii. They want reality life stories.
iii. They want to hear that Jesus still heals today and here is proof.
T.S. – To create a church with a healing environment we must emphasize the good news and cut out the bad news which is associated with gossip and divisionary statements.
II. The church must let others know that they can with God’s help make a new start in their dysfunctional lives and recover.
a. People are looking for hope and deliverance from their own flaws and the church needs to show them where that hope and help comes from.
I. His name is Jesus!
1. “It has been said that man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, and about eight minutes without air-but only one second without Hope” Anonymous
2. We need to give people HOPE! When we give them hope we give them an expectancy that things can get better and will get better as Jesus enters their lives.
b. 1 Corinthians 5:17: 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
I. This text hits me when I became a Christian and it told me that I did not have to let the curse which was on my life and in my family life hold me in bondage any more.
II. The Word told me that greater is he that lives in me than He that lives in the world and I could be set free from all the junk that held my ancestors and my current family in bondage.
III. Christ has the power and the ability to take a dead person caught up in bondage and set them free-to give them a new start and new chance at living life the right way.
c. John 3: 1-21: 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
I. Jesus tells us that we can be born again. In others words we can have a new start at this life. To get his new start we need to surrender ourselves to Him and then He will give us a second chance at life.
II. Jesus tells us that if we choose to be Born Again and we choose to follow the Truth then this will lead us into the light and the result will be others will see His light in our lives and say, “Wow look what the Lord has done!”
III. If we make this offer to others we will discover many who will be healed and given a new start in their lives.
a. But we have to care enough to tell others about this great opportunity in this life.
T.S. – People are looking for hope for a chance to do things right and we need to show them that Jesus gives that opportunity. We then need to accept people with flaws and all to show we care.
III. The church must make the wounded and sick feel welcomed and accepted.
a. They must feel the love of acceptance from those who they meet in church.
I. John Ortberg wrote the book, “Everyone is Normal Until You Get To Know Them.”
1. John stated on pages 13, 14:
a. In certain stores you will find a section of merchandise available at greatly reduced prices. The tip-off is a particular tag you will see on all the items in that area. Each tag carries the same words: “as is.” This is a euphemistic way of saying, “These are damaged goods.” Sometimes they’re called slightly irregular. The store is issuing you fair warning: “This is the department of Something’s-Gone-Wrong. You’re going to find a flaw here: a stain that won’t come out; a zipper that won’t zip; a button that won’t butt-there will be a problem. These items are not normal. “We’re not going to tell you where the flaw is. You’ll have to look for it. But we know it’s there. So when you find it-and you will find it-don’t come whining and sniveling to us. Because there is a fundamental rule when dealing with merchandise in this corner of the store: No returns. No refunds. No exchanges. If you have received fair warning. If you want this item, there is only one way to obtain it. You must take it as is” (13, 14).
i. The same is true when working with and associating with other people in life – we all have flaws – irregularities and we come with a tag from God “As-is!”
ii. The reality check is the Bible tells us that everyone has fallen short and everyone has sinned –everyone on this planet has flaws! The truth is no one is perfect but Christ Alone.
iii. Ortberg adds: If you were looking for perfection, you’ve walked down the wrong aisle. We are tempted to live under the illusion that somewhere out there are people who are normal” (Page 14)
1. But the truth is there is no such thing as a perfect person! They don’t exist!
2. But here is our reality check according to John from page 15:
a. He states: Of course, the most painful part of this realizing that I am in the “as –is” department as well. Throughout history human beings have resisted owning up to that little tag. We try to separate the world into normal, healthy people (like us) and difficult people. Sometime ago the title of a magazine article caught my eye: “Totally Normal Women Who Stalk Their Ex-Boyfriends.” The phrase that struck me was “totally normal women.” What would one of these look like (or a totally normal man, for that matter)? And if obsessive stalking of a past lover is not just normal but totally normal, how far would you have to go to be a little strange?
II. The truth is the Bible is filled with less than perfect people and the truth is this normality: The following thoughts are taken from John’s book from pages 15-17:
1. Cain is jealous of able and kills him.
2. Lamech introduces polygamy to the world.
3. Noah the most righteous man of his generation gets dunk and curses his own grandson.
4. Lot offers his own daughters up for sex to protect a group from rapping the angels who have visited him.
5. Lot’s daughters get him drunk and then have sex with their own father and one gets pregnant.
6. Abraham plays favorites with his two sons and they end up hating each other.
7. Isaac plays favorites with his kids and they become bitter enemies.
8. Jacob plays favorites with his kids and the others try to kill Jospeh his favorite one.
9. Abraham has sex with his wife’s servant, impregnates her and then sends her off into the wilderness with his own son by the request of his wife.
10. Isaac and Rebekah fight over which son gets the blessing.
11. Jacob marries two wives and ends up with both maids as his concubines and a battle over fertility between them all.
12. David a man after God’s own heart steals another man’s wife and then has him killed to conceal his getting her pregnant.
a. The reality check is these are not the Walton’s nor is this the town of Mayberry!
i. These people are sick and they need people like Dr. Phil to help them!
ii. But don’t miss one of the main points of the Bible “Everyone is flawed, everyone is imperfect, everyone sins and everyone needs a healing!”
iii. John says it best, “Everybody’s weird” (page 16)!
b. Everyone must feel that they are loved and not rejected as they associate with one another in the church. We are all flawed and in need of healing!
I. They need to know that when they come to New Life people will care about them – flaws and all.
1. Acceptance is what they want not rejection. They receive enough rejection on a daily basis in a loveless world. So they want to come to church and experience the wonderful feeling of acceptance.
a. It becomes imperative when we minister to each other and to people who are less than perfect that we resist the urge to fix them our way!
b. We need to make sure that we try to pretend we are healthier than we really are – we need to be genuine and willing to to face the truth.
2. Matthew 23; 23, 24: 23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
a. The Pharisees did not help the hurting instead they rejected them because of their wounds.
b. Murren states, “Rejection is a common experience in today’s fast moving world, where sexual experience so often replaces love, and the quick fix replaces any attempt to alter one’s lifestyle in a disciplined way. Ours is a world where marriages are easily terminated, kids are shuttled between homes, and employees are laid off after giving the best years of their lives to the company. This compounding of rejection has created a crying thirst for acceptance” (174, 175).
c. Jesus demonstrated to us that we are to accept the hurting into our arms and help bandage their wounds and lead them along the path of healing.
c. We must express transparency to one another and not be phony.
I. When we present ourselves as perfect and flawless then people’s radar perks up and says, “They are liars!”
II. People know that no one is perfect or flawless in this life. We all fall short and have flaws. These flaws may be masked with a lot of makeup or religious talk but they can see the bulging flaw under the disguise.
1. Roman’s tells us that we have all have fallen short and the truth is we must be willing to admit it to ourselves and also be willing to forgive the imperfections of others.
Conclusion:
Murren states, “It’s true: A church that is consciously pursues a healing environment by encouraging optimistic, hope-filled thinking will positively affect the physical health of its members. According to scientific studies, the body’s T cells (the kind that drive the immune system) actually increase when optimistic thinking is applied. In a positive environment, the immune system works better, and overall health is approved” (177).
Let’s recall some of the character traits of a church that brings and creates a healing environment:
1. The church people must be committed to promoting the good news and overlooking the bad news for the sake of healing.
2. The church people must be willing to love the “as-is people” and show them where their hope for new life comes from – Jesus.
3. The church people must be willing to love and be accepting of the flaws of others so that God places his signature on their church.
