“Healthy, Holy & Whole”
“Sanos, Santos Y Seguros”
8/16/2007 - Marsing, ID, 4/5/2009 – Nampa, ID
Ricardo Rodriguez – pastor_rr@yahoo.com
II Tim 3:14-17
“14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
“14Empero persiste tú en lo que has aprendido y te persuadiste, sabiendo de quién has aprendido; 15Y que desde la niñez has sabido las Sagradas Escrituras, las cuales te pueden hacer sabio para la salud por la fe que es en Cristo Jesús. 16Toda Escritura es inspirada divinamente y útil para enseñar, para redargüir, para corregir, para instituir en justicia, 17Para que el hombre de Dios sea perfecto, enteramente instruído para toda buena obra.”
SALUD: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salud
En la constitución de 1946 de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, la salud es definida como el estado de completo bienestar físico, mental y social, y no solamente la ausencia de afecciones o enfermedades.
[1] También puede definirse como el nivel de eficacia funcional o metabólica de un organismo tanto a nivel micro (celular) como en el macro (social).
En 1992 un investigador agregó a la definición de la OMS: "y en armonía con el medio ambiente", ampliando así el concepto.
..."La salud se mide por el shock que una persona pueda recibir sin comprometer su sistema de vida. Así, el sistema de vida se convierte en criterio de salud. "una persona sana es aquella que puede vivir sus sueños no confesados plenamente"...
Moshé Feldenkrais
..."La salud es principalmente una medida de la capacidad de cada persona de hacer o convertirse en lo que quiere ser."...
René Dubos
La forma física, es la capacidad que tiene el cuerpo para realizar cualquier tipo de ejercicio donde muestra que tiene resistencia, fuerza, agilidad, habilidad, subordinación, coordinación y flexibilidad.
Existe también la salud mental, la cual se caracteriza por el equilibrado estado psíquico de una persona y su autoaceptación (gracias al autoaprendizaje y autoconocimiento); en palabras clínicas, es la ausencia de cualquier tipo de enfermedad mental.
In a day in age where physical, financial, mental and emotional health is preached more and more, (we must be healthy) we the church must continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and maintain a well balanced life to make an impact in our society.
We need a healthy church to preach a healthy Gospel. Preaching the Whole Gospel to the Whole World
Eph 4:12-13
“12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
“12Para perfección de los santos, para la obra del ministerio, para edificación del cuerpo de Cristo; 13Hasta que todos lleguemos á la unidad de la fe y del conocimiento del Hijo de Dios, á un varón perfecto, á la medida de la edad de la plenitud de Cristo.”
Many Churches and Christians grow in numbers and sizes but not on the inside. Size is not the only measure of health.
I Sam 16:7
“…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
“…porque Jehová mira no lo que el hombre mira; pues que el hombre mira lo que está delante de sus ojos, mas Jehová mira el corazón.”
10 CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTHY CHURCHES by Dr. Craig Nelson
III John 1:2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
“Amado, yo deseo que tú seas prosperado en todas cosas, y que tengas salud, así como tu alma está en prosperidad.”
During the last 20 years there has been a tremendous focus on church growth. Unfortunately this has created a tendency to be more analytical than prescriptive, more quantitative than qualitative. Rick Warren writes in “The Purpose-Driven Church”; (Zondervan) "the key issue for churches in the Twenty-first century is church health, not church growth”.
Listed below are the characteristics of a healthy church compiled from nine of the most significant church health studies (See Below) to date.
1. GOD-CENTERED WORSHIP
ADORACION:
shachah shaw-khaw’ a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. (Hebrew)
4352 proskuneo pros-koo-neh’-o from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship. (Greek)
Church should be energized by faith and provide worship experiences that are biblically based, Christ-centered, exalt and glorify God. Be corporate, genuine, inspiring, dynamic, participatory and transforming, indigenous and culturally relevant. Public worship should be done in such a way as to lead people to a living encounter with God. Work to enable awareness of God to shape the lives of church members and the way the church functions. Help church members encounter God in the whole of life – not just in church activities.
Juan 4:23
“23Mas la hora viene, y ahora es, cuando los verdaderos adoradores adorarán al Padre en espíritu y en verdad; porque también el Padre tales adoradores busca que adoren. 24Dios es Espíritu; y los que le adoran, en espíritu y en verdad es necesario que adoren.”
2. GOD-FOCUSED
It’s all about HIM!
Heb 4:6
“Mi pueblo fué talado, porque le faltó sabiduría. Porque tú desechaste la sabiduría, yo te echaré del sacerdocio: y pues que olvidaste la ley de tu Dios, también yo me olvidaré de tus hijos.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
It’s not about your ideas or my ideas its about GOD”S WILL!
Seek to find out God’s priorities and let them shape where you put your energy and attention. Have a clearly defined mission/purpose/vision that is broadly owned and shared by pastor and the members.
Avoid the imposition of ’top down’ vision and ’selling’ a complete package to a passive congregation.
Establish a clear set of priorities. Have a clear sense of direction, seeking to find out what God wants. Don’t attempt to meet every need, but rather seek to discern and focus on God’s agenda. Address the need for change in hope of future gains. Be discerning about risk, growth, change and development. The primary change begins in minds and attitudes rather than just structures.
3. NEEDS-BASED MINISTRIES Matt 14:14-21
Work at transforming your community by meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs of both members and the local community. Cultural connectedness is essential. See people as your greatest assets and encourage participation through a personal invitation rather than a ’general notice’ to some task. Welcome everyone’s contribution and get them involved. Listen to the hopes (and fears) of all members, drawing them into decision making wherever possible. Work to identify their gifts and to support their engagement with the issues of society. Give permission to members initiatives and resist the temptation to squeeze people into existing organizational roles that do not fit their gifts.
4. JOYOUS GENEROSITY Luke 6:38
Face the cost of change and growth. Create and maintain a reasonable budget. Utilize holistic stewardship practices. Make people aware of financial needs. People will always put their money where their passion is. Encourage “ownership” of the various church ministries and programs.
5. EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP - Acts 6:1-8
The leadership must “lead from their knees”.
• Focus on the continuously equipping for mission and ministry and building a community rather than running an organization.
• The proof of a good leader is creating another leader, not more followers.
• Develop servant-leadership by strategically mentoring, teaching and serving the believers.
• A true leader’s measure of success is when they have succeeded in helping others to be successful.
• Leadership should be about identifying, articulating the vision and giving proper co-ordination and direction celebrating, giving expression to, co-coordinating and resourcing the ministry of the whole church.
6. PARTICIPATIVE MEMBERSHIP Rom 12:4-6
• Members of the church should contribute in some way to its life, work and witness.
• They should share in decision-making and consensus building.
• Together they solve problems and deal with conflict.
• It should be more of a collaboration and partnership between leadership and members.
• Focus on people ‘doing the ministry’ – both in the church and in society, not leadership giving answers, vision, direction and exercising control.
• Encourage people to share power, take responsibility and use their gifts.
7. A LOVING, AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY OF FAITH
• Emphasize the development of holistic and relational small groups within the congregation.
• Commit to nurturing loving/caring relationships that are based on trust, acceptance, openness, honesty and respect.
• Celebrate diversity and value people for who they are. Help to propagate "real" rather than "nice" relationships.
• See the church as a community which has organization (not an organization which has communities).
• Help people become participants, not just spectators, of church life and to find their way into the life of the church easily, rather than the people finding the church to be a club or clique.
8. DISCIPLESHIP ORIENTED
• The implicit goal of leadership is not in keeping people happy but helping them be holy.
• Help people to explore the faith, discover God’s love, and keep growing at living out and applying their faith.
• Strategic leadership directs people to get involved in systematic theological growth, personal disciplines, strong Christology, and biblical priorities.
• Continually adapt structures to best serve these purposes and to maximize their effectiveness on the members and surrounding communities.
• Avoid squeezing people into structures, but rather wrap structures around the energies/vision/gifting of its participants.
• Direct them to align their ways of working and relating to express and demonstrate the gospel they proclaim.
9. OUTREACH FOCUSED Matt 9:37-38 (Ants analogy – soldiers)
Army ant colony castes consist of queen ants, soldier ants, and multi-purpose worker ants. In the army ant colony, the queen ant lays eggs, the soldiers focus their attention to the defense of the colony, and the worker ants are split between being foragers or tending to the queens brood. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Animal_Behavior/Army_Ants_-_Social_Hierarchy,_Life_Cycles,_and_Migration
• Strategic outreach focused on needs-oriented evangelism should permeate every ministry of the church.
• Outreach must be incorporated into the values of the church.
• Stay consciously aware of the joys and sorrows of the surrounding communities.
• Work with people for personal and social change and to serve the joys/concern/hopes/struggles of local communities.
• Help people live the faith and share their faith.
• The church mission should be expressed, not just in what the church organizes locally, but also in the quality of the community life of the church and in the daily lives of its members.
• The church Mission and Evangelism belong together and require each other.
• Healthy churches integrate them, rather than focus on just one.
• Encourage and welcome creative new outreach ventures.
• An evangelizing church needs to be continually evangelized itself by the Gospel if it is to be a credible witness.
10. PASSIONATE PRAYER
• Facilitate a dynamic trusting relationship with God by becoming completely dependant on Him through prayer to the point of total surrender to His will.
• Teach that God must be approached in a manner that does not violate His nature or counteract His purposes.
• Encourage people to keep on asking for what they need, seeking what they earnestly desire and to keep on knocking when their desire/need becomes of great importance.
Sources
1. Characteristics of a Healthy Church -- Willow Creek; Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Church Vision -- New England; Characteristics of a Healthy Church -- Sonlife Ministries -- Dann Spader; Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches-- Natural Church -- Christian Schwarz; Twelve Keys to an Effective Church - Kennon L. Callahan; "Is This Body Healthy?" A Church for the 21st Century--Health Signs - Leith Anderson; Marks of Church Health - 21st Century Strategies -- Bill Easum; Vital Signs of Healthy Churches -- The Healthy Church -- C. Peter Wagner; Windows into the 21st Century - Church Leadership Network
Song of Solomon 6:9
“My dove, my undefiled is but one…”
“Mas una es la paloma mía, la perfecta mía…”
