In order for a sick patient to get treatment an individual must admit that he/she is not well. The same principle is true with regards to sick churches. In a previous blog post Dr. Rainer suggested some of the warning signs that often reveal that a ministry is unwell. When a sick church lives in denial over their true spiritual condition they are often only "one stage away from becoming terminal." Many ministries slowly but surely whittle away (numerically, financially, and most importantly spiritually) because they are unwilling to humbly admit that genuine repentance and biblical change are drastically needed. Pride and apathy often make people blind or indifferent to the words of Christ.
Having said that, many ministries that appear to be successful on the outside are often plagued with stage four cancer on the inside. Not everything that glitters is gold. Just because a church is packed each and every Sunday does not necessarily mean they are growing spiritually. Just because a church is the talk of town does not mean it is a model ministry. In fact, many evangelical churches that are a mile wide are often only an inch deep. If you think "bigger always means better and more successful" in the eyes of God than you have not carefully read through the New Testament Scriptures.
Whether your local church is big or small their is no better place to go to receive a full body examination than the Word of God. Psalm 19:10 tell us that the Scriptures are intended to warn and correct us according to the Divine standard. Like a perfect mirror the Holy Scriptures expose our blemishes that we might run to Christ for grace and forgiveness.
Semper Reformanda is the hallmark of every healthy ministry. A healthy New Testament church is always being reformed by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. In future blog posts I want to examine what things King Jesus commends and blesses when writing seven inspired letters to seven local churches. I also want us to consider what the Lord rebukes and condemns as we respectively examine our own ministry kitchens.
