What Would Constitute a Bible-Centered and Spiritually Balanced Chruch?

 

What Would Constitute a Bible-Centered and Spiritually Balanced Church?

 (1), Minister to the Church (the Body of Christ) by providing a spiritually healthy environment; an environment for emotional, mental, and psychological (soul) growth and health. (This could be looked at as Church-Family life. The relational rhythms of a healthy, interconnected spiritual family).

(2). Provide for the education and edification of the saints – the disciples of Jesus – by instructing them to follow all that Jesus taught and demonstrated.

(3). Having commissioned them demonstrably, purposely and deliberately send the disciples of Jesus out to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel in word, deed and behavior.

Each of these steps, collectively, should deliberately define and describe and direct the Church and the life and mission of every Christian.

Furthermore, when done properly and thoroughly, this will take the focus off the individual and off the “501-c-3 church” (the organizational and corporate entity) and put the focus squarely on God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as One. (I.e., there will be no emphatic priority on spiritual gifts above service to God and His Mission, Calling and Service.)

The church should faithfully teach the Word of God, exalt Jesus Christ, depend upon the Holy Spirit, make disciples, pursue holiness, love people, and faithfully proclaim the gospel.

A Simple Biblical Picture: I would summarize a Bible-centered, spiritually balanced church this way:

Area                                      Biblical balance

Authority                            Scripture

Center                                  Jesus Christ

Power                                   Holy Spirit

Message                              Gospel with the whole counsel of God

Worship                               Spirit and truth

Salvation                             Grace through faith

Christian life                     Faith and obedience

Spiritual gifts                    Encouraged, tested, and orderly

Relationships                    Truth and love

Leadership                         Biblical character and sound doctrine

Mission                                Evangelism and discipleship

Goal                                       Christlike maturity

Measure of success        Faithfulness and transformed lives

Caution:

Truth without spiritual life can produce a church that is doctrinally correct but spiritually cold (Revelation 2:1–5).

Spiritual enthusiasm without truth can produce a church that is emotionally alive but doctrinally unstable (1 Corinthians 14:26–33; Ephesians 4:14–15).

The Ideal:

The Word and Spirit together, centered on Christ and expressed through love and obedience.

Now Let’s Reason:

There is a saying taken from Proverbs 23:7, “As a man (or woman) thinks within himself (or herself), so is he (or she)”.

If you focus on your comfort and your well-being, satisfying your wants needs and desires, that will be reflected in your attitude, behavior and actions; in other words “you come first – ahead of everything and everyone else”.

Conversely, if you focus on the well-being of others, accommodating or assisting their wants, needs and desires, without denigrating yourself, that too will be reflected in your attitude, behavior and actions; in other words “putting others first” then you will have fulfilled the Biblical command “to serve and not to be served” and will reap the promise that “those who are last, will be first”. This means that God’s kingdom reverses many of our human ideas about who is important, deserving, successful, and worthy of honor—because God exalts the humble, rewards faithful service, and gives His kingdom according to His grace rather than human status or achievement.

And there’s an especially interesting connection here to Matthew 20:16 because Jesus’ statement is directly connected to salvation, discipleship, sacrifice, and the rewards of following Him. That connection is worth examining carefully because it helps explain why Jesus says immediately after Peter asks, “We have left everything and have followed You.What then will we have?” Jesus’ response is, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life”. (Mark 10:26-31).

This is monumental!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Can you just imagine what life would be like if we, Christians, would stop being so self-centered and argumentative, self-righteous, opinionated, arrogant and entitled and gave up a little so others could see Jesus. I can only imagine – but I am willing to try. How about you?