Why are churches impotent? After attending church for decades many dedicated members are not much better off than their neighbors who have read the Sunday papers while we went to church. Is it possible for the local congregation to actually promote growth and change in the lives of its members?
The answer is a resounding "YES!" but it has to operate with specific, planned interactions. The early Apostolic churches did it. They led people to Christ and took them out of their despair and trauma into health and power. How did it happen?
I have some knowledge about what is necessary to build a healing-growth community. It comes from my research into intentional therapeutic communities. Psychiatrists and psychologists discovered some powerful ways to heal and educate emotionally broken and traumatized patients. I actually implemented these ideas in several churches and in a psychiatric hospital. We saw them work well. God showed up and the combination of prayer and love and truth set many folks free.
First, people are broken through dysfunctional relationships. Through healthy relationships they can be restored. Although some mental and emotional dysfunctions have strong biological components, their healing and change must always include the positive support of other humans. In other words, medicine alone is rarely if ever enough.
Second, we know the kinds of relational interactions that bring positive changes and the kind that bring more dysfunction. It follows that ordinary people as well as counselors can learn these skills and apply them to build up others. When a group learns and applies these positive skills the up building effect is powerful.
Today this is called, "The Psycho educative Model of Emotional Growth and Healing" but historically Christians called it "The care and cure of souls".
Third, these positive skills are"The fruit of the Holy Spirit". St Paul notes that the main sources of healthy change are faith, hope and love but the greatest is love." (I CO:13:13) Since each and every Christian has the Holy Spirit with him and in him (John 14:17) it is an rather easy for us to learn how to release the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22ff)
Ergo: "When every member of the community releases the fruit of the Holy Spirit the healing flow of Jesus will be evident."
The world is hurtling out of control and people are falling into depression, anxiety and dysfunction by the millions. However, a healthy church community brings hope and healing and salvation. Now is the time to learn how to be change agents.
Next we shall look at the ways to develop a community that cares and cure souls. Ponder these items and let me know what you think.
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