A Spiritual System
 
The church is the body of Christ. As a spiritual system made up of Christ’s disciples, the church consists of several interrelated subsystems (See I Cor. 12-14 and Ephesians). For our purposes, they are analogous to the major subsystems of human anatomy. Within the circulatory subsystem, Christ calls each disciple to continue growing and mentoring of one another in holy wholeness. Inside the nervous system, Jesus calls pastor’s to equip others for ministry and laity to be equipped for ministry through first encouraging a healthy leadership team. Amidst the muscles, skin and internal organs, the Holy Spirit calls us to forming group harmony through loving relationships full of both grace and truth. Congregational spirituality, like our human skin both connects us up with our head Jesus Christ and to holds the whole body together. The ascended Jesus gave equipping gifts of ministry to the church to prepare every Christian for service to a hurting world. I call this the body in action.

In the months ahead, I will continue sharing biblical and practical insights concerning some aspect of the church as a spiritual system in Christ.

Character Counts

For example, the Apostle Paul included various admonitions about Timothy’s own well-being as a leader of the Ephesian Church (1 Tim. 4:12-16; 6:11-16, 20; and 2 Tim. 1:6; 2:3-7, 22-26; 3:14-15; 4:2, 5). Also, the pastoral epistles express great concern for those selected to church leadership in light of our personal character, relationships at home, reputation outside of the church, and the spouse’s character. His concern for integrity, character and relationships is expressed to everyone in the congregations Paul wrote to as well. Such biblical concern for the individual living their Christian life by God’s grace in every arena of life addresses the circulatory system of the local church.

The Priority of Personal Wholeness in Jesus

Christian ministry rotates on the axis of personal wholeness for both clergy and laity. This calls for us to grow first in our own personal well being as persons, spouses, and families. We can gain much by asking God to show us what needs to change in us first?

Number One Priority-God

Our first priority calls us to keep maturing in our intimacy with God through a growing devotional life. Another part of a growing spiritual life also includes faithful physical exercise, sound nutrition, adequate sleep, and intellectual development. This priority helps keep us and our families focused on the Lord of the Church instead of on problems or popularity.

Second Priority-Spouse & Family 

Our second priority includes growing more intimate with our spouses and families. A healthy marriage is a priceless asset to all Christians, but particularly to both clergy and local church leaders. Some husbands and wives find it helpful to take a break from everything including children by getting away on a regular basis. It is wise to plan times with your spouse when your own emotional tank is not on empty. Congregations who see the clergy and lay leadership loving their spouses feel more secure or less anxious than those who don’t.

Third Priority-Friends

Our third priority includes growing more intimate with our friends. Some clergy and laity are so busy working for the Lord they not only forget the Lord of the work, and neglect their families, they also lack a balanced social life. Having at least one Pauline-type friend who challenges our growth, some Barnabus type friends who encourage us, and several Timothy-type relationships with people who need our encouragement and mentoring forms a healthy dynamic. We dare not neglect our humanness as persons. If we do we will reduce our lasting effectiveness.

Quotes to Ponder

Dr. Dale Galloway shared the following in his lecture on "An Action Plan for Sharing Ministry together with lay people" at Asbury Theological Seminary.

“Hurts in the ministry call for tougher skin. People are really not doing this to us, but they are taking their own stuff all out on us. We have to see beyond this and pay attention to our own inner spirit and such times. You can't afford self-pity in the ministry. Like a cut that needs to be kept clean from infection to heal, our emotional hurts and ministry must be kept clean to heal. As long as you blame others or have resentment, ill feelings, self-pity, you will not be healed. Take responsibility for your attitudes and actions. Stop rehearsing the hurt -- face it and let go of it. Everyone with a very deep level of ministry to people has gone through much pain.

Overcome negative happenings in ministry by taking positive actions. No emotional health or relationship can exist without forgiveness. Dealing with hurts in ministry will either break you or make you.

Do not write or call people when you are upset with them or when your emotional tank is low.

What renews your emotional tank? When your emotions are down, you are more susceptible to temptations. People get into trouble when their adrenaline is down. Stop looking for ways to get an emotional fix.”

Need for Balance

Overall, pastors, church leaders, church members and our families can harness the fire of the Holy Spirit in our ministry by seeking balance in our life, relationships and ministry. Furthermore, personal, family, and social wholeness definitely influence the impact of other aspects of our life and ministry together within the church as well.


In Christ,

John M. Crowe
Goldsboro District Newsletter Editor

 The contents are protected by copyright.

The content of this article comes from by my dissertation: “PREACHING FOR A WHOLE PERSON RESPONSE IN DEVELOPING A HEALTHY CHURCH.” Diss. Asbury Theological Seminary, 2001. The contents are protected by copyright.

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