Two Sides of Church Health

Can a pastor be spiritually healthy but lead a spiritually unhealthy congregation? Yes – but not for long.

Conversely, can a church be spiritually healthy but have an unhealthy pastor at the helm? Yes – but not for long.

Over time, a healthy ministry requires both healthy leadership and healthy followers. It is a two-sided coin.

Healthy Leader + Unhealthy Church:


Often a spiritually healthy pastor is called to a spiritually unhealthy church. Typically it is a congregation with a history of problems. In some cases a previous pastor wounded the church deeply and they are floundering in distrust or discord. Sometimes the church has been stuck in a rut of control games, petty infighting, or battles over “sacred cows.” Usually they have a history of churning through short-term pastors.


However, if they are willing to trust the leadership, respond in repentance and faith to the systematic teaching of God’s Word, get on their knees, and embrace a new outward-focused vision – health can prevail. If not, their petty dissensions will eventually suck the life out of every subsequent pastor. Each one leaves – looking for a better environment to serve and raise his family. Good for him. Sad for the church. Two steps forward, three steps back.


Healthy Church + Unhealthy Leader:


Sometimes a pastor falls into unhealthy patterns while leading a strong congregation. Perhaps he is overworked, physically ill, or encountering unresolved challenges at home. Usually the overlap of physical problems, emotional fatigue, and family conflicts begin to decimate him spiritually.


A healthy congregation will spot these symptoms and insist that action be taken to renew the pastor (or his marriage & family) back to health, no matter the cost. This is a wise and worthy course.


On the other hand, if the leadership team ignores the “elephant in the room” – simply hoping the pastor will get better – the situation is likely to implode. Eventually the pastor’s dysfunction will manifest in staff relationships, the quality of preaching, and the overall focus of the ministry. Well-founded suspicions and fears begin to distract everyone from the primary task. Either the condition of the pastor will eventually infect the culture of the church, or the pastor will leave under difficult circumstances. Everyone loses again.


The Pain of Dual Dysfunction:


Pilots who lose visibility in the cockpit, or fly into severe storms, will experience “spatial disorientation” (vertigo) if they do not trust their objective instrument readings. Many a pilot has lost his life because he trusted his own senses in the midst of inclement and confusing conditions.

Pastors and churches can get into the same dilemma. If a pastor does not trust the things that are objective and true (God’s Word, wise counsel, the assurance of the call, etc.) it is easy to lose perspective and throw in the towel, often too soon. This is fresh on my mind as I am currently finishing the final edits for a new book with Moody Press titled Defying Gravity - How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Ministry. The book examines nine objective gauges that leaders must trust when they are navigating difficult personal circumstances or ministry troubles.
A church that is unhealthy also needs objective input. Sick patients should trust the wisdom and objective tests of a doctor. Ill churches need wise, bold, and godly input from experienced leaders who do not have a “dog in the fight” and can clearly point out the problems and recommend solutions. These counselors could be a denominational representative or a group of wise pastoral consultants from other churches.


The Joy of Mutual Health:


When a godly pastor leads a church for many years and is faithfully maintaining his spiritual, emotional, physical, and family health – it is a strong indicator that the church he shepherds will become strong. Over time, a healthy pastor, leading a responsive church, is privileged to see a ministry that honors Christ and enjoys transformational impact on the community for the Gospel.


A healthy and godly congregation becomes wind beneath his wings. Their love for Christ and one another dominates the congregational culture. They are a people who cherish the Word, pray diligently, and serve with gladness. It doesn’t get any better than this for people who are committed to making an eternal impact during their short earthly journey.


Toward Balanced, Biblical Health:


So, what should a pastor and congregation do about these ideals? First, a pastor should define what “health” looks like for him and his family. He should set priorities that help him maintain those values. He must have the courage to say “no” to the things that distract and damage, not out of egotistical self-preservation, but for the sake of his family, his church, and his Lord’s honor. He must find rhythms that will balance his passion with seasons of rest and renewal.
He should lead his staff and church in such a way that they will cherish the power of God’s Word and love the pursuit of spiritual intimacy with Christ through prayer. He should teach them to have a high view of every “saint” in the church to accomplish official and Spirit-empowered ministry. He must work hard to keep the main thing the main thing as they savor the nobility of the Great Commission.


The congregation should pray for their pastor and church leaders with great consistency and passion. Prayer will not only be a channel of spiritual power and encouragement for the pastors – it will keep the church members’ hearts warm to the will of the Lord and the needs of the leadership.


Of course, they should accept biblical teaching, not simply as the ideas of men but as the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). They should strive to serve, and NOT to be served (Matthew 20:28). They should pray for eyes to see the harvest and express the compassion of Christ at every opportunity as they live among the community and the nations.


With this in mind, I feel deep passion about the mission of Strategic Renewal. We have the joy of strengthening pastors, leading them into “times of refreshing” that come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:20). We equip them to be renewal leaders in their churches. What a joy!
Of course, every month we also have the joy of mobilizing churches to seek renewal and equipping them to pray more effectively. We elevate biblical teaching in all that we do.
In the long run, we want to be a vital part of the two sides of church health. With your partnership, we can. The great need of our nation is for healthy, spiritually-powerful, Gospel-preaching churches. When the light shines brightly through churches across the nation, it will confront and defeat darkness. Christ will be exalted and lives will be changed. That is a vision worth our total commitment.