Let It Grow: How to Develop a Gospel-Shaped CultureSample

Focus on Health Not Growth

The question pastors most often ask me begins this way, “How do I get people to . . . ?”

Regardless of the rest of the question, the foundational framework is flawed. Our questions should begin with “How do I give . . . ?” or “How do we provide . . . ?”

As we provide biblical care in a healthy culture, God’s sheep grow, multiply, and give back naturally from sincere hearts of love. Jesus works from the inside out. Falling in love with Him overflows in willing lifestyles of love, service, generosity, and worship.

This organic fruitfulness is always more authentic and abundant than any behavior modification could temporarily inspire. The love of Jesus compels love for Jesus, which naturally flows outward from sustainable, renewable motives. The result is life-giving, healthy growth—real growth versus contrived, forced, manufactured, or artificial growth. Because of this, focusing on growth is flawed, but focusing on health is fruitful.

All churches have problems, but healthy churches have fewer. When a body is declining, the stress factors rise exponentially. People are more restless, agitated, unsettled, and unhealthy. In these environments, more families are fragmenting, more marriages are failing, more Christians are quitting, and more people are gossiping or striving against one another.

But the counter is also true. In a grace-saturated, biblical culture, health is nurtured. Wholeness and healing are emphasized. Humility grows. Competition and comparison shrivel up and die. Judgmental postures and personal strivings fade away. Relational reconciliation and unity are valued in the light of gospel reconciliation.

Intentionally cultivating health is preventative and preservative— like vitamins building the immune system. Where hearts follow Jesus more authentically, drama decreases, trauma diminishes, anxiety settles, and God’s church becomes a sanctuary—a safe refuge of green pasture and still waters. We need to examine our shepherding. If people within our influence are not flourishing, that may reflect on the health we are bringing. Healthy souls make a healthy culture.