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 I
had suspected that we were abusing the word “sound” in
reference to churches, preachers and others, but didn’t
realize how much until I heard a member tell of having a cousin
that was not sound and had to be straightened out on the issues.
It was not until later that I learned that “cuz” was ‘a
deacon in the Baptist church!
“Sound”
suffers no injustice when applied to either people or churches,
provided its use is warranted and in keeping with its scriptural
sense. God employed this word "hugiaino" to convey the
distinct idea of general healthiness and wholeness (1 Tim. 1:10;
1 Tim. 6:3; & Titus 1:13, e.g.); therefore we would do well
to use it thusly. As physical health is more than merely having
a few healthy organs, so spiritual health involves a great deal
more than just being straight on whatever the current issues
happen to be. Perhaps if we would speak in terms of spiritual
health instead of soundness” we would not be so apt to be
misunderstood. For instance, I would welcome a “Directory of
Healthy Churches”. Trouble is, who would compile the listings?
Who outside t h e local church could say it was healthy and who
inside the local church would say it wasn’t.
In
the case of the Laodiceans, God has shown us the possibility of
a church being blind to its own condition (Rev. 3). They saw
themselves as being spiritually healthy, having (need of nothing
while God saw them as being on their spiritual deathbed “miserable
and poor and blind and naked.” Being sick is bad; being sick
and not knowing it is worse. Worse, because remedies
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are neither sought nor received by those who
think themselves healthy. If self is to be examined with
reference to being in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5), why not the many
“selfs” who act as one? A little honest introspection will
show us that being healthy before God is more than big
memberships, big buildings, big contributions, having “big”
preachers and taking “big” stands on issues.
Let
us see that a healthy church is one whose members are truly
converted to Christ. Not to the church; not to the family or the
preacher; but to the Lord! Everything depends on our attitude
toward Him! To love Him is to keep His commandments (John
14:15); to serve Him is to serve others (Mt. 25). He must be the
leaven of our lives; we must continually strive to conform to
His image and be careful not to repeat the mistake of the
Ephesian church by leaving our first love (Rev. 2:4).
Let
us further see that healthy doctrine is the lifeblood of healthy
churches. All members must know and love Bible truth. They don’t
resent it being preached plainly and forcefully, they love it (1
Thss. 2:10); they desire it (1 Pet. 2:2) because they hunger and
thirst after righteousness (Matt. 5:6).. But they not only love
truth, they love each other as taught by Jesus in that truth
(Jn. 15:12). When Christians are cemented together in a local
work by love for the Lord, love for His truth, and love for each
other, there will be a striving together to do and be all that
God wants — and there will be a healthy church!
Dan S. Shipley
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