The Source of Church Health.. Rick Warren

Rick Warren himself set the standard of what the "health" of a "church" is.... and in 2006 he awarded,  churches with his "Church Health" Awards,.something he simply made up to stroke egos and reward those who adopted his programs and way of thinking about "church."

"A highlight of the conference will be the 2006 Church Health Award Winners. These annual awards acknowledge churches that have made great strides in church health and balance through introducing and deepening the Purpose Driven principles in their congregation."           ~Purposedriven.com  

2006 Conference Overview

http://web.archive.org/web/20060318014352/http://purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/PurposeDrivenChurch/PDC_Overview.htm

Apparently, to be "above average" (or to get a high grade in being a church) you have to have at least 90 members.  (Funny, Jesus said, 2 or more was good enough for him; He would be there.... and Jesus is more than "above average."

"Do you realize that if your weekend attendance totals about 90 people, you’re an above average church (at least in the United States and when measuring by such numbers)?"

~Rick Warren, Eight Steps to Grow Your Church, 

pastors.com and ministrytodaymagcom

You do not want your church to be one of those "dying"  "unhealthy" churches do you?  Apparently the only cure for a dying church, according to Rick, is his teachings on how to have a healthy church.  This is nothing but manipulation to get you on board his ideas as he would have people leave behind the scriptural notion that nothing can stop God, not even a small., less than 90 person congregation.  After all, not even the gates of hell can destroy the church.

"Since the church is a living organism, it’s natural for it to grow if it’s healthy. The church is a Body, not a business – an organism, not an organization. It’s alive. If a church is not growing, it is dying.

http://pastors.com/health-not-growth/

Rick has harsh words for churches that do not join him in his thinking. He paints them as unloving toward "the lost" and self-interested.  Meanwhile, instead of talking about Jesus as our example, or talking about how Jesus showed his love, Rick uses the example of what he has accomplished....

and then he casts doubt on those who hold fast to the gospel that he just ignored.

"The most overlooked principle for church growth is we have to love people the way Jesus did. That's it! The motive behind everything we've done at Saddleback is that we love and care about lost people. The reason Jesus attracted such large crowds is because He loved people. On the other hand, I've heard churches justify their lack of growth by saying, Were small because we haven't watered down the gospel. But maybe the real reason they don't have a crowd is because they don't want a crowd! They love their own comfort more than they love lost people." ~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Rick says, growing a church is difficult.  

"But growing a healthy church is not that easy or simple. It involves many different factors and requires certain leadership skills. Anytime you hear a person say, This it the one way to growth, you can be sure they're wrong because there are many keys to growth."  ~Rick Warren

Who is in charge of managing a church?  You.  (Note, not God.)

Also, growing a "healthy church" will require leadership skills and other important information of all kinds that you can only get from someone who knows all the key issues, who knows what it takes...and what it will take in the future... .....Rick.

That's why I'm convinced that the key issue for our congregations in the 21st century is church health - not church growth. Focusing on church growth is the wrong focus. If we'll focus on developing healthy churches, they will grow automatically."~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Rick, tell us, please, How on earth do you get one of them-thar "healthy" churches?

"You must set up a purpose driven structure that allows the church to become more than just an extension of its pastor. Every church is driven by something: tradition, programs, finances, events, seekers, and even buildings. But to be healthy, it must become purpose driven." ~Rick Warren

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Yes, it must become "Purpose Driven" to be "healthy"....but if it's not Purpose Driven, just like Saddleback, then what?

Walker: 

In other words, you're not interested in Saddleback clones.

Warren: 

Absolutely not! Not one of the dozens of mission churches we've planted is doing it exactly like us. We believe every church must have its own unique thumbprint. That's what The Purpose Driven Church is all about.

Becoming a Purpose Driven Church, Part One By Rick Warren, CBN.com,

originally posted at Rick's Toolbox for Pastors, Pastors.com

Now here's a parting thought to consider....

Who's hand, who's "unique thumbprint"... (really,) do you want to have as an identifying mark upon your church?  Your's....or the one on the right hand of God?

It is better to be:

" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

 despising the shame, and is set down

 at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:2 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 

and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, neither 

shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

John 10:27