What is a Culture of Healthy & Uplifting Correction?

There are four ingredients necessary to develop and maintain a vibrant and transformational church community… I have previously posted that the first ingredient is TRUE JOY, the second is HESED LOVE, the third is GROUP IDENTITY, and the fourth is HEALTHY/UPLIFTING CORRECTION.

This can be a difficult one… few people are naturally comfortable and gifted at challenging and correcting others who perhaps aren’t biologically related aka children. We may feel like we aren’t called to judge others (correct!), nor are we able to speak into other’s lives (incorrect!). You may think: “You don’t know me… you don’t know my life!” Well… that thought may be absolutely correct. So how do we change that? For we are our brother’s keeper… our sister’s keeper. Let’s make sure we don’t take the posture of Cain (the banished son of Adam and Eve). His example may not be the best to emulate.

So how do we cultivate a community where HEALTHY and UPLIFTING CHALLENGE and CORRECTION can be not just a necessity, but a welcomed ingredient?

The first three ingredients need to be present… when there is JOY, it’s easier to receive and give correction. When relationships are marked by LOVING, KIND, and SECURE ATTACHMENTS, it’s easier to receive and give correction. When we have an established GROUP IDENTITY characterized by the character of Jesus (think Fruit of the Spirit), it’s easier to receive and give correction.

Fear is what we need to eradicate. For there is NO FEAR in LOVE. If you desire to cultivate this type of community via small groups, MicroChurch, missional communities, ministries, I encourage you to pick up the book “The Other Half of Church” and read it with your group.