What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever

This reflection paper is based on Mark Dever’s What Is a Healthy Church? Mark Dever’s book is divided into three parts: Part 1 defines what a church is and why health matters. Part 2 outlines three essential marks of a healthy church. Part 3 presents six important marks that support and strengthen church health. The book has challenged and encouraged me both personally and pastorally. As an aspiring pastor of a healthy church, I found Dever’s book to be both biblically sound and deeply practical. Each chapter helped me evaluate my past ministry and gave me a clearer vision for building a church that reflects God’s character and glory. This paper highlights a few key lessons that stood out to me and how they apply to my future ministry.

There are many Christians who claim to be believers but are not committed to any local church. I have encountered many of them in my pastoral ministry. Some even have their names in our church membership book, but never attend services or take part in any church activities. As a pastor, I have had to visit and admonish them. My favorite passage for such occasions is 1 Corinthians 12, which speaks about the body of Christ and its many parts. Reading Mark Dever’s What is a Healthy Church? has given me another helpful perspective on why commitment to a local church matters, and I find it very convincing. I especially love the illustration he uses of an orphan being adopted to make his point. He explains that a Christian is not only reconciled to God but also to God’s people. After the fall, human relationships were broken; Cain's killing of Abel shows how rebellion against God leads to division among people. He adds in Ephesians 2, Paul shows that Christ brings peace and breaks down the barriers that divide us, making all believers one body. Just like an orphan adopted into a new family does not choose the family; rather, the family chooses them—so it is with us. If adopted by the Smiths, you attend their dinners, share rooms, and carry their name. In the same way, through Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and called Christians, children of God, and siblings to one another.

When my reading reached the chapter The Ultimate How-To Guide: How to Display God’s Character, I was struck by how clearly Mark Dever points out that Scripture consistently emphasizes listening to and obeying God's Word. This speaks to my personal life as well, because sometimes, in the name of seeking advice, which is good, I tend to lean more on my parents’ and elders’ suggestions than on listening to God’s Word. As an aspiring pastor of a healthy church, I should dedicate my life, energy, strength, and resources to helping myself and God’s people listen to and obey His Word above all else. Only by doing this can a church truly display God’s character and glory. Mark Dever writes that by listening to and obeying God’s Word, the church reflects God’s character and glory just like a faithful son following his father’s instructions or an ambassador representing a king. He uses the image of a son who receives letters from his father on how to uphold the family name and business; if the son ignores the letters, he cannot truly represent his father. Likewise, a church that ignores God’s Word fails to represent Him. He adds that from Adam to Moses, Noah to Paul, and Athanasius to Luther, history divides people into two groups: those who listen to God’s Word and those who do not. Therefore, this is a timely reminder that the church I am starting should aim solely to image and display God’s character and glory.

Mark Dever wonderfully presents the marks of a healthy church. Among those marks, I can say from experience that conversion is the first and foremost step in creating a healthy church. My former church failed in this area. Though I faithfully presented the gospel every time I preached, many of the members, those who had been part of the church before I began pastoring, were not truly born again. Mark Dever says that conversion is not reciting a creed, saying a prayer, having a conversation, becoming a Westerner, reaching a certain age, attending a class, or passing through some rite of adulthood. It is not a journey where everyone is simply at different points along the path. Rather, conversion is turning with our whole lives from self-justification to Christ’s justification, from self-rule to God’s rule, from idol worship to God worship. The author’s emphasis that conversion is not about reaching a certain age directly confronts what I witnessed in my former church. In that tradition, baptizing people who reached a specific age was the standard for becoming church members, regardless of true conversion. So, when I tried to reform the church, I was met with resistance from many unregenerate members whose ideas and actions hindered the process. Eventually, I burned out. This has been a timely reminder for me that, in the future, when I pastor, I must give full attention to receiving members who are truly converted. Only then can I gradually build up a healthy church. Having said that, as I read more internship books, I have noticed that my passion for church revitalization has gradually faded. Careful reflection on my past ministry in light of the wisdom from these books has made me realize just how huge and challenging the task is. But all things are in God’s hands, and may His will be done.

As I have mentioned above, all the marks presented by Mark Dever are equally important and should be given equal emphasis. However, based on my experience during my short pastoral journey, I would say that church discipline is what is also a big issue in the churches of Northeast India, particularly in my church association. If God gives me another opportunity to return and pastor one of those churches, church discipline will be one of the first priorities on my list. Mark Dever asks, “What exactly is church discipline?” In the narrowest sense, it is the act of excluding someone who professes to be a Christian from membership in the church and participation in the Lord’s Supper for serious, unrepentant sin, the sin they refuse to let go of. I fully agree with the author. In addition to that, I believe that the author also believes that by faithfully carrying out church discipline, the church images the character and glory of God. The author also reminds me that the congregation should not be too overexcited to carry out and abuse the authority. He says, Church discipline can be done badly. The New Testament teaches us not to judge others for the motives we might impute to them (see Matt. 7:1) or to judge each other about matters that are not essential (Romans 14–15). He adds, in carrying out discipline, our attitudes must not be vindictive but loving, demonstrating a “mercy, mixed with fear” (Jude 23).

In conclusion, reading What Is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever has been both convicting and clarifying. It reminded me that a healthy church begins with a deep commitment to listening to and obeying God’s Word. True conversion must be the foundation, ensuring that church membership is made up of regenerated believers. Equally, church discipline must not be neglected, as it upholds the holiness of the church. These reflections have strengthened my conviction and sharpened my vision for pastoral ministry. Though the task ahead may seem overwhelming, I am reminded that it is God’s church, and He will accomplish His will. My part is to remain faithful. And finally, the author warns me on page 122, at the end of the conclusion, “If you have been encouraged by any of the content in this book, take care in how you introduce change to your church. Be patient, love people, and preach the Word.” This is one of the reasons I greatly admire Mark Dever. He is not only passionate about Christ’s people but also deeply understands the nuts and bolts of shepherding them with care and wisdom.