Treating Disease

We all know that we should go to the doctor if we get sick. Depending on the illness, the doctor will generally prescribe some type of treatment – such as antibiotics – to help us get well. Even if we have something that is untreatable, the doctor will often prescribe something to minimize the impact of the disease or to slow its progression. Some people are too proud or busy or stubborn to go to the doctor, a choice that can have serious consequences. We also know that Scripture uses the body metaphor to describe the church. So what happens when this “body” has a disease? The illness is typically a person or group that insists on its own way, and in doing so, threatens the health and unity of the church. Unfortunately, this “disease” is often left untreated. We let it go because “it won’t do any good to confront” or “that’s just the way they are.” Like the person who refuses to go to the doctor, this approach can have serious consequences. When inappropriate or unhealthy behavior is ignored, it rarely goes away. Instead, it tends to grow and become worse. It is especially problematic when divisive behavior or bad attitudes are displayed by staff members or others in leadership. I recognize that treating “disease” in a church or ministry is rarely as easy as taking antibiotics for a few days. Organizational disease has a tendency to hang on for a long period of time and even to fight back. But that doesn’t mean that it should be left untreated. While treatment has a cost, non-treatment is often much more expensive. One final thought. Some of the most promising new treatments in the medical arena use immunotherapy, in which the body’s own immune system is re-activated to fight a disease. I believe that there is a parallel concept for organizational disease. If the body, collectively, is committed to health, then treatment becomes everyone’s responsibility, not just something that leaders must do. What step toward better health should you take this week? It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>