COMMUNAL WELLNESS

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces”” – Psalm 122: 6-7

Wellness at a personal, individual level is most meaningful in an atmosphere of COMMUNAL WELLNESS: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because if the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good” (Psa.122: 6-9). Communal or Community Wellness infers collective health and well-being through cultivating a Culture of Wellness. The Psalmist expresses the importance of Prayer in creating a conducive spiritual atmosphere for Communal Wellness. The term “Jerusalem” refers primarily to the literal city of Jerusalem, but also to the Believer’s Abode at any point in time.

We’ve invested the entire month into meditating on ‘Health and Wellness in God’s Word.’ Although physical wellness or “physical fitness,” can have a great impact on overall wellness, there’s much more to it. To pursue Wellness is to pursue our potential in all aspects of life – spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, social, financial, vocational, and environmental. Every human being, and the Believer in particular, should intentionally pursue purpose, optimize life’s possibilities, and thrive wherever they live and at every stage of life. Wellness is a holistic assessment of how we are thriving in our lives. Communal Wellness is about thriving together.

Communal Wellness means “being well together”: Mindfulness of our connection with, and impact on our local and global contexts, in order to leave positive footprints and make the world a better place. Community Wellness has been defined as: the combination of social, economic, and political conditions identified by individuals and their communities as essential for them to flourish and fulfil their potential. For Believers in Christ, next to the Home, the most practical setting for Communal Wellness is the Local Church.

Scriptures illustrate Communal Wellness: “Behold, how GOOD and how PLEASANT it is for brethren to dwell together in UNITY! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the BLESSING – LIFE forevermore” (Psa.133: 1-3).

The early Church practiced the Culture of Community and Togetherness and enjoyed Communal Wellness:

“When the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD in one place” (Acts 2:1). And the Spirit was poured!

“Now all who believed were TOGETHER, and had ALL THINGS IN COMMON...So continuing daily with ONE ACCORD in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with GLADNESS and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2: 44, 46).

“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; of if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Cor.12: 26-27). As it’s often said, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts! We are better and healthier as a team or a combination, than would be expected at our different and disparate parts.

Paul encouraged Believers to intercede for leaders so that society might enjoy quiet and peaceful lives (1Tim.2:1-2). Hebrews 10:25 admonishes: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves TOGETHER, as is the manner of some, but exhorting ONE ANOTHER, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Togetherness in the Body is itself a form of therapy!

The Church of the Living God is a Destiny Work Station! All dimensions of Wellness are rooted in God’s Word, and His Church is the Ground and Pillar of Truth (1Tim.3:15). There, the Culture and Grace of Wellness can be truly established. All the dimensions of Wellness are symbiotic; when one is out of balance, the others are affected. We must take a proactive posture for wellness, making choices and taking action to build all-round wellness. God’s Promise is sure, as the Psalmist declared: “You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on EVERY SIDE” (Psa.71:21).