Signs of Life

It’s one thing to make claims. It’s another to be able to point to something that either confirms or rejects what you are claiming. In our current political state, many people seem to think that just because they claim something, and really believe it, they think it must be true. Forget the evidence. That doesn’t work, no matter how firm of a belief you have about something.

So with that in mind, how do we know if a church is “alive” or showing signs of life? How do we know that faith is living? It’s not just because we believe that is the case. It’s not because we want it to be true. It’s because there is evidence that points to the conclusion that there is life.

If you do a google search for signs of life, you’ll find a variety of answers. Most sites I’ve seen have a range of 5–7 characteristics/signs of life — things that help us discern that something is alive. These signs of life apply to organizations and churches as well. The church especially should show signs of life — it is the body of Christ after all. And a body is supposed to be alive.

So here are seven signs of life that also apply to the church.

1. Movement — things that are alive are able to move on their own volition. Movement is a sign of life. Things that aren’t alive move, but only because they are acted upon. But movement happens because there is a cause to move. Churches are supposed to be movements. Christianity started as a movement called The Way. Movements, like churches are what give churches energy and reason for existing. When people…