How would you define the word wholeness? Have you ever said to someone, “I’m whole in Christ”?
Almost 5 years ago I added a blog post on the website that addressed wholeness. I also wrote an article – God Wants You Whole.
Since that time, I’ve gained a better appreciation for what the term wholeness means from a biblical perspective – a more theologically sound perspective about spirit-mind-body health.
I invite you to read the new, more comprehensive page – Wholeness – A Biblical and Christian Perspective.
After reading it, I invite you to return here to add comments – or ask questions, as I’d love to enter into a dialogue with you about wholeness.
I have been a nurse for 39 years. I really struggle the practice of healing and wholeness. I believe that science only looks after the physical dimension of our being. We are a physical being, as humans we spend so much of our resources , billions of dollars yearly in cosmetics, plastic surgery, and counselling. We focus so much on our physical image and appearance to the point of finding solutions to be immortal. The scripture is clear about what happens to our physical body. Yet, even among the Christian community we fail to nurture our spiritual being. Do we spend billions of dollars on our spiritual activity? I know , I don’t. I need to start now. On this journey of life , I need to equally value my body, soul and spirit.
Well done, Dale. Wholeness begins in relationship with the living God, and entering into that leads us on a journey of continual growth and discovery-exciting but at times frustrating. I sometimes ask God and myself ” are we there yet?” He patiently leads me forward, when I stop to listen. Blessings to you.
Yes Rick, it’s a never ending process of becoming more and more like Jesus, isn’t it. The more that we are like clay, the easier it is for God – as the potter – to work with us. I’m glad that we are on this ‘path’ together.
A Biblical understanding of wholeness and healing (and of my role in bringing greater wholeness to others as a physician) helped transform my practice of medicine. Modern medical training tends to minimize the spiritual aspects of health and healing, but (thankfully!) things are beginning to change. This is only one of many reasons why we need to pray for our healthcare professionals! Thank you for this wonderful article!
I appreciate your comments and encouragement Dr. Mari. Thank you for how you serve in God’s Kingdom as a health care professional…. as you minister to people’s heart, mind, spirit and body.
I read your definition of wholeness, Dale, after reading Oswald Chambers devotion for today, Feb. 8. He speaks about the cost of sanctification – “a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns.” In other words, being intensely focused on God’s point of view. It sounds like “absolute surrender” to me! He goes on to say that “sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us.” And then he asks, “Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.” When we pray for God to sanctify us are we prepared to measure up to what that really means?” This question really pierced my heart! Thank you & Judy for your work in exploring this topic. How much we need the grace of our the Holy Spirit in this process of being conformed to the image of Jesus!
Yes Jo, moving down the path of both sanctification and wholeness requires us to be involved. The more intentional we are, the more we surrender, the more we create opportunities for God to touch us deep inside, in our hearts. And yes, sanctification does have a cost. As Jesus died for us, God desires us to die for the sake of the Gospel. It’s not always easy to do… but my experience has been that the more I do die to my selfish tendencies the more blessings I receive as I am engaged in God’s work. Thank you too, Jo, for your serve as a Faith and Health Ambassador.
Thank you for a clear definition and understanding of Wholeness from a Christian perspective. Wish I read this before I attended a very disappointing seminar today on healing which turned out to be nothing more than holistic teaching. Will print this and keep as reference. Do you have any bible studies that can help in growing in sanctification?
Hi Gizela, Thanks for the feedback on this topic. Yes, the PathWay 2 Wholeness program is a Bible study of sorts that is all about moving down the path towards greater wholeness. Read about it at this link – PathWay 2 Wholeness.
I was doing some searching on this subject today because I have found that terminology can sometimes be confusing. For example, the last several Churches I have visited have made particular emphasis on us as “broken” and as “”sinners”, which has prompted several discussions from me to Church leaders. I try to explain how much more helpful it would be to be hearing that we are in fact healed and made whole in Christ. In the renewing of my mind to the truth of who Christ is. Who I once was, and who He has made me to be in the grace of this relationship, THIS is when I have experienced the Life giving Spirit of joy and love. But when I spend the day focusing on my broken sinful self, I am paralyzed to be of any use in the advancement of the gospel. Now it seems clear that one Way has been offered for us all to be made whole, and by the stripes of Christ, where my sin was brought to death, I have been set free. Free from fear, and future judgement or desire to obsess over my state as a broken sinner. To me that is exactly opposite of faith. I boast in Christ. He is my righteousness, holiness and redemption and I do not see how anything other than praising Him for His Son and taking on unbelief is not understood universally at Church. It is not about us. If I could have been sorry enough for my sins to be forgiven, if I could have done better, then His sacrifice would not have been needed. But that was never how God was going to save me. I was broken, and I am nothing. But it is all of Christ and Christ in me in which I choose to go forward. Forgetting what is behind me. It is in the brokenness of Christ for me that I partake of Him and have been made whole. God’s sacrifice. For me. All I can do is praise Him.