Hey Lena, thanks for engaging in the conversation.
I think Jeff would connect health to maturity that leads to life beyond yourself, not simply activity or growth for growth’s sake.
In the interview, health shows up as people growing up, moving from dependence toward responsibility, and eventually becoming spiritual parents. Reproduction isn’t the goal by itself; it’s the fruit of maturity. Healthy disciples are able to follow Jesus in everyday life without remaining dependent on a leader, personality, or system to do so.
Jeff also ties health to emotional and relational wholeness, being present to your own heart, being able to attach to others without control, and forming people without creating codependence. In that sense, health isn’t just right belief or visible activity, but whole-person formation that results in freedom, agency, and love that can be passed on to others.
Hopefully that's helpful. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you so much for this clarification… I listened to this yesterday and maybe got a bit snagged on the mention of health and woke up wrestling with it.
I listened again since reading your comment and I see now what you meant by the two topics of discipleship and health being intertwined.
You really did cover it thoroughly.
One thing I feel like I face quite a bit is the tendency for people to approach the gospel and discipleship as striving: continuously working at being more like Jesus.
How do we stay rooted in abiding as a way of life that naturally produces transformation?
For me, I’ve tried to steer clear of giving answers as I feel like that keeps people not only coming to me but striving to become rather than abiding to become like Jesus.
How would you describe healthy?
Hey Lena, thanks for engaging in the conversation.
I think Jeff would connect health to maturity that leads to life beyond yourself, not simply activity or growth for growth’s sake.
In the interview, health shows up as people growing up, moving from dependence toward responsibility, and eventually becoming spiritual parents. Reproduction isn’t the goal by itself; it’s the fruit of maturity. Healthy disciples are able to follow Jesus in everyday life without remaining dependent on a leader, personality, or system to do so.
Jeff also ties health to emotional and relational wholeness, being present to your own heart, being able to attach to others without control, and forming people without creating codependence. In that sense, health isn’t just right belief or visible activity, but whole-person formation that results in freedom, agency, and love that can be passed on to others.
Hopefully that's helpful. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you so much for this clarification… I listened to this yesterday and maybe got a bit snagged on the mention of health and woke up wrestling with it.
I listened again since reading your comment and I see now what you meant by the two topics of discipleship and health being intertwined.
You really did cover it thoroughly.
One thing I feel like I face quite a bit is the tendency for people to approach the gospel and discipleship as striving: continuously working at being more like Jesus.
How do we stay rooted in abiding as a way of life that naturally produces transformation?
For me, I’ve tried to steer clear of giving answers as I feel like that keeps people not only coming to me but striving to become rather than abiding to become like Jesus.