However, in prioritising our physical wellbeing, there is a danger of neglecting our spiritual health. Scripture reminds us that “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Paul emphasizes the importance of spiritual health throughout his pastoral letters to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:16) and Titus (Titus 2:8), and urges Timothy to “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT). Spiritual health is not achieved merely by arranging for teaching in the church but by ensuring that the teaching is “wholesome” or “sound”; the quality of the teaching must spiritually nourish and produce godliness.
What are Healthy Words?
Healthy teaching, often translated as “sound words”, refers to instruction that is free from corruption. The New Testament frequently warns of false teachings and philosophies that conform to worldly ideas, all of which come from demonic influences (1 Timothy 4:1; Romans 12:2). Healthy teaching, by contrast, aligns with God's original intent and meaning, which is communicated in Scripture itself.
From the beginning, Satan’s strategy has been to distort and corrupt God’s words and what He has made pure (Genesis 3). God desires a church that is holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27), and Satan seeks to defile that purity. This is why Paul (along with other New Testament writers) spends so much time and effort calling believers back to the truth.
Paul warns Timothy that some people will reject sound teaching: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3–4 NIV).
True, health-giving teaching is that which aligns with what the Lord Jesus taught and what He revealed through the apostles (1 Corinthians 14:37). This is the “pattern of sound words” or the “deposit” Timothy received from Paul (2 Timothy 1:13-14 ESV). It is also referred to as “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude v.3) and “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). This objective, definitive body of truth must be distinguished from error by comparing all teaching with God’s Word, just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11).
The Fruit of Healthy Teaching
Healthy teaching is not only sound in content; it also produces health in the lives of those who receive it, “These teachings promote a godly life” (1 Timothy 6:3 NLT). One of the marks of false teachers, whether in the church or previously among the Pharisees, was hypocrisy. They imposed burdens on others, which they were unwilling to bear themselves, and therefore they did not practise what they preached (Matthew 23:4).
By contrast, sound teaching results in genuine godliness, not just outward conformity. It fosters spiritual maturity, discernment, and obedience that flows from a heart that is transformed by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26).
The Drift of the 20th Century
The 20th century saw a theological and moral decline in western evangelicalism. There was a drift – a sprint, even – toward a low view of God and a high view of man. This led to two main errors: liberalism, which dismisses biblical truth: and legalism, which adds to it.
The social upheaval of the 1960s sparked a widespread anti-authoritarian attitude. In this liberal atmosphere, some Christians began to accept moral behaviours that contradict Scripture but were aligned with contemporary cultural views on issues such as sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, marriage and changing perspectives on gender roles.
Conversely, another group within the Church sought to augment biblical teachings with additional rules to ensure a stand against this cultural tide. Among legalists, teaching was frequent and even biblically referenced, yet still unhealthy. Why? Because it often emphasised human standards and external behaviours rather than true, spiritual transformation within. Like that of the Pharisees, such teaching may appear righteous but ultimately leads to greater ungodliness.
Healthy teaching does not simply provide a checklist of rules. God’s truth in the gospel was never meant to be reduced to regulations. The purpose of the Mosaic law was to show that rules alone cannot produce righteousness. The gospel not only defines how we ought to live but also provides the means by which to live – through faith and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 6).
A Test of True Teaching
For churches that prioritise the teaching of God’s Word, a key question remains: Is the teaching healthy or unhealthy? An answer is found in the lives of the people who regularly sit under that teaching. Does it produce godliness? Does it develop believers who can discern right from wrong, not merely conform to outward expectations?
If a church’s teaching focuses mainly on rules and externals, without leading to spiritual maturity, the teaching of that church should be carefully examined in the light of Scripture. Teaching that adds to God's Word, even with good intentions, will incur judgement. The Lord Jesus warned of those who teach “as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Such additions are harmful, not healthy, and, rather than fostering holiness, they actually lead to hypocrisy and deeper ungodliness. In fact, a dire warning is given at the end of the book of Revelation: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book” (Revelation 22:18 ESV).
In Conclusion
We all, especially those in leadership, face the temptation to think that creating rules will protect and guide believers. But Scripture shows us that rules alone cannot produce true godliness. Only the gospel, rightly taught and received by faith, can do that.
So, in evaluating the teaching in our churches, we must ask what is being taught, and also, importantly, what kind of fruit is being produced. Are believers growing in grace? Are they being transformed in heart and mind? Is their faith marked by Spirit-empowered obedience and discernment? If not, the teaching may not be as healthy as we claim it to be.
