Date of Award

Fall 2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

Abstract

Human beings can honestly profess to believe what they do not believe. (Dallas Willard) Christians seek relational health apart from spiritual health and vice versa. The problem is one of belief that it is possible to live in intimate fellowship with the Lord while in broken or unhealthy other primary relationships. Jesus addressed the problem of compartmentalized thinking when one of the Pharisees asked him to identify the most important commandment (singular) in the Law. Jesus' answer inextricably linked loving God with loving others in his response of not one but two commandments: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."(Matthew 22: 36-40 [NRSV]) Compartmentalized spirituality and unhealthy relationships directly and negatively influence one another, preventing the goal of living in the fullness of abundant life in Christ. (John 10:10) Advocating core competencies of honesty, humility, and teachability provides a foundation for health and the starting point for spiritual growth.

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