What kind of belief do healthy churches have? That is, what kind of belief do healthy Christians have? Like the Roman soldier whom Jesus met, it needs to be a belief in Jesus’ authority. A confident belief. I suppose an unquestioning belief, in the sense that we are willing to obey him.
Can we trust him to give us orders? That, of course, was the problem at the beginning in the Garden. Is he really telling us the whole story? Is it really for our benefit? Do we not know better what would suit us? What will be best for us? Revisionist religion started back in Eden and has been flourishing ever since.
Lest we think this is too hierarchical and military-like (the Roman soldier may not be our model of a model Christian), we could think of Jesus’ conversations about love. If you love me... you will obey my commandments. He kept repeating the idea to his disciples. Love and obedience go together. If you love me...keep my commandments.
It is hard to get away from it. So before we think about other kinds of faith we need to get this bit clear. Healthy Christians and churches believe that the Lord Jesus has the right to tell them how to live and what to do. And they do it.
Dale