Christian wholeness is defined by two dimensions; one is the Christian dimension and the other is growing in wholeness These can be likened to two sides of square.

The Christian dimension changes along a line from left to right, from sin to God. As mentioned before, the essence of sin, is turning from God to another. The most common “other”, is our own self (centredness). This, as we will see, is different from self esteem, self identity and self control. However, all of these can either be self centred or God centred. So at one end of this line is self centredness. At the other end, is God centredness.

The dimension of wholeness is another line, from the bottom to the top. It is the line from being in the negative and moving towards the positive, from disease to health, from dysfunction to function and from distress to peace.

These two dimensions are largely separate from each other, but can have a marked impact on the other. The aim of Christian wholeness is to be on the top right-hand square of the grid, with a God-centred and positive life, in every part of our lives - spirit, soul, mind, body and social. So Paul’s prayer in 1 Thessellonians Ch. 5 : 23 is, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. As our spirit is both centred on and alive to God, every other part of our life can be influenced, moving from the left side to the right.

The four quadrants. The dimensions (continua, as it were from 0 to 10) are artificially divided in the middle to produce two categories. The middle horizontal line is like the water level. Below this, one is suffering. Above this, one is succeeding. The central vertical line divides on the one hand sin on the left and God centredness or sanctification, on the right. This produces four quadrants. The

1. Top left = sinful success. There is a real danger that Christians and churches equate blessing with God centredness. That may or may not occur. Being a Christian is not necessarily a good insurance scheme, at least for this time on earth. Suffering does not indicate that someone is not right with God.
2. Top right = sanctified / Godly success. Ultimately, there will be no more tears or suffering (Rev 21: 3,4). Indeed, heaven is when we rise out through the top at right-hand corner. Christian wholeness is fully expressed in this quadrant.
3. Bottom left = sinful suffering.
4. Bottom right = sanctified / Godly suffering. This is where Jesus came to from heaven, taking on the form of a suffering servant (Phil.1: 5 -9). This is where Jesus went to when going to the cross, when knowing who He was, laid aside His clothes and became a servant. This bottom right-hand quadrant was where Jesus was on the cross. This is where sacrifice is placed. This is the place where those who “did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” went to. They were the ones who “overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” Revelations Ch. 12 : 11.

The challenge here is to move towards, "top right-hand quadrant " living in every part of our lives. What would top right-hand quadrant finances, lifestyle, relationships, use of time, actions, thoughts and so on look like for you? What would top right-hand quadrant living look like for all of our circles of life?

Question: Where are you on the Grid? What are the parts or segments of your life which are in greatest need of moving from the right side to the left? Start to think of other parts which could move from the bottom to the top - to become a bit more healthy. What if some parts are in the top right hand corner of the grid (positive and God centred) , while other parts are in the top left (positive and self centred). What happens if this incongruency as to where parts of us are placed, continues over a long time?