The Church in America
A Ft. Worth Southern Baptist church struggles over whether to allow homosexuals to be a part of the church pictorial directory. Another area church schedules a "pet blessing" service.
Much of the culture has seeped into the local church. We live in a transitional time for the Church in America. Major seismic shifts are taking place. For example, 80% to 90% of SBC churches are in a state of decline or have leveled off and have been for fifteen years. This trend, which exists in all denominations and conventions, has led to closing of approximately seventy-two North American churches at the end of every week!
If this drift continues, 60% of all existing Christian churches in America will disappear before 2050. It appears that the Lord does indeed remove a church's lampstand if it continues to neglect His Word (see Rev. 2 and 3). Only 37% of SBC members show up for the primary worship service in their churches. This statistic should lead us to consider a few related questions:
If we attended class only 37% of the time, would your average professor give us a passing grade?
If we were faithful to our spouse 37% of the time, would this be acceptable and God-honoring?
If our car started 37% of the time, would we think it was time to get it fixed?
Q: What is a covenant?
A:
A church covenant can be described in five different ways.
A church covenant is a promise - a promise made to God, to a local church, and to one's self.
A church covenant is a summary of how we agree to live. While our statement of faith is a good summary of what we believe, our church covenant is a summary of how we agree to live - more importantly, it is a summary of how God would have us live. It does not include every explicit command regarding obedience, but it does give a general summary of what it means to live as a disciple of Christ.
A church covenant is a sign of commitment - a commitment to God, to His church, and to personal holiness.
A church covenant is an ethical statement. Historian Charles W. DeWeese writes, "A church covenant is a series of written pledges based on the Bible which church members voluntarily make to God and to one another regarding their basic moral and spiritual commitments and the practice of their faith" (Baptist Church Covenants, p. viii). One theologian calls church covenants the "ethical counterpart to confessions of faith."
A church covenant can be an important part of applying a Christian worldview to every aspect of our lives. Inherent in the purpose of a church covenant is the understanding that church membership involves being held accountable to live in a manner consistent with a common understanding of Scripture.
A church covenant is a biblical standard. As members of a church, we exhort one another to live holy lives, and we challenge brothers and sisters persisting in sin.
Q: Why have people sign a covenant?
A:
The covenant is simply a discipleship tool that is used to help fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ: "...make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..." (cf. Matthew 28:16-20, italics added).
What if our nation's founding fathers did not sign the Declaration of Independence? What if a groom refused to sign the marriage license on the wedding day? Would you get a loan if you did not sign for it? How many things do we sign for relating to our child's school, health care, or sports activities?
Yet our church is engaged in the most serious and joyful endeavor in the history of humanity: building believers who reach others for Christ (cf. Matthew 28:16-20). Because of the nature of our mission, the glory of God is at stake and the destiny of souls are on the line.
Signing something creates an awareness of the commitment being made. We have lost what Jesus meant when He said to take up our cross and follow Him in the American church (cf. Luke 9:23). Jesus told us that in order to be truly His we must make Him first above all other relationships and things of this world (Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 9:25). Consequently, when you put your name on the covenant you are affirming the pursuit of following Jesus according to God's Word with the church family. This is done in a spirit of mutual love, respect, and accountability.
Q: Isn't it legalistic to have people sign a covenant?
A:
Legalism is when a person trusts a set of rules or regulations in order to gain acceptance or salvation from God. There is no prohibition in Scripture against signing a church covenant.
Q: Are we in danger of becoming a cult? (Yes, we were actually asked that.)
A:
A cult is any religious group whose doctrines contain major deviations from historic Christianity. Our church covenant helps guard against such a danger.
Q: Doesn't it diminish the New Covenant in Christ to require a church covenant to be signed?
A:
Signing the church covenant is just another way to publicly affirm our sincere faith. What diminishes the New Covenant is when hundreds of church members who claim to be under the New Covenant and yet could care less about its meaning or the loving Lordship of Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is diminished when those who claim His Name live in willful, ongoing opposition to the New Covenant.
Q: Is the membership covenant creating an elite membership?
A:
God's Word has been so neglected and compromised that simply following His Word may seem "elite", but in reality the purpose is to help us make faithful servants of our members. It helps establish a more faithful, more biblical membership. Membership has lost its meaning in the modern church and we want to change this by a return to God's Word and for His glory.
Q: Why should "long-standing" members have to sign the covenant?
A:
Why wouldn't members who are already faithful want to help set an example for others? It would not seem fair to have prospective new members sign the covenant when others have not. This is a great opportunity to help lead and shape the next generation in the church.
Q: Is the membership covenant a legal document?
A:
Yes, any local church's membership card is considered a legal document, just as is your current membership card.
Q: What about church discipline?
A:
The words of Jesus and the apostle Paul are always the best to follow on any issue, including church discipline (cf. Matthew 18:15-18; ; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Galatians 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 5:19-20; Titus 3:9-11).
Many people fail to make a clear distinction between the concepts of punishment and discipline. Punishment avenges wrong and asserts justice. Discipline serves to correct the one who has failed to live according to the standards of the Scriptures.
Be a Part of Turning the Tide
Last year it took 64 members to reach one soul for Christ, an increase of 45% from the previous year. Again, the covenant is simply a discipleship tool that is used to help fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ: "...make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..." (cf. Matthew 28:16-20, italics added).
Sources:
The New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Walter Martin, Kingdom of the Cults, (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1985).
Matthew Schmucker, 9Marks Director, "Membership Matters," Membership Matters - What is Our Church Covenant?
Carl Laney, A Guide to Church Discipline (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany, 1985), 79.
