Church Covenant

We, believing  in one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, having repented of sin and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for eternal salvation, and desiring to walk together before the Lord, do pledge ourselves to the fellowship of the Iden Green Congregational Church.

We are satisfied with the faith and way of conducting church life that pertains in this fellowship and solemnly join ourselves together, submitting ourselves to the discipline of the Gospel and the duties required of Christian people.

1.  We promise to live in holiness, humility and brotherly love as is pleasing to God and the church.

2.  We promise to watch over one another so as to discourage from disobedience and to "stir up one another to love and good works" with all gentleness.

3.  We promise to pray specially for one another and for the glory and increase of this church, and for the presence of God in it, and the pouring out of His Spirit on it, and His protection of it.

4.  We promise to bear one another's burdens, to cleave to one another, and to have fellow-feeling with one another in whatever conditions may arise.

5.  We promise to bear with one another's weaknesses with much tenderness, not revealing them to others outside or inside the church, except where it is allowed by the Word of God.

6.  We promise to work together for the spread of the Gospel, purity of life, and the peace of the church.

7.  We promise to meet together on the Lord's days, and at other times, such as God may give opportunity, in order to worship, have fellowship and promote the good of the church.

8.  We promise to give according to our ability that the pastor may be provided for and the work of the church maintained.

To these and all other Gospel duties we pledge ourselves that we may perform them relying upon the power and strength given us by Almighty God whose we are, whom we desire to serve, and to whom be glory now and forevermore.

Introduction

We can go right back to the earliest days of Congregationalism and we will find in the 1600s that small communities of believers covenanted together.  That is to say, they entered into formal agreement with one another as fellow believers.  As a local church at Iden Green the membership is a group of about thirty people who have entered into a specific agreement to serve the Lord together.  The agreement is expressed in a very old formula which was originally used by the great eighteenth century pastor, Benjamin Keach.

The opening paragraphs of our church members covenant reads:

“We, believing  in one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, having repented of sin and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for eternal salvation, and desiring to walk together before the Lord, do pledge ourselves to the fellowship of the Iden Green Congregational Church.”

“We are satisfied with the faith and way of conducting church life that pertains in this fellowship and solemnly join ourselves together, submitting ourselves to the discipline of the Gospel and the duties required of Christian people.”

It will be observed that there is assumed orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and an evangelical commitment to personal conversion.  There follow from these introductory paragraphs eight specific promises that are made by those entering into church membership.  They all represent what might normally be expected of a Christian believer but in agreeing to the covenant we formalise our assent to these things.  We do not pretend perfection in keeping the promises, but we do express determination that, by God's grace, we will live as Christians ought to live.  Christian commitment is not left vague but made definite as we say before one another that this is our pledge.

 

The first promise

“We promise to live in holiness, humility and brotherly love as is pleasing to God and the church.”  

These three things must surely be the hallmark of genuine Christianity.  Surely these things are what in the church we regard as right and desirable, and what before God is pleasing.  Each is worth pondering in itself.

Holiness.  People today might make fun of holiness.  Even professing Christians may feel that the concept is rather outdated, but we regard holiness as essential to our values.  Our standards are derived from the Lord Himself.  The Apostle Peter wrote, as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pt 115-16)  Holiness means separateness.  We agree to live separately, that is differently, from others who are not believers.  We shall be consecrated to God.

Humility.  So often today men and women are applauded for brash self promotion.  Our Saviour has set a different example: I am gentle and lowly in heart, He said.  As a tree laden with fruit bows low, so does the believer bearing the fruit of the Spirit.  Paul exhorted: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, ... (Colossians 312)

Brotherly love.  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 1334). Francis Schaeffer called this love 'the final apologetic'.  That is to say, love is the ultimate argument for the truth of the gospel.  The evidence for the God of love is the love of God - in the church.

Surely none would wish to argue with these standards.  But who will commit himself to living them out from day to day?  Who will deliberately agree in a holy covenant to keep these standards by the grace of God?  This is what, church member, you have done.  Do not forget your pledge.  This is what we invite others to do.        

The second promise

We promise to watch over one another so as to discourage from disobedience and to “stir up one another to love and good works” with all gentleness.

The Bible does not know of isolated Christians who are not in fellowship with one another.  In practice such a position is pretty well unworkable.  We need one another's encouragement in spiritual things. We need to be to one another as live coals are to each other.  Separated they will probably grow cold but together they burn hot.

There is the obvious positive encouragement of being together as like minded people.  There is the explicit 'egging on' that is experienced when hearing the preaching or as we speak to one another about spiritual things.  This is important in a world which holds to, and promotes, convictions and practices that are so very different from those commended in the Bible.  Without mutual support we shall be overwhelmed by the influence of the world.  We must constantly reinforce for one another a Christian culture with its Biblical beliefs and morals.

Sometimes it will be necessary for us to call into question one another's ways.  It should always be done with the good of the other in mind, with a winsome gentleness and genuine humility.   There can never be any place for arrogant, self righteous or hypocritical finger pointing, but it is not loving to let a brother or sister fall away from the right path or persist in disobedience to the Lord.  To challenge another's behaviour takes a great deal of courage because it may lead to our rejection. To accept the caution offered by another takes a deal of humility.  Our natural inclination may well be to defend ourselves from what is perceived as criticism.  We may want to withdraw, assert our right to live as we please, or even hit out at our critic.  Understandable though such reactions may be, the spiritual man or woman will listen to the counsel of others and seek to learn from it.

Church members do not say “How I live is none of your business”. We belong to one another.  In joining the church we say that we will be responsible for one another and accountable to one another.  Where we are willing to be honest, gracious and mutually submissive, there will be great spiritual profit.  It is to be such a community that we commit ourselves.

The third promise

We promise to pray specially for one another and for the glory and increase of this church, and for the presence of God in it, and the pouring out of His Spirit on it, and His protection of it.

Christians are people who pray almost by definition. We become Christians as we cry out to God to have mercy on us miserable sinners.  We continue with a profound sense of dependence upon Him not only for forgiveness but for everything we need. That dependence we express in prayer. We will pray morning and evening and frequently between. We will pray as individuals and in company too.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

the Christian's native air,

his watchword at the gate of death;

he enters heaven with prayer.

It is assumed therefore that those who enter the membership of the church are men and women of prayer. The particular commitment we make in becoming members is not just to pray much, but to pray regularly for the church. We say that we will pray for each other personally. In order to help us to do that we publish every month a prayer diary at the end of the Monthly Record. Some members cut it out and keep it with their Bible for daily use. Others keep the whole magazine with them in their quiet time. That does not matter. The issue is that we do not forget any of our fellow worshippers. We pray for each by name. In order that our prayer should be intelligent we enquire of each other and especially of those not known to us well.

Then we commit ourselves to praying for the life and witness of the whole fellowship. We long for greater sense of the presence of the Lord in the meetings, an anointing of the Holy Spirit. We plead with God for revival blessing, so that He may be truly honoured among us. We pray too for the outreach of the church to be successful and for others to be brought to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We will pray for all the meetings and activities as things which matter to us immensely even if we are not personally involved with some of them. This is hard work, but members say, “We will do it!”.

The fourth promise

We promise bear one another's burdens, to cleave to one another, and to have fellow feeling with one another in whatever condition may arise.

The church is a place where above all real selfless affection will be experienced by believers.  It is where unbelievers will notice that there is a special bond between us.

Life is full of difficulties and struggles.  It is not different for Christians in that sense.  The privilege enjoyed by Christians, members of the church, is that we always have the opportunity of being with fellow believers who will listen and care and pray.  Along with the privilege there inevitably goes the responsibility to show such brotherly affection to others in the membership.  Others cannot know Christian care and sympathy unless you show it and you will only receive when others act as they are intended to do.

Sometimes performing this duty will seem very hard.  There are all sorts of circumstances of hardship that will be experienced by our brethren.  Sometimes they will need so very much time and love.  Sometimes their difficulties will seem self-inflicted and this will call for endless patience and long-suffering.  The hard circumstances of a brother may result from his own folly or sin, but even then we will not consider our own interests, wishes, or weariness, but think of him first.  You see our calling as members is to a way of life that is self sacrificing.  By example, the Lord has shown us the way and we walk in it.

That is what we promise we will do.  We may not be good at this kind of life, but we know that it is right and worthy to be pursued, and so we determine that by the grace of God we will do it.

The fifth promise

We promise to bear with one another's weaknesses with much tenderness, not revealing them to others outside or inside the church, except where it is allowed by the Word of God.

A most tragic Old Testament incident occurred soon after Noah and his family had emerged from the ark to start a new life in the new world that had been given by God.  We find that Noah became drunk and, worse still, seeing his father naked and in that state, Ham told his brothers (Genesis 9 20-23).  He did not need to do this. He could have covered his father and kept the matter to himself.  His brothers Shem and Japeth did in fact cover their father's nakedness.

It is a very human thing to tell of others faults and failings.  Perhaps we do it to hurt them, but more often it is to make ourselves out to be better.  We indicate our own cleverness, goodness or greatness by pointing the finger at others.  Knowing that gossip is wrong, it is possible for us in church to uncover the sins of others in a super-spiritual way.  We solicit prayer for another and may do so pretending great concern for confidentiality.

Of course, there are occasions when it is right to disclose what we know concerning another's life.  For example, it may well be appropriate for leaders to have attention drawn to a problem so that proper pastoral care can be offered.  Sometimes Paul was told of issues in the churches or with individuals.  Chloe's family had told him that there were divisions in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 111).  That seemingly prompted Paul to write the epistle.  There is no suggestion that the informants were wrong in telling him.  Nevertheless, we must not be quick to reveal what we know.  We must be sure that it is a right course of action, that some benefit will be gained by doing so, that it is genuinely intended for the good of others and the glory of God.

The general rule will be that we do not 'uncover' the sins of another in the church.  To do so is correctly called gossip.  If gossip is spread in the church it will be a cause of suspicion and division.  If gossip about members of the church is spread outside it will become an excuse for the unconverted to reject the church, the gospel and the Lord.

In contrast to the self-seeking of gossip, we promise to have real felt concern for one another.  When a fellow Christian is weak and fails we determine to care, help and, in private, pray for him. 

The sixth promise

We promise to work together for the spread of the Gospel, purity of life, and the peace of the church.

We are all very familiar with the Pauline image of the church as the body of Christ with each member representing a part of the body.  The different parts all have their function.  If you like, each part has its work to do.  So Paul speaks of the church in Ephesians 416 as the body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.  Not that he speaks of each playing a part and doing its share of work.  Church membership is not for those who just want an easy rest.  There is much to achieve and it is the members who agree together to do what is necessary.  

The work to which we will apply ourselves is stated in the covenant as three-fold:

The spread of the Gospel.  This is the all-important task entrusted to us by the Lord in the Great Commission:  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  The task is given to the church and the members cannot ignore it.  We are all to be eager evangelists, doing whatever part we are equipped and able to do.  It may not be public speaking, but personal inviting to meetings, a quiet word spoken or a letter written.

Purity of life.  Holiness, which is our duty to God, is not always that easy.  It requires effort and mutual encouragement.  We cannot be inactive and simply hope that it will happen.  We need to be actively engaged and working for all we are worth to foster purity of thought, word and deed.

The peace of the church.  This is also important to pursue and Paul instructs us to put great effort into making sure that we are at peace with one another: endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 23).  Without deliberate effort men tend to fall out with one another.  Therefore we must do all that we can to avoid disunity and disharmony.  We may have different opinions and views about a range of things, but through it all we must be at peace.

Let no one considering church membership be in doubt that work is involved.  Let no member forget to put effort into these things.  Of course, modern life is demanding and often we feel that we do not have the energy or time to do a lot, but we need to pray about it, change our commitments to other things and make sure that we contribute and function as parts of the body of Christ.

Move and actuate and guide;

various gifts to each divide:

placed according to Thy will

let us all our work fulfil.

The church is no cruise liner for those who are looking for a holiday, but a battleship for those who are willing to make the necessary sacrifices and do the necessary work.

The seventh promise

We promise to meet together on the Lord's days, and at other times, such as God may give opportunity, in order to worship, have fellowship and promote the good of the church.

There are very many people in this country who would want to be thought of as Christians, who do not go to church, or who go but very infrequently, and who have no desire to do any more than that.  We believe that regular church attendance is part of the Christian life and we determine that we will devote ourselves to the worship and fellowship of the church.

Of course, we may be prevented from attending by age or sickness.  There will be times when some members are involved in such work as is legitimate on a Sunday like that of emergency services, medicine and nursing.  Others will not be able to be in their own church because they are away on holiday or actually live abroad: those on business or who are missionaries serving oversees.  Even when we are not able to be present we would prefer by far that we could be.  Many absent from the area will be able to meet with believers in other churches.  That might even lead to links between such churches and ours.

Attendance is not for Sundays alone.  Seven whole days between is a long time for those who depend on one another for encouragement in the faith.  So we will try to arrange other opportunities to meet during the week.  Our concern is not just for our own benefit, but that of others in the fellowship.  Mistakenly a Christian might say “I don't need to see others more than once a week”, but others might need to see you!  So we make the commitment to being with each other not only on the Lord's day but whenever we may have opportunity.

The eighth promise

We promise to give according to our ability that the pastor may be provided for and the work of the church maintained.

Sometimes it is necessary for us to consider the very practical matter of the financial maintenance of the pastor and paying for all the other ministries undertaken and supported, and meeting the expenses involved.  The pastor has to live and if he is to be able to devote himself to prayer and the word he will need a stipend.  (A stipend is not a salary in the normal sense.  The pastor is paid not to work!  The stipend is supposed to relieve of all financial worries so that he can concentrate on the ministry.)  Ideally a church will want to have outreach programmes and support missions.  The building has to be maintained and the electric bills must be paid.  This all adds up in terms of hard cash.  All the money has to be found from the congregation.  What is put in the offering on a Sunday is what pays.  There is no national central fund that is financing the work.

It is wonderfully exciting to think that a church of nine working members who tithe (donating a tenth of their income) can have a full time minister with a stipend of the average pay of his members - as long as he himself tithes!  Then the other bills will be paid from the offering of others in the church who are not in full time employment.  Once you have eighteen members in fulltime employment you could have two fulltime workers or be fully supporting a missionary.

So the Bible commends to us the practice of regular giving of our money proportionate to our means.  To participate you do not have to have great means because he who has much is called to give much, and he who has less is required to give less.  Those who are housebound can share the responsibility, as can those who are members living at great distance from their church.

In becoming members of the church we make a commitment to financial responsibility for the work.  We are really glad that others contribute, but at the end of the day the members have to come up with the funding necessary.  It is a daunting responsibility for any small church, but when you see what God can do using a little group of committed believers it is quite, quite thrilling - full-time ministry, missionary support, new buildings properly equipped, and so it goes on.  Praise God for the privilege of being members of the church.

Conclusion to the promises

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.… (Acts 246-47)

The conclusion to the promises we make is this: To these and all other Gospel duties we pledge ourselves that we may perform them relying upon the power and strength given us by Almighty God whose we are, whom we desire to serve, and to whom be glory now and forevermore.

There is no suggestion that the eight promises are the sum and total of all that is involved in being a Christian.  They are a useful series of points to indicate what commitment is involved in becoming and being a church member.  As such they should be taken very seriously.  But, of course, there are other duties which we are required to fulfil as believers.

There is no sense in which members regard themselves as having arrived or being perfect in keeping the promises.  We want to keep the promises, but recognise that human imperfection is such that we will not get far without the enabling of God.  We are always dependent upon His grace.  So when we become members we use the formula in order to indicate how we wish to conduct ourselves and how we shall endeavour to live.

Considerations which contribute to our motivation are these:

We are those who belong to the Almighty.  Being made by Him we are His possession.  We cannot live as we please.  We have to live as He pleases.  So the instructions of His word - which are reflected in the church's covenant - must be our guide.

We are those who serve God.  When we become Christians we cease to oppose Him as enemies, and we yield as His servants.  We will do whatever He wishes and contributes to His cause.

We are those who honour the Lord.  We have become worshippers.  Worship is a very significant part of our corporate life.  We seek His honour and praise.  We know that the promises of the covenant are the things which glorify Him.

So although the eight clauses which are our commitment seem demanding, they also appeal to us as being very right and proper as an expression of our intention.  It is not a matter of onerous imposition.  Rather we are persuaded and under conviction.

Christian as yet not in membership, won't you consider your position?  Is the covenant not right for one who is saved by the great and generous grace of God?  Will you really hold back these things from the Lord who gave Himself for you?  Enquire about joining the church as a member yourself.  

My gracious Lord, I own Thy right

to every service I can pay;

and call it my supreme delight

to hear Thy dictates and obey.

What is my being but for Thee,

its sure support, its noblest end,

Thy ever smiling face to see

and serve the cause of such a Friend?

Philip Doddridge, 1702-51

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