Why a Class on the Church Covenant?

By Adrian Owen

Our Church Covenant Equipping Group will begin on June 4th. Before joining LBC, I was not very familiar with the concept of church covenants. I’ll admit, the recitation of the covenant after taking the Lord’s Supper was bizarre at first. But having learned the purpose and biblical and historical roots of church covenants, I see the value and need for one. I hope you join us for our study of the church covenant this Summer. Below is a brief explanation of the history of LBC’s covenant, why we have a covenant, and my hopes for the class.

History

This history of the church’s covenant is brief but interesting. Church covenants in Baptist churches have existed for centuries. Our current church Covenant is based on a template created in 1853 by J. Newton Brown. 

There have been two church covenants in our church’s history. The first covenant was adopted by the Liberty Manor Baptist Mission in December of 1961. Our current version of the covenant was adopted in December of 2012. You can read both versions of the covenant below.  

• Liberty Manor Baptist Mission Covenant | 1961-2012

  Having been influenced by the Holy Spirit, as we humbly trust, to turn from our sins, and to receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour; and on profession of our faith in Him, having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do covenant and agree together that we will strive to walk, by the help of God, in all the commandments of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

  Further we promise that we will endeavor to watch over and counsel one another in the spirit of brotherly love; that we will remember one another in our prayers, and that we will aid each other in sickness and distress.

  We further agree that we will strive, as we have opportunity, to do good unto all men; and that we will endeavor to win our kindred and acquaintances to the Saviour, and to spread the Gospel Ministry in our midst, and endeavor to bring up such as may be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; that we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but, as far as possible, we will attend the meetings of the Church; that we will loyally uphold the authority of the Church in all things, save in matters of conscience; that we will strive to promote the prosperity, spirituality and unity of the Church and sustain its ordinances, doctrines and discipline.

  We further covenant that we will maintain secret prayer; that we will strive to live carefully in this present world, and to abstain from everything that will cause our brother to stumble, or that will bring reproach upon the cause of Christ; that we will strive to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour. That we will strive to trust ourselves fully, soul and body, and all that we have in God’s hand, to be kept and used by Him as seemeth good in His sight. That through life, amidst evil report and good report, we will humbly and earnestly seek to live to the honor and glory of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

• Liberty Baptist Church Covenant | 2012-Present

  Upon becoming a member in the body of the Liberty Baptist Church the members agree to the following covenant as our expectations of one another:

  Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to repent of our sins and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we do, in the presence of God and this assembly, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

  We commit, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to:

  • live together in Christian love and maintain the unity of the Spirit;

  • continue meeting together regularly;

  • work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines;

  • confess our sins to each other and pray for each other;

  • exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other;

  • bear one another’s burdens;

  • cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech;

  • be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation;

  • contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations;

  We further commit to:

  • maintain family and personal devotions;

  • educate our children in the Christian faith;

  • seek the salvation of family, friends, and neighbors;

  • be faithful and just in our transactions and exemplary in our conduct;

  • live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.

  When we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

Why a Church Covenant?

Our church covenant helps describe who we are as members of Liberty Baptist Church. It is similar to our statement of faith in this way. Our statement of faith and church covenant are both summaries of biblical principles regarding doctrine and ethics. The statement of faith summarizes what we believe while the church covenant summarizes how we live. 

It is important for a church to know how they should live. Think about a marriage covenant. I made my wife a promise on our wedding day. I agreed to have and to hold her from that day forward for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. This is what she expects of me each and every day and I happily agreed to it. Similarly, a church covenant is what every church member expects of every other church member. 

Will we fail to live out the covenant? Of course! We do fail the covenant. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cringed when reciting, “maintain personal and family devotions.” There is grace and help for our failings. Because of Christ, and through the Spirit, we strive together to live out this covenant in order to be and make disciples of Jesus. The church doesn’t exist without grace and it doesn’t continue without grace either. 

My Hope for this Class

My hope for this class is threefold–that we would have good conversations about Christian living, grow in church unity, and live holy lives before the Lord. I pray you are encouraged and emboldened by taking this deep dive into the covenant this Summer.

Equipping Groups are a great place to take your questions. By hearing from the teachers and discussing with the class, we can gain a clearer understanding of what certain points mean and how to actually live them out. I’m particularly interested in discussing what “cultivating Christian sympathy” means. 

By discussing the covenant together as a church, I believe we will become more unified as a church. We all struggle with some parts of the covenant. We’ve all agreed to “bear one another’s burdens” and “exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other” too. I pray that this class brings us together as a church for better or worse, richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health.

Finally, as with anything, I hope that this class stirs you up to love and know Jesus better. Where we fail, he is perfect. When we need him, he is there. Everything we do as a church is to showcase the glory of God by being and making disciples of Jesus Christ. This class is no different. Would you pray with me that this class helps us in the carrying out of that mission?