Five Reasons to Say "No" to a Church Covenant

[Abiding in His Word]

I don't know if any here have been required to sign such a document, but Wade Burleson gives strong advice for not signing one.

*snips*

Village Church in Dallas, Texas recently placed a member named Karen Root under church discipline because she annulled her marriage with a confessed child pornographer. A letter Village Church elders sent to members last Saturday, May 23, 2015 gave their logic for placing Karen under church discipline. The elders believed they had no choice because Karen violated the church covenant that she signed when she joined Village Church. Specifically, Karen violated the covenant by not getting church leaders' permission to file for an annulment. The elders wrote:

"...Karen filed for an immediate annulment of her marriage to Jordan apart from the counsel of the church... (by) signing the Membership Covenant, a member agrees ... to receive our care..."

I've written several articles stating that the major problem in modern evangelical Christianity is the authoritarianism of evangelical leaders. I have sought to explain how pastors/elders "twist the Scriptures" and demand "obedience and submission" to this alleged authority. Jesus tells us that that true 'spiritual leaders' are only servants, never masters. Yet, evangelical leaders seem not to be listening to Jesus.

With this in mind, I would like to give you five reasons why I would never sign a church membership covenant in order to become a member.

Five Reasons to Say "No" to a Church Covenant

[Sonbeam]

I don't know if any here have been required to sign such a document, but Wade Burleson gives strong advice for not signing one.

We did. We were attending a small (50 members maybe) Baptist church at the time, and one Sunday morning the
pastor told the congregation that he would have the members sign a church covenant patterned after Rick Warren's church covenant. We spoke up right then and said we would not sign any covenant --that we were already in covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ.

We only attended that church for about a year, and as far as I can remember the above happened perhaps two or three months before we left. During that time the pastor did not bring up again, that we became aware of, the signing of a membership covenant.

This is Saddleback Church's covenant here:

http://pastors.com/one-way-to-increase- ... r-members/

sonbeam

[burien1]

I would not attend a church where I had to sign such a thing.

[GodsStudent]

I would not attend such a church, either. Churches are manmade...denominations are manmade. I once heard a pastor say in a sermon that when we get to heaven, many are going to be surprised when those already in heaven say ...."Methodist...we don't have any of those here. Lutheran...we don't have those either." Point being that all of these denominations are man made and giving people control (via their contracts) instead of God is in direct conflict with scripture. The Catholic church has taken this whole "theory/theme" to a sickening level....but people marry their churches in their hearts when they should be marrying Christ in their hearts.

[burien1]

...but people marry their churches in their hearts when they should be marrying Christ in their hearts.

I love my church family. Whether it is the church I attend, or here. I absolutely love gathering together with them. And Jesus Christ is always at the forefront of our meetings. (not so much, here)I know that most there love him as I do. And they show love towards each other. Real love and caring. (We were warned there would be tares mixed in) But I don't see anything about signing a covenant with a church as being biblical. And frankly, if not for the leaven, or tares, we would have no need for the "Church organization" where our beliefs are listed in a constitution.

When the Lord comes, there will be no need for different denominations. He will set us all straight on the truth. But for now, when we disagree completely with what some others are practicing, it can be a good thing and more harmonious to our meetings to gather with those who believe as we do what the Bible is teaching.. All you have to do is look at the debate threads right here over the years to see how heated the differences can get. Not saying we have to agree 100% with all that is taught, but we can ask questions and agree to disagree over the minor issues that are not 100% clear.. I attend a church where I can't wait for sunday mornings, and wednesday evening prayer, or bible study classes. I get there early so I can hug all of them !

This is how we roll.


Philippians 2:1-4

1 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,

2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;

4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

[Abiding in His Word]

Beautiful comment, burien1!