The Moravian Way A Teenager s Guide to the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living

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Bathsheba Gaines
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1 The Moravian Way A Teenager s Guide to the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living The study of the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living should be an energizing experience. When we study together we learn from each other and are drawn into closer communion with God and one another. The MCCL helps us answer the frequent question, Who are the Moravians? More importantly, it helps us know how to live our lives as Christians. Although it is not binding on people, it is a statement of what the Moravian Church most values, and it is intended to guide our decisions as a community of faith. Session Objectives To learn about the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living (MCCL) To appreciate the ways the church can help you live as a Christian To explore ways to discuss controversial ideas and make good personal decisions To discover the core values of the Moravian Church To grow closer to Christ by living in love Introduction: A Moravian Statement of Faith Most churches have statements of their beliefs. These are often called creeds or confessions of faith. One of the most important Moravian statements is a little different. We call it the Covenant for Christian Living (abbreviated as the MCCL). We use the MCCL to help us understand the Word of God and to live according to God s will. It is significant that the Moravian Church has a statement that focuses on how we live our lives as Christians rather than defining all of the things people ought to believe about God or the church. Moravians value simplicity, whether in church architecture, music, or doctrine. Simplicity does not mean that we are simplistic or simple-minded, though. The MCCL is written in fairly plain language, but it deals with some of the most profound mysteries of God and human life. It is part of our joyful proclamation of what God has done and how we hope to respond to God s goodness. questions Do you think it is helpful is have a guide for living as a Christian? Which is more important to you as a Christian: what you believe or how you life? A Quick History Lesson Nearly 300 years ago, the Moravians founded a new religious community called Herrnhut in Germany. They welcomed all kinds of people from many churches and many countries, but soon people began fighting with each other over doctrine. They disagreed over what it

2 meant to be a Christian and began to treat each other badly. When things were at their worst, Count Zinzendorf stepped in. With his help, the people discussed their differences, but more importantly they recognized that what they had in common as followers of Christ was more important than their divisions. They also saw the need for some guiding principles to help organize their life as a community. The result of this discussion and prayer was the Brotherly Agreement signed on May 12, Everyone in the village agreed to live according to simple rules of behavior taken from the New Testament. This Brotherly Agreement was the beginning of the renewal of the Moravian Church and led to the great mission effort of the Moravians. The name of the Brotherly Agreement was changed in the 1980s to make it clear that sisters are part of the agreement. The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living is the modern version of the Brotherly Agreement. The MCCL has been changed many times through the centuries as the church and society changed. The word Covenant is a biblical word for a solemn agreement or contract. Israel s relationship to God is defined in Scripture as a Covenant. A Covenant is a voluntary bond that holds us together even when we fail to meet all of the obligations of the Covenant. What are some of the things Christians disagree about? Why do you think it is good to have some rules for how to treat people even when we disagree? Can you think of other things we use the word covenant for? What is a covenant? Which term to you like better: Brotherly Agreement of Covenant for Christian Living? Break During the break, everyone should get a copy of the MCCL and take a few minutes to look it over before the next session. Scripture The MCCL begins with Scripture, which is very important for Moravians. From the days of John Hus our church has encouraged the reading of the Bible in the common language of the people, and the Bible remains central to Moravian life. We base our faith and practice on the Bible, but we know that Christians often about the Scriptures. Some of our ancestors were even imprisoned and tortured by the Inquisition because of disagreements about the Bible. We Moravians value the Bible highly, but we know that it is God alone who is the source of our life and salvation. Scripture is sacred to us because it points us to God. The Covenant sets forth a guiding principle that is evident throughout Moravian doctrine and practice: we respect the complexity of Scripture and do not attempt to force a single interpretation on the Scripture. The Moravian Church teaches the basic doctrines of Christianity, but we also recognize that many things about God remain mysterious. The

3 statement on essentials and non-essentials reminds us that we are ultimately defined by our love. We are called to love and serve God, not to define and confine God to our limited understanding and vision. What does the Bible mean to you? Do you think it is okay that Christians sometimes disagree about the Bible? What do you think is the most important thing the Bible teaches? As you study the MCCL, try to identify Scripture passages it uses. Life in Christ Christian living ultimately comes from being in relationship with the living Christ who works within us to shape our lives into images of his life. Each of us represents Christ in different ways in the world. This means we will continue to grow as Christians as we grow as people. Ideally, we should be better Christians at the end of life than we were when we became Christian. It is also important that we recognize that other Christians are also works in progress, and we should give them the same grace that we have needed and continue to need. Moravians view gentleness as an essential spiritual gift. Moravians believe that all of life is a gift from God. Our bodies, our minds, our talents, and many of our opportunities were given to us. Those who have received gifts have the obligation of gratitude toward the giver and the responsibility to care for the gift given. One of the most important statements in the MCCL is Since disciples of Jesus are to be known by the love they have to one another (John 13:35), we will cherish Christian love as of prime importance. The bible verse quoted here comes from Jesus final instructions to his disciples in John. Disciples of Christ are to love each other as Christ has loved us. For many centuries, the church officially proclaimed that the essentials of our church included our response to God s salvation through faith, love, and hope. In other words, for Moravians, love is an essential; in fact is the most essential thing. What does it mean to you that you were made by God? What does love mean to you? What gifts has God given you and how can you use them in the church? Living with Other Christians The call to unity is a common thread running through every version of the Brotherly Agreement. From the beginning the Christian Church included people from many different cultures who spoke many different languages and observed many different customs. Being

4 Christian does not erase our distinctiveness; it may enhance it by giving us the grace and freedom to be who God created us to be. One way of understanding the Moravian perspective is to imagine heaven as the perfect community. Who will you expect to see in heaven? Will it only be people who have the same skin color, economic status, language, accent, educational background, theology, and gender as you? The Christian Church is called to reflect the heavenly vision on earth, but in the world we see that these same differences are the source of much hatred, conflict, and bloodshed. Humans tend to hate what they do not understand and reject that which is different. The Moravian Church has seen this as a particularly important part of its mission in the service of Christ; therefore we have been tolerant of differences within our Unity. What do you think about the fact there are so many different churches? Do you think it is good that there are so many different kinds of people? What makes it difficult for different types of people to live together in love? How can you help people get along? Worship The most basic activity of the Christian Church is worship. This statement does not diminish other important Christian activities, such as evangelism and acts of mercy. The Moravian Covenant reminds us that worship is not an obligation imposed on us; it is a blessing that we have received from God. We believe that Sunday is a day for worship and study of the Bible. Our church traces its origins to a reform movement in Bohemia over five centuries ago. We broke away from the Roman Catholic Church primarily over the issue of giving the cup (chalice) to the laity in Holy Communion. Our ministers typically wear a white robe in communion to emphasize that it is really Christ who gives us this sacred meal. Communion is a way to be united with our Lord and to the mystical body of Christ that transcends our divisions. Christians sometimes argue about on the basic rituals of our faith, such as baptism. The Moravian Church in every province of the Unity baptizes the children of members as a witness to our conviction that children are also redeemed by Christ. We have always taught that children should be raised in such a way that they know that they are children of God and that they value their relationship to God. Why do you go to church on Sundays? What do you find most meaningful about worship? How could Sunday worship be more meaningful for you?

5 What do you believe about baptism and Holy Communion? Politics It often makes people uncomfortable to talk about faith and politics. In fact, for two thousands years the church and state have been conflict over many issues, such as capital punishment. Some Christians believe that the church should separate itself completely from politics; others think that the church should use the government to make society more Christian. The Moravian Church was the first church to reject the idea of a state church. Moravians have sometimes refused to cooperate with laws that we have seen as a violation of the most basic aspects of justice. However, the Moravian Church has never preached violence or rebellion. The MCCL recognizes the duty of Christians to resist evil laws. Our church officially endorses the Barmen Declaration that was written in 1934 in Germany in opposition to actions of the Nazi government. The Barmen Declaration reaffirmed the Christian conviction that God rather than the State is sovereign. At times in the past Moravians established their own communities (like Salem). Through the years we came to realize that there is a special opportunity and calling for Christians to influence the laws of the land and establish justice. Moravians who live in America enjoy the blessings of a government based on the idea of a social contract, and the Covenant reminds us that we need to fulfill our part of the contract. Many Moravians now serve in public office as part of their Christian vocation. One of the most difficult issues Christians have always faced is war. The Moravian Church was founded in 1457 as the first peace church, but today we leave the question of military service up to the conscience of individuals. We encourage our members who are in the military not to embrace a culture of violence and oppression but to mitigate the suffering of others even in the midst of armed conflict. The Moravian commitment to peace goes beyond military issues. It is one of our core convictions. We believe and teach that God intends for all people to live in peace and avoid harming other people. We have traditionally taught that we should not stir up trouble with our neighbors and that we should pray for the peace of the lands in which we minister. We pray for peace for the sake of our brothers and sisters, including those who are serving in uniform. Do you think people should let their religious views affect their politics? Do you think Christians should ever disobey the government? When? What do you think about capital punishment and war? How can we live our faith in a secular, democratic society? Right Living Moravians believe that ethics flow from what is in our hearts, not from some abstract legal principle. Because we have been redeemed and brought into a loving relationship with the Father through our Savior, we are able to give others the same grace we have received. We

6 understand that the entire biblical law is summed up in the commandment to do unto others as you would have others do unto you. This applies to how we live at school, in our jobs, in our homes, and in the world. Many Moravians report that they are uncomfortable witnessing to others about their faith in Christ. Witnessing to faith often seems like an effort to convince other people that they are wrong for believing what they believe or that they must join a particular church. The MCCL teaches that witnessing to our faith should be a cheerful sharing with others the joy and comfort we have in following Jesus Christ. Sometimes our strongest witness is when we do not participate in the petty cruelties and violence we see daily in our world. At all times our faith should be formed in love. We also witness by how we treat our own bodies. If we acknowledge that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, then we acknowledge that they ultimately belong to God not us. The MCCL also makes it clear that racism is sinful. Africans enslaved on the island of St. Thomas were told by their masters that they were worthless and did not have souls, but Moravian missionaries brought the message that they were precious to God. Because of Christ, African slaves could be brothers and sisters with Europeans. If we believe that God made all people in his image and the Christ shed his blood for all people, how could we tolerate racial prejudice? How do you try to witness to Christ s love at school? Why does the MCCL focus on racial prejudice? How can Christians make the world a better place by living according to Jesus s teachings? Conclusion The MCCL ends with a reminder that the Moravian Church teaches that all of life should be held in sacred trust. We do not believe that there is a difference between our secular life and our religious life. All of our activities are part of our worship and service to the Lord. We look to our church leaders help us live as disciples, but the most important thing is that we continually seek to do the will of Christ. Final Exercise If you were going to rewrite the MCCL for teenagers today, what would you take out? What would you add to the MCCL?

Prayers of the People with Confession

Prayers of the People with Confession Let us pray for the Church and for the world. God of love, we pray for your church: For N., our Presiding Bishop; N. (and N), our bishop(s); for all lay and ordained