What is a Covenant? What is the Church?

Transcription

1 Membership Cvenant Heritage Christian Fellwship exists t Exalt the Lrd, t Equip His Saints, and t Engage the Wrld arund us with the gspel f Jesus Christ

2 The Heritage Christian Fellwship Membership Cvenant is birthed ut f ur lve fr the church bdy and its individual members, whm we hpe will experience the fullness f jy, which is fund in the presence f the Lrd. The primary purpse f this cvenant is t serve as a teaching dcument with three functins: T clarify the biblical bligatins and expectatins fr bth the elders at Heritage and the individual members f the Heritage bdy. T establish teaching and dctrinal parameters fr the Heritage bdy. T serve as a tl fr reflectin and grwth tward hliness. Each f these functins is in accrdance with the dcument s verall visin t prvide an accessible explanatin f the Scriptures in hpes that Heritage wuld grw in the grace and truth f Jesus Christ. The Heritage Christian Fellwship Membership Cvenant is cmprised f a sectin n the Church, the nature f cvenants, the Statement f Basic Beliefs, the Statement f Thelgical Distinctives, the bligatins f the HCF elders t HCF bdy and the bligatins f members t HCF bdy. What is the Church? The church exists fr the display f the glry f Gd because all things exist fr His glry. Thse f us wh trust in and fllw Jesus are caught up in smething much bigger than urselves. We have graciusly been invited int Gd s redemptive purpses in the wrld. Since the beginning, Gd has been creating and calling frth His peple fr the display f His glry in the grand narrative f redemptin and recnciliatin. Thugh creatin nw suffers the curse f Genesis 3, the gspel is the means by which the wrld is being made right. The gspel als carries with it the prmise f ultimate renewal, a restratin even mre glrius than Eden, and thus believers eagerly anticipate the return f Christ. The Church universal (i.e., all believers, everywhere) is the means by which Gd is fulfilling His purpses in the wrld (2 Cr. 5:17-20). The Church universal is being used t write Gd s beautiful and dramatic stry f redemptin and recnciliatin. In light f this reality, the pprtunity t jin a lcal church bdy (i.e., a particular grup f believers in a particular lcale) is much mre than a cmmitment t cnsistent attendance r active invlvement in cmmunity. It is als a sacred call t be invlved in the redemptive wrk f ur svereign Gd t push back the darkness f a fallen wrld thrugh the pwer f the Hly Spirit with the light f His Sn, Jesus Christ. The church is the gathering f the redeemed, the husehld f Gd (Eph. 2:19), the bride f Christ (Rev. 21:2,9), and the bdy f Christ (1 Cr. 12:12-31). First Crinthians 12 speaks f many members within the same bdy. Just as a human bdy relies upn mutual dependence f individual members fr prper functining, s the bdy f Christ requires sacrificial and respnsible service by its individual members. As the Scriptures say, The eye cannt say t the hand, I have n need f yu, nr again the head t the feet, I have n need f yu (1 Cr. 12:21). Likewise, a member f the church cannt say t anther member that he r she is unnecessary. We all have gifts that differ accrding t the gracius prvisin f the Hly Spirit (Rm. 12:3-8). Cntrary t the beliefs f ur culture, we need each ther. Membership at Heritage is participatin in a family, a micrcsm f the universal husehld f Gd. All members are united t Christ and thus t each ther. Unity within the church is expressed in lve fr Gd and a lve fr thers, bth thse within the family and thse wh are nt. Because f the identificatin f Christ with His Church, Christians are expected t display His gspel in a manner that is wrthy f Him (Eph. 4:1). What is a Cvenant? A cvenant is generally defined as a written agreement r prmise usually under seal between tw r mre parties especially fr the perfrmance f sme actin. 1 Within the Scriptures, we find a number f examples f cvenants, sme between Gd and man (Gen. 6, 9, 15; Ezek. 20; Hs. 2; Jer. 31; Matt. 26), while thers are slely between men (1 Sam. 18; 2 Sam. 5). In sme cvenants, ne party binds his r herself t fulfill the bligatins f bth sides f the agreement. In thers, the parties are reciprcally bund t adhere t the bligatins. While Gd s cvenant with the Church universal is an example f the frmer, the lcal church cvenant represents the latter. If at any time ne f the parties f this church cvenant cntinues in a state f unfaithfulness t its prvisins, the ther is released frm certain bligatins. The cvenant f Heritage Christian Fellwship cntains many cnditins that are merely general Christian bligatins. Fr example, all Christians, whether members at Heritage r elsewhere, are required t submit t the Scriptures, pursue hliness, steward resurces, etc. Such requirements are universal bligatins fr the Christ-fllwer, regardless f any failure n the part f lcal church t live up t her cvenant bligatins. 1 Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster s Cllegiate Dictinary, Includes Index.10th ed. (Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster, 1996, c1993)

3 If at any time an individual member feels as thugh the crprate church bdy is nt remaining faithful t the requirements f the cvenant, it is the respnsibility f the individual member t lvingly and humbly express cncerns t the leadership f the church. If the church elders are unwilling t change and pursue cvenant faithfulness, then the member is freed frm his r her membership bligatins and encuraged t seek membership elsewhere given the church s disbedience. In additin, certain circumstances may prvide sufficient and righteus grunds t transfer membership elsewhere. While fcusing primarily in language n the respnsibilities between the individual parties, the crprate church bdy, her elders and her individual members, the cvenant is first and fremst an acknwledgment f general Christian bligatins and an agreement t enter int thse duties fr Gd s glry and the gd f the bdy and bride f His Sn. Benefits f a Church Cvenant We realize that the frmalizing a natural relatinship may seem strange t many. But membership allws us t frm a relatinship with the peple at Heritage that has genuine depth. It helps define thse wh are cmmitted t the wrk that Gd is ding thrugh Heritage. T be a member f a church is t make a public prmise, r cvenant, t use the Biblical term, t live accrding t the Wrd and t supprt the wrk f the cngregatin. Every believer is part f the church as rganism (the Spiritual Bdy f Christ), but nly via a public prmise can yu be part f the church as rganizatin. Accrding t the Bible, a cvenant is the basis fr all scietal relatinships: marriage, emplyment, citizenship, church membership, friendship, etc. These are all relatinships f prmise r cvenant. S what are sme f the tangible benefits f belnging t Heritage as cvenant members? Accuntability Being a member at Heritage Christian Fellwship assures yu that there is smene wh cares enugh t speak int yur life. Many peple may flw in and ut f the drs f a church and nt be knwn. Membership makes yu knwn and gives the leadership at Heritage a glimpse int yur values, beliefs, and actins. It expresses a cmmitment t knw ne anther and encurage each ther tward hliness. This may cme in the frm f instructin, exhrtatin, and even discipline when a member is nt easily entreated. Pririty At Heritage, we cvenant t give pririty t members f the church. This in n way means we d nt serve thse utside f the church, Gd frbid! But an emphasis cmes first n thse wh are part f this particular fellwship. Church members have made a cmmitment t the church bdy; a cmmitment t serve t cntribute in varius ways t the life f the church. The visitr, n the ther hand, has made n such cmmitment. Biblically, the church family is cmpared t that f a bilgical family, and we see cvenant membership kind f like a marriage. We care fr all, but we care fr family with special attentin and pririty. Transparency At Heritage, we recgnize that peple wh cmmit themselves t the wrk f the Kingdm thrugh ur lcal church bdy have a right t ask questins. Thrughut the year we plan t bring financial reprts that allw yu t see hw the resurces at Heritage are being used fr Gd s glry. Peple wh attend Heritage and give will receive a year-end statement f what they have given. Members will receive additinal infrmatin that will give a mre full picture f the wrk f the church and use f Gd s resurces. We als cmmit t giving yu reprts that detail the results f initiatives that the church seeks t accmplish thrughut the year whether favrable r nt. In additin, members are invited t ask any questins yu may have regarding prfit and lss statements, financial accuntability, and stewardship. Reciprcity At the end f each year each member will be presented with a questinnaire t fill ut. This survey will give members an pprtunity t give input n the successes and failures f ur church, the ways in which members are grwing r struggling, and prvide a feedback lp that lets us knw hw we can best serve each member better. In this way, the leadership f Heritage hpes that the Hly Spirit will give wisdm nt just in the cunsel f elders, but the multitude f cunselrs. The leadership cmmits t serving the bdy by implementatin and the bdy cmmits t serving the leadership thru supprt and feedback that enables us t get better at leading. Unity We live in a culture f rugged individualism. When a Christian cmmits themselves t a lcal bdy f believers, they are chsing tgetherness. At Heritage we believe that mre is accmplished tgether than separate. In being a member f Heritage Christian Fellwship, yu are becming a part f a team. We labr tgether, strategize tgether, and tgether we celebrate the grace f Gd at wrk in ur cmmunity. We are fellw partakers in all that the gspel is accmplishing thrugh Heritage. Thse wh attend Heritage get t experience jy by bserving Gd s wrk. But thse wh are members f Heritage get t experience the delight that cmes with knwing that Gd has dne all that He desires thrugh them as a

4 vessel. Members wn the wrk and experience the jy f the wrk f Heritage uniquely. Pastral Care While we seek t prvide pastral care fr anyne we can, particular attentin is given t cvenant members. Elders are given membership rsters t pray fr individuals and families within the church during the year. Members wh seem t have disappeared frm fellwship will be lvingly sught ut and care ffered. In general, cvenant membership gives the leadership at Heritage Christian Fellwship the ability t ensure pastral care t thse wh have cvenanted with us. Prerequisites fr Membership Fr smene t apply t becme a member at Heritage Christian Fellwship, they must first meet the fllwing criteria: Be a baptized fllwer f Christ at least 18 years f age. Must have attended Heritage fr minimum f 6 mnths. Must have read and agree t this Heritage Christian Fellwship Membership Cvenant and the Heritage Missin and Cre Values statement. Must have attended a Heritage Basics meeting. In sme situatins, the leadership may request a persnal meeting, either t meet new members, get mre inf, r clarificatin t questins. Heritage Statement f Basic Beliefs The gspel is the hpe f the wrld. As we read the Scriptures, we see the verarching themes f Gd s prvidence, pwer and prvisin t recncile mankind and the created wrld t Himself thrugh the Persn and wrk f Jesus Christ. In light f this, we aim t be explicitly gspel-centered in all that we preach, teach, and practice. I believe The Scriptures are true, authritative, and sufficient (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timthy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). There is nly ne true Gd, Creatr f heaven and earth, wh eternally exists in three distinct Persns: Father, Sn, and Hly Spirit (Deuternmy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6, 46:9-10; Jhn 17:3; 1 Crinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timthy 2:5; Genesis 1:26; Psalm 45:6-7, 110:1; Matthew 3:13-17, 28:17-20; 1 Crinthians 12:4-6). All things exist fr the glry f Gd (Psalm 148; Prverbs 16:4; Isaiah 61:3; Rmans 11:33-36; 1 Crinthians 10:31; 2 Crinthians 5:15; Ephesians 1:3-14). All humanity, Christ excluded, is sinful by bth birth and actin 2 (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Rmans 3:23, 5:8, 5:12-21, 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3). The deserved penalty fr sin is physical and spiritual death (Genesis 2:15-17, 3:19; Rmans 5:12, 6:23; James 1:14-15). Jesus Christ is the eternal Sn f Gd, was brn f a virgin and is bth fully Gd and fully human (Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; Jhn 1:1-4, 14; Clssians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus Christ died as the sacrificial substitute t pay the penalty fr sin (Jhn 1:29, 10:1-18; Rmans 5:8; 1 Crinthians 15:1-4; 2 Crinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ physically rse frm the dead, ascended int heaven, and will ne day physically return (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; Jhn 1:20-21:25, 14:3; 1 Crinthians 15:12-34; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalnians 4:16; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Jhn 3:2; Revelatin 1:7). There will be a future physical resurrectin f the dead. Only thse wh turn frm sin and t Jesus in faith and repentance will be raised t eternal reward. 3 Thse wh d nt turn frm sin and t Jesus will be raised t eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46; Jhn 5:28-29; Acts 24:15). Only thrugh faith in the Persn and wrk f Jesus Christ and repentance frm sin can ne be recnciled t Gd and experience true life and jy (Jhn 3:18, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rmans 3:21-26; 1 Timthy 2:5-6). 4 Statement f Thelgical Distinctives While the dctrines expressed in the Statement f Basic Beliefs are recgnized t be universal and primary within the Church, there are a number f secndary beliefs that we are passinate t prclaim. Nt all Christians hld these beliefs, but they are nnetheless imprtant and true as we understand the Scriptures. Cmplete agreement is nt required fr the 2 We recgnize that Adam and Eve were nt brn and were nt created sinful; rather, they became sinful thrugh their actin. 3 This is nt intended t deny the salvatin f Old Testament saints but is instead a recgnitin that they were saved thrugh faith in Jesus Christ, thugh the cntent f that faith was less clear than it is fr us n this side f the crss and resurrectin. 4 See Previus Ftnte.

5 sake f membership, but it shuld be knwn that we will preach, teach, and cunsel in accrdance with these cnvictins. These distinctives represent six areas f dctrine and practice: Divine svereignty The centrality f the gspel The gifts f the Hly Spirit The cmplementary rles f men and wmen Believer s baptism by immersin The relatinship f Gd s glry t man s jy Finally, we understand the imprtance f submissin t church leadership and expect all cvenant members will be diligent t preserve unity and peace and will adhere t the Statement f Basic Beliefs, withut being divisive ver the thelgical distinctives. Biblical Obligatins f the Heritage Elders t the Cvenant Members Elders t the Heritage Bdy As shepherds and verseers f a lcal church, elders are entrusted with prtecting, leading, equipping, and caring fr the crprate church bdy and her individual members. The fllwing is a rather extensive verview f the requirements fr elders as spelled ut within the Scriptures. The elders cvenant... T prayerfully seek Gd s will fr ur church cmmunity and steward her resurces t the best f ur ability based n ur study f the Scriptures and fllwing f the Spirit (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). T care fr the church and seek her grwth in grace, truth, and lve (Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 4:15-16; Clssians 1:28; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4). T prvide teaching and cunsel frm the whle f Scripture (Acts 20:27-28; 1 Timthy 4:16; 2 Timthy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1). T equip the members f the church fr the wrk f ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). T be n guard against false teachers and teachings (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timthy 1:3-7; 1 Jhn 4:1). T lvingly exercise discipline when necessary, fr the glry f Gd, the gd f the ne disciplined, and the health f the church as a whle (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Crinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20). T set an example and jin members in fulfilling the bligatins f church membership stated belw (Philippians 3:17; 1 Timthy 4:12; Titus 2:7-8; 1 Peter 5:3). Biblical Obligatins f the Cvenant Members t the Heritage Bdy As thse wh have experienced the grace f a life changed by the gspel f Jesus Christ, we have the pprtunity t reflect the character f Christ thrugh the pursuit f certain attitudes and actins and the rejectin f thers. The Scriptures refer t this reality as living by the Spirit (Rm. 8). The requirements f the Membership Cvenant are in n way intended as an additin t the biblical bligatins f a believer. Rather, this dcument functins primarily as an accessible yet nn-exhaustive explanatin f what the Scriptures teach abut the bedience that faith prduces. I cvenant T submit t the authrity f the Scriptures as the final arbiter n all issues (Psalm 119; 2 Timthy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). T pursue the Lrd Jesus Christ thrugh regular Bible reading, prayer, fellwship, and practice f spiritual disciplines (Luke 18:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Crinthians 9:24-27; Ephesians 5:1-21; 1 Thessalnians 5:12-22). T fllw the cmmand and example f Jesus by participating in the rdinances prescribed t His Church: By being baptized after my cnversin. By regularly remembering and celebrating the persn and wrk f Christ thrugh cmmunin. T regularly participate in the life f Heritage (HCF) by attending weekly services, engaging in gspel-centered cmmunity, and serving thse within and utside f this church (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; Titus 3:14). T steward the resurces Gd has given me, including time, talents, spiritual gifts, and finances. This includes regular financial giving, service, and participatin in cmmunity that is sacrificial, cheerful, and vluntary (Matthew 25:14-30; Rmans 12:1-2; 2 Crinthians 8-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

6 By Gd s grace, thrugh the pwer f the Hly Spirit, t walk in hliness in all areas f life as an act f wrship t Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13-16, 4:1-3). Believers shuld strive t put certain attitudes and actins t death while stirring and stimulating lve and gd deeds thrugh the Spirit. Belw are a few examples f actins addressed in the Scriptures: I will practice cmplete chastity unless married and, if married, cmplete fidelity within hetersexual and mngamus marriage. Cmplete chastity and fidelity means, amng ther things, that regardless f my marital status, I will pursue purity and abstain frm sexually immral practices such as adultery, hmsexuality, premarital sex, and prngraphy (Rmans 13:11-14; 1 Crinthians 6:15-20, 10:8; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Thessalnians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). I will seek t preserve the gift f marriage and agree t walk thrugh the steps f marriage recnciliatin at Heritage befre pursuing divrce frm my spuse (Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Crinthians 7:10-11; fr the rle f the church in the prcess f divrce, see Paul s cncern fr the reslutin f legal matters within the assembly f the church in 1 Crinthians 6). I will refrain frm illegal drug use, drunkenness, gssip, and ther sinful behavir as the Bible dictates (Rmans 1:28-32, 13:13; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; James 3:3-18). T refrain frm such activities that the Scriptures wuld deem flish (Rmans 14:14-23). T take seriusly the respnsibility f Christian freedm, especially actins r situatins that culd present a stumbling blck t anther (1 Crinthians 8:1-13). T submit t the discipline f Gd thrugh His Hly Spirit by: Fllwing the biblical prcedures fr church discipline where sin is evident in anther the hpe f such discipline being repentance and restratin. Receiving righteus and lving discipline when apprached biblically by fellw believers (Psalm 141:5; Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Crinthians 5:9-13; Hebrews 12:5-11). believers. Repent and seek help t put my sin t death (Rmans 8:13; Clssians 3:5; James 5:16; 1 Jhn 1:6-10). T submit t the elders and ther appinted leaders f the church and diligently strive fr unity and peace within the church (Ephesians 4:1-3; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5). T d the fllwing shuld I leave the church fr righteus reasns: T ntify an apprpriate staff member f Heritage Christian Fellwship. T seek anther church with which I can carry ut my biblical respnsibilities as a believer. Annual Cvenant Renewal While we view such a cvenant and its implicatins and bligatins t be a lngstanding cmmitment, fr the sake f rganizatin and fr mre accurate care f the church bdy, this cvenant will be renewed n an annual basis. The annual renewal frm will cntain a feedback pprtunity fr cmmunicatin n issues between the Heritage bdy and the leadership. In additin, thse chsing t end their cvenant with the Heritage bdy will have pprtunity t ntify us f yur severance f this cvenant n the annual cvenant renewal frm. This frm will be sent ut t all cvenant members at the end f each calendar year. The pastral staff and leadership are available t answer any questins yu might have regarding cvenant membership at Heritage. Feel free t cntact us by at: inf@heritagefellwship.net. We are mre than happy t help with any questins r prvide cpies f the Heritage Christian Fellwship Bylaws, which detail ther peratins, prcedures, and structures. T d the fllwing when I sin: Cnfess my sin t Gd and t fellw

7 Cvenant Membership Applicatin Name Phne # Address Spuse Name (If Applicable) Names and Ages f Children (If Applicable) Please indicate that yu agree with each statement: I recgnize that my sin has separated me frm Gd and cndemned me t death, but that Jesus Christ has mercifully lived n my behalf, carried my sin t the crss, died and resurrected, defeating sin and death, and has ascended int heaven, and by faith I trust in His sacrifice fr salvatin and eternal life. I have been saved by Gd s grace, nt my wrks, and desire t fllw live fr Him by the pwer f His Hly Spirit, anxiusly awaiting His return. I Agree Give a brief accunt f yur cnversin t Christ (use back f this frm if needed): I have been baptized (fllwing my cnversin t Christ) (Yes/N) Heritage Christian Fellwship des nt believe that baptism is required fr salvatin, hwever, we DO believe that it is a key example f ur bedience t Jesus Christ and an imprtant picture f His wrk f regeneratin in the believer s life. Thus, Heritage hlds that baptism is a requirement fr membership. I have received and carefully read, and with integrity agree t the Heritage Christian Fellwship Membership Cvenant and the Heritage Missin and Cre Values Statement: I Agree I have attended Heritage Christian Fellwship fr years and mnths (Minimum 6 mnth requirement). I have attended a Heritage Basics class. (Date attended: ) I Agree I have previusly held membership in Church. I hereby apply fr membership at Heritage Christian Fellwship. Signature Date