A Covenant Service

It must be thirty years ago that we began to attend a little local Methodist chapel, and discovered that once a year they had what was called a Covenant Service. At this service those who wished would renew their promises to Christ (not, that is, to the church). Not everybody attended, the service seemed to sort out those who were happy to attend the church on Sunday and enjoy the company, from those who felt the urge to take their Christianity further, and be fully committed.

Most Christian groups seem to have this kind of distinction. Seventy years ago I remember we used to look down on the 'nominals' and we enquired carefully whether any brother or sister we met had 'consecrated'. It can be a little dangerous for a congregation to make a point of classifying believers into those who are true 'sheep' and those who, if not actually 'goats', are not quite living up to being 'sheep'. Especially so if we make our opinions obvious to those concerned. It is to our Master that we stand or fall (Rom.14.4). Even so, it cannot be denied that we all need to 'grow in grace' (some perhaps more than others?)

I was reading in a book by a nineteenth century Church of England bishop about believers whose faith did not go beyond a certain point. They might say, 'The Lord has loved me', or, 'the Lord has sought and found me', or, 'the Lord has shed his blood for me'.... 'the Lord has changed me'.... 'the Lord leads and guards me'. All of this, if they are speaking truly, is very good indeed. But, he said, our Christian life can not end there, saying what the Lord has done for us. We need to respond, and in love and obedience, to be 'in Christ'. Understanding this relationship pours into life 'a new light, a new power... "I am in Christ and He is in me. I am the branch, the limb, of my living Lord. He and I are at this moment one spirit... I belong to Him."'

The Covenant Service, we discovered, had been in use among the Methodists for over two hundred years, since the days of John Wesley. 'The idea of Covenant was basic to his idea of Christian discipleship. Relationship with God in Covenant was like a marriage between human beings on the one side and God in Christ on the other (see Ephesians 5.21-33). His original Covenant Prayer involved taking Christ as "my Head and Husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour and obey thee before all others, and this to the death." Wesley recognised that people needed not just to accept but also to grow in relationship to God. He therefore emphasised that God's grace and love constantly prompts and seeks to transform us, and so we should continually seek and pray to grow in holiness and love.... Over a number of years Wesley gradually saw the need for some regular ceremony which would enable people to open themselves to God more fully. He looked for some means of helping them to hear God's offer and challenge ever more deeply, and to allow God to prompt and enable them to respond.'

So this service begins with rejoicing in all that God has done for us, our Creator, who has given us 'the light of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor.4.6) Joy about Jesus 'who was rich and for our sake became poor'(2 Cor.8.9) and all he did while on earth. He opens the kingdom of heaven to every believer, and will come again. By God's Spirit we are born into the family of God. He will do for us 'More than we can ask or think'(Eph.3.20) All this, and more, is something to be enjoyed by even the least of Christians, when we stop to think.

Both the least of Christians and the best of Christians are aware of failings, deficiencies, sins. For example, are we quick to learn, or slow? Do we follow Christ, always? Are we prepared to take up our own personal cross? Do we use our opportunities, whether to worship together, or to witness? Are we good stewards of the gifts given to us? These things are mentioned, so that we can repent of them, and seek forgiveness. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(1 John 1.8,9)

The service includes in the readings the one from one from Jeremiah (31.33) concerning the new covenant with the house of Israel, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people." There is quotation from Hebrews 12, mentioning the 'assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven' (v23) while from John 15 comes word of the true vine, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples."

Then comes the explanation of how the covenant is understood in this service. 'In the Old Covenant, God chose Israel to be his people and to obey his laws. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, has made a New Covenant with all who trust in him. We stand within this Covenant and we bear his name.

On the one side, God promises in this Covenant to give us new life in Christ. On the other side, we are pledged to live no more for ourselves but for him.

Today therefore, we meet expressly, as generations of our fathers have met, to renew the Covenant which bound them, and binds us, to God.'

The people stand, and the minister says: Beloved in Christ, let us again claim for ourselves this Covenant which God has made with his people, and take the yoke of Christ upon us.

To take his yoke upon us means that we are content that he appoint us our place and work, and that he himself be our reward.

Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is given us in Christ, who strengthens us.

Therefore let us make this Covenant of God our own. Let us give ourselves anew to him, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace.

Eternal God, in your faithful and enduring love you call us to share in your gracious Covenant in Jesus Christ. In obedience we hear and accept your commands; in love we seek to do your perfect will; with joy we offer ourselves anew to you. We are no longer our own but yours......

These words, or ones much like them, have been repeated with deep feeling by faithful Christian people for centuries. We found it a privilege when we heard about this service and were able to take part in it. Whatever the form of words used, and whatever the different traditions of various groups and denominations, we must be grateful for anything which helps us to give our hearts and lives more fully to our Lord Jesus Christ.