Annual Checkup

I hate dealing with medical insurance companies. Back when we lived in Florida, when our boys were much younger, I had to call the insurance company to find out why they would not approve their meds. Our boys were both very active and without these meds they were what we referred to as OOC (out of control). The person I was speaking to was explaining that they were evaluating their need for the meds.

I finally got so frustrated with this person that I told her that I was going to bring my two boys to her office and leave them with her until she approved their meds. She laughed and said, “Well, sir, our office is in Texas.” I said, “I. Don’t. Care.” The prescriptions got approved that day.

At Elevate Church we practice what is called covenant membership. Part of that covenant is that we will evaluate where we are each year. To have an annual checkup. And what better time to do that than at the beginning of a New Year.

We have been meeting as a church since August 2015, and we started gathering for weekly worship services on March 27, 2016. Since that time, we have seen 22 people accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have seen over 50 people connect to our church in some manner. Some have moved out of the area, some only attend occasionally, while some are here every week.

Last January, we presented those that were attending an opportunity to connect with us in a more formal manner: as covenant members. That Sunday we began with our 13 founding members of Elevate Church.

What is covenant membership?

It’s the idea that commitment in a local church is a two-way street. The believer commits to attend, pray for, uphold the doctrines of, and generally promote the mission of a particular congregation. Meanwhile, the congregation as a whole agrees to teach, pray for, encourage, and generally hold every member accountable to live a Christ-like life. While covenant church membership is implied in a number of passages, it’s also an implicit part of the Bible’s storyline: God ordained a people for himself and as God’s people the church is to live out, together, all the commandments of Christ.

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:14-20, ESV)

Why Membership?

The Scriptures call us to love one another, outdo one another in showing honor, live in harmony with one another, instruct, greet, comfort, serve, bear the burdens of, forgive, encourage, always seek to do good to, exhort, stir up to love and good works, confess your sins to, pray for and show hospitality to one another. But how can this be pursued without a deep and real commitment to the good of others?

Believers may pursue these obligations to each other through many avenues, but the primary way in which we are to fulfill them is within the fold of this messy and beautiful reality called the local church.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul draws on the imagery of a body as a metaphor for the local church. And, as participants in the body are called “members,” so this participation in the local church body is called membership. Membership is not about privilege or prestige. It is not some elevated level of access with secret insider benefits. It is not a legal document or means of control.

Membership recognizes the call of discipleship in the context of gospel-centered community. It is an affirmation and agreement to contribute to the good of the body rather than consume from it. It is a formalization of that which already implicitly exists. It is an obligation to sacrificially seek the good of others in the body of Christ by taking the general call toward service and incarnating it within a particular people.

Why Covenant?

When the Bible speaks of these formal relationships, it uses the concept of a covenant. Some of these are between people (1 Sam.18:3, 20:16; 2 Sam. 5:3) while others are between God and man (Gen. 6:18, 9;16, 15:18; Luke 22:20; Heb. 8:6-7). In some covenants, one party binds him or herself to fulfill the obligations of both sides. In others, the parties are reciprocally bound to adhere to the obligations.

Christians commit themselves to each other in the context of the local church. At Elevate Church, all members are required to take a New Members Class to learn in detail about our covenants. This class is an important representation of the formal commitment you make to join with Elevate Church.

Conclusion

God calls His people into covenant, not only to Himself but also to each other. He calls us to a life of sacrifice, generosity, service and radical commitment to the good of the body. And this happy obligation is most readily pursued within the context of a particular body—a local church.

If you joined with us in covenant membership last year, it is time to evaluate your commitment as well as the commitment that Elevate Church made. The Membership Class handbook that you received discusses the things that we expect all of our members to commit to and follow. Let me remind you what those were:

Protect the unity of the church by acting in love toward other members, refusing to gossip, and following the elders’ leadership. Share the responsibility of the church by praying for its growth, inviting the unchurched to attend, and warmly welcoming those who visit. Serve the ministry of the church by discovering my spiritual gifts and talents, being equipped to serve, and developing a servant’s heart. Support the testimony of the church by providing for the churches needs with my time, talents, and treasures.

Each year we ask for members to recommit themselves to the covenant membership. To let those around them know that they desire to continue to grow spiritually and support the work of the church.

If you have not made a commitment to a church body, what is holding you back?