Throughout the past five weeks, Pathways has been exploring what it might look like to live out our Core Values in specific ways. We’ve dreamed about what it could look like to be a community that lives around our values.
This past weekend, we introduced the Pathways Covenant. This is a picture of what it might look like for us to live as a community wrapped around these values. This post is for any questions that you might have about the covenant that we are walking through together. We realize that the concept of covenant is not an overly familiar term in our culture. We want this to be an open forum to wrestle through this idea together. Individually, it is impossible to display unity to the world. Together, we can walk in a way that communicates the true character of God.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
After reading over the covenant, the one thing that stands out to me the most is theme of accountability. In the midst of what we are dealing with we should try to rely on “one another”. Even if that isn’t our first reaction.
Today’s message hit home, once again. Before we found Pathways, we were doing some serious church hopping. I always had some gripe about the people there. And I kept thinking to myself that if we have this great thing in common why is there all this friction? Why can’t I get along with everyone? Why do I feel like I am an outsider? Why do I expect everyone to live up to this impossible standard that I can’t even live up to? I am not sure if that was something I thought of my own or if I learned it along the way. Then God started to show me, through Pathways really, that it is ok to be me. Not to be perfect and have it all together. How refreshing! Just because I am a follower of Jesus doesn’t mean I am going to get along with every fellow Christian. That has taken me some time to absorb.
So reading over the covenant today made me aware of just how important it is to draw on those around us. To be held accountable so we don’t stumble on our own. I am glad to see that this is something that is important to our church community.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Greetings to all in the Pathways Community Church may God bless you.
Thank you Pastor Dean for the awesome spiritual nourishment served today through your sermon on Church Community. I was blessed from the listening. I learned from it and changed a few preconceived ideas that this old mind had on the subject matter.
I see Church Community as—common unity—a coming together in one mind, the mind of Christ. As stated in scripture, once an intimate knowledge of God is had, written on the mind and heart will be the character of God (Hebrews). His Character was written out, by His own hand, on stone tablets, given to Moses for the people to have and to use as benchmark for living a life best lived, the ultimate covenant between God and man.
Jesus came to show the world this character could be achieved by man. Not easily or without struggle and sacrifice, but, if with the right motive, continued, it will give meaning and lead to redemption. In effort to adhere to this character, one will find help and a promise to stay with you till the end, to pick you up when you fall, and to carry you when you just can’t go on. I believe this help is God and from God, or God given through His church body. As the church is to help in the growing process and pains of its members and into the secular community as witness with open hearts and helping hands.
The core values of Pathways are good. I pray and hope they serve as a secondary foundation, set upon the first foundation of rock solid values of God’s character. As the church is not for perfect people it should be for those who strive towards perfection. As instructed by Jesus to become Holy as He is Holy, it is a must in achieving eternal life.
Perfect in the process towards life eternal, allowed by grace: Justification—by Jesus’ righteousness, Sanctification—a setting aside from carnality in pursuit of perfection, and into Glorification—after death, the ultimate achievement for God’s chosen. (Romans).
By study of the early church one will see much strife and by no means perfection, but Jesus gave a perfect church at the very beginning and again, it should be something strived for. As a plant goes through the process of growth it has many stages, each considered perfect. The seed, perfect in itself, the panted seed sprouts, and also at this stage is counted perfect. The young plant, again, in this form, perfect, and into the fruit bearing stage with complete perfection.
Pathways’ core values, set on the right foundation, pursued with the right motive, will lead to many perfect stages of Christian growth in an individual and as a community.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I want to be honest that I am confused about covenant and what that means for us as a church. It seems to be a word used predominantly in either law or in Christian circles, and for the past few years has become a buzz word to describe marriage. We talked about covenant a few weeks ago at home group and I walked away seeing how God offered covenant toward humans, but it didn’t seem to be a mutual commitment together. I had always thought covenant was two sided.
If there is a covenant with God, do we have a responsibility/agreement? What would a covenant in a church mean? If someone doesn’t agree 100% with one of the church’s values, affirmations, or commitments does that mean they are not in covenant? What if they desire to agree with it but don’t feel like they can with where they are at today? Can someone disagree with the covenant and still be a part of the church community?
I guess the other part I struggle with is how to keep a covenant from being another set of rules and regulations that become something religious rather than being something that flows from our heart. I don’t want to agree to words on a piece of paper just because church leaders hand it to me or because I am told to believe them. Instead I want to choose to wrestle through each of the core values, affirmations, and commitments but that is hard work and something I won’t accomplish overnight, in fact I have wrestled with aspects of the core values for a year now and find it is something I may never completely come to terms with because as I grow, change, and learn new things my perspectives keep changing. I don’t think I can wrestle through those questions alone and get good answers though because this is a community and as Nicole pointed out we need to do it in relationship with each other.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Great responses so far. Nicole, I appreciate the way you are processing through “community”. It is not an easy one for any of us - especially when we try to make it something that it is not.
Sherri, great questions, which I won’t completely try to answer here - although I’ll keep thinking through them throughout the week and will continue to post as I process.
One question for all of us…What would it be like to be a part of a community that saw no value in covenanting together?
February 5th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I agree with Nicole that it is refreshing to covenant. I think it is like being a child, as much as they won’t admit it, they crave structure, boundaries and something to be a part of. Something that validates who they are, and where they are going. Something that will encourage them when they are on the right track and be there with them when nothing makes sense.
I think we crave this, not only as children… but as adults as well. I am refreshed to see that as a community, we are reaching out to see what this might look like as we do life together. It is a nice idea to talk about, yet when covenant comes in… it makes us take a step and challenges us to go furtheer. I personally am pretty excited about committment these days (surprise surprise!!) I am thankful for the challenge of covenant.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Greetings, to the people of Pathways Community Church may God bless your hearts and minds.
Please forgive this as it is lengthy, but I feel inspired to write this. The subject matter is covenant. In the NIV bible this word, meaning (co) 2 in agreement, a contract, a promise between one and (an)other(s) is used from Genesis to Revelation some 286 times. It plays an important part of God’s vocabulary to those who have motive of doing His will.
We read that God’s will is that none should perish and all come to everlasting life. And He makes it possible to do just that through His covenant between those who are motivated with the right heart. At first, the covenant was followed with righteousness through works. A people, who originally were Israelites in captivity of Egypt, followed as slaves that which was told to them. (And they found comfort in this, a reason why it was so hard for Moses to start the Exodus). So, in keeping the ideas of God it was a self-doing (following the law) that saved them. This is why God gave a better way (new covenant), because the first was into death (wages of sin) as none could keep every letter of the perfect law on-their-own. (Romans).
Jeremiah 31:31-32 31 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
New covenant: Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
By this new covenant Jesus fulfills the requirement, (only He kept the entire letter of the Law) and in the following, one continues to have atonement even when one slips or falls off the path, as long as the effort to keep this agreement is genuinely followed and motivated with the right heart and mind, and focus of Jesus is the gravity of your ways.
The results of not following God’s covenant in Jeremiah 1-3 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant-
The purpose for a God given covenant is to create the way for a better people and the main benefit is to be next to the Lord. Known to God, as to who follows, by their heart, or motive.
As a parent you create a covenant between you and your child, rules or guidelines that are in the best interest of your child and them growing into a good and better person. Not necessarily liked by both parties, usually the receiver, but still needed to set boundaries and ensure a safe environment unto growth.
Here, I believe is where the Core Values of Pathways can be considered as a covenant between the Church and the members attending. Serving as a better way, a way of growth, and understanding what is desired for the people who call themselves members. But even here they need be adhered to their hearts by the right motive. Like the famous speech John F. Kennedy made many years past, “Ask not what my country can do for me, but what can I do for my country.” In the church community one need substitute the word church for country.
A covenant also allows the party receiving the contract, as to say, an ability to know the who of the other end, as in Ezekiel 16:62 So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. So the core values of PCC (Pathways Community Church) can act as a declaration of the Heart of PCC. What the church is guided by, the just of purpose.
The bible tells in Revelation that an arch holds the covenant of God (His character or Commandments) and acts as a part of the entire picture of covenant, between God and those who choose to use their freewill to follow. The other part of this contract (covenant) is Jesus, and the promise is, as you know, eternal life with Him when the guidelines are met.
In the effort to keep such a contract, I ask that you hold up, at arms length, in front of your face, your hand with your index finger pointing up. Now look to this finger, but bring into focus that which is past the hand, in the doing you will see two fingers. Here the finger represents Jesus, and that beyond, the world and things that can stifle growth in your Faith. In seeing two of Jesus one cannot truly know the genuine and the false. Now focus on the finger. You will be able to see the genuine finger as there is one, but now the rest is out of focus. God says to be in the world but not of the world. Point is, if one keeps their focus on Jesus and His ways (covenant), all the rest is only a distraction.
I encourage you to read the Word daily as it helps to bring into focus the Love so spelt out in the ultimate covenant. Also, in the home group bible discussions, there is a lot of interaction between the word and believers, and can help in a better understanding of what really the covenant of God means. Study to show yourself approved. In doing these, one is adhering to the core values of a Loving God and by that there is no better way!
February 6th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Greetings again,
Yes, I have written 3 times this session and pray your indulgence.
I believe a key though or word was slipped in the above writing. This is Trust. As the contract, promise or covenant is written one sided, but with both interests at mind, trust is so very important. By Hope evolves trust. Trust is needed to see beyond the reformatting of covenant in suiting a particular interest, party or need, but rather the over all picture of what and whom it serves.
Through scripture the motive of God’s will is found and then a need to trust His direction in the fulfilling of it. He even gives the strength to do so. Applied by faith through grace. All glory to Him and the kingdom to come.
Without Hope and Trust the covenant could not be fulfilled, to God’s purpose or to the purpose of PCC, which we pray, hope and trust, are the same. It is truly a labor of love in finding the hope and trust in the doing and changing to meet the mark set before us on the way to the promised land. Good luck and God Bless.
February 7th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Last night at home group, I shared that I am struggling greatly with abuse issues going back to my childhood. If I am to enter into this covenant we are discussing, I need to exit my comfort zone. This was definately outside my comfort zone. Today, I am still ok with the fact I opened up about this. I have struggled so much with this for some 25 years and now it has me at times questioning God’s and others love for me. Just because I do not understand God’s plan for me and I am presently angry with God and others as a result of the abuse - God loves me even when I question Him and when I am angry with Him. And while I am very angry about the happenings, my love for God is still as strong as ever. And on a personal note here - do your kids know how much you love them?
February 7th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Alex, I’m moved by your post as I know how difficult it has been for you to open up about the pain in your past. Seriously - tears at the Spotted Cow. I know that your ability to share that hurt is only because you are grasping this idea of covenant - a commitment not just to God, but to one another as we pursue God.
I know I’ve told you this before, but God is just as angry (or more) about your abuse as you are! It wasn’t what He intended, but the beautiful thing is watching Redemption unfold in your life, in spite of the pain!
February 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
As Dean shared a couple of weeks ago, the most frequently used Hebrew word to describe God is chesed (remember, in order to say it correctly it sounds like you are getting ready to spit). The literal definition of the word is “Follow Through.” In the Hebrew Old Testament it is translated “Covenant Keeper.” Our English Bible uses five different equivalents to translate chesed - Faithful, faithfulness, mercy, merciful, and everlasting love.
A covenant is presented by a “covenant maker.” It is accepted by an agreeing party. The key to a covenant, and what makes it different from a contract, is that a covenant is designed so all participating parties are blessed. The promises of a covenant are always present because the “covenant maker’ is faithful to follow through. However, if a person refuses the covenant and walks away, the promises are not received. For instance, A loving God does not condemn a person to Hell. That person choses to ignore or walk away from God’s covenant. Therefore, they do not enjoy the benefits thereof.
A church that covenants with its community is a body that is seeking the good of everyone who chooses to be a part. To be a “member” is to agree to participate in the covenant - not a legally binding contract. Remember, the church is its people, not a governing body that is deciding who is “in” and who is “out.” If I chose to participate in the church’s core values, I enjoy the benefits worshiping and fellowshipping with fellow believers, strugglers who have been redeemed and found meaning in walking with Christ as a part of this community. There is nothing “legalistic” about it. We are either enjoying the benefits of a covenant relationship or we are ignoring or rejecting them - thus missing out on the benefits.
The benefits are always available to anyone who wishes to participate because a covenant makers (the church) keeps its agreement. However, there will be those who walk away from or work against the values that bind us to the each other. These people will miss out on the beauty of what God provides through a community of the covenant. Nevertheless, because the covenant maker is faithful, merciful and loving, the benefits are still available to those who return to enjoy them.
I hope this makes sense.
February 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Alex, your post is inspiring. I’ve got tears as well. Thanks for sharing your heart with us (me). I’m honored to be in covenant with you as you continue to walk this journey of Redemption. Keep going brotha’, we’re beside you the entire way!
February 9th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Continuing to ponder Sherie’s statement - “I guess the other part I struggle with is how to keep a covenant from being another set of rules and regulations that become something religious rather than being something that flows from our heart.”
I could not agree more! That is why it was really important to us to have the covenant reflect heart instead of things to do. We want it to be about “being” rather than “doing”. We feel that acurately reflects the teachings of Jesus who talked a lot about “being” and got angry with those who focused on “rules” or “laws” as their focus.
I pray that our covenant will never become something religious and will forever be something that flows from our hearts.
February 12th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Thanks Dean. The part I have wrestled with are the “commit to” statements because they are written in a way that I hear guidelines for how to act, guidelines I know I will fall short of. Josh helped me understand that they were included in an attempt to help us know how to actually live the covenant out rather than having it just be ideas that don’t become real. I agree wholeheartedly with that. The only way the covenant will be real is if we choose to live it, not just talk about it.