The Covenant Explained, Part 6

The third paragraph of the body of the church covenant returns the focus to our responsibilities toward one another as church members. Unlike the earlier paragraph, however, it deals with how we are to treat one another personally rather than our concern for spiritual growth and discipleship.

“We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love…”

Sometimes we can be too independent, especially as Americans. We embrace the rugged individualism that is part of the ethos of our nation, or at least has been for most of the past 200 or so years. As a result, we may resent others’ attempts to develop close relationships, and especially to watch over us. Do you feel as though your personal lifestyle and choices are nobody’s business but your own? Many people feel that way, but is it necessarily right? On one hand, the Scriptures teach us not to be busybodies, getting involved in things that do not concern us, but at the same time we are taught to love one another as brothers and sisters and to watch over each other with genuine affection. This covenant commitment involves a caution against both errors here. We are agreeing to be watchers over the other members of the church, and to do so with brotherly love, while at the same time agreeing to be watched over by the other members, believing their concern to be an expression of brotherly love and not judgmentalism or a desire to hear the latest gossip.

“…to remember each other in prayer…”

This is essential if we are going to fulfill the first commitment in this paragraph. In order to maintain the right attitude as we watch over each other and as we are watched over. When you join EBC you affirm that you will remember to pray for the other members in the church. Praying for them will give you a heart to love them as brothers and sisters, to forgive them when they sin against you, and to care enough about their spiritual welfare to confront them when the need arises. Since we are convinced of the absolute sovereignty of God, we realize that prayer does not move or change the will of God to do something that he does not desire to do. Instead, prayer serves to tune our hearts to seek and accept his will, and this is why it is so important that we engage in regular prayer for one another. To this end, we have a long-standing practice of gathering during the week for a special time of prayer and fellowship. These meetings take place on Wednesday nights, and are a great opportunity for you to fulfill this covenant promise.

“…to aid each other in sickness and distress…”

It always amazes me how people who have no connection to EBC will call my office looking for help in dealing with some material need. I wonder to myself, and sometimes to them, why they don’t turn to their own church family for help. Of course, the reason that most do not do so is that they have no church family. They are not Christians, or at least they are disobedient Christians who have not submitted to the oversight and support of a local church body. When disaster strikes and they face a major illness, the loss of a loved one, of their home, or of a job, they have nowhere to turn for support. On the other hand, as members of this local church, we have committed to offer help to one another whenever we are sick or in any form of distress.

To do this effectively, we need to keep a few things in mind. First, we must be faithfully watching over one another as we have already discussed, so we will know when someone has a need and be sensitive to how we may be able to meet their need. Second, we have to be open and honest with others about our needs. Too often we don’t tell anyone about an illness or some other need because we don’t want to be a burden or we value our independence. This really is nothing more than pride, as we should welcome the concern of our brothers and sisters when they seek to offer help. We should be trying to draw closer to one another rather than pull away. Third, while we certainly should care about the needs of outsiders, our close relationship with the other members of the church means that we should naturally be more aware of their needs and more inclined to care for them as our family in Christ. This is consistent with what Paul wrote in Gal. 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”