The final paragraph of our current church covenant, published by John Newton Brown in 1853, is possibly the most controversial and most ignored portion of the document. Remember that this covenant is not just a few nice ideas put down on paper, but is an agreement that each member affirmed when he or she joined EBC. These are not mandates from the pastor or church leadership but principles that each of us voluntarily submitted to when we chose to join this church. With this understanding, let us consider the final sentence of the covenant.
“We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word.”
What is so controversial about this sentence? It directly links the two principles of our personal integrity and our commitment to local church membership as an expression of faithfulness to the Bible.
As with every other section of the covenant after the introduction, this one begins by declaring, “We…engage.” This simple statement means “to pledge or bind with an oath,” at least in the way it is being used in this covenant. In other words, this is not the opinion of church leadership, but a promise made by every member who joins this church. We are vowing to one another that we will do the things this covenant says we will do, not the least of which is this final commitment. The commitment itself is very clear, that we will, if we at any point leave this church, join another church of like faith where we can live out the same ideals that this covenant affirms, and we will do so as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this commitment is often ignored.
In some cases, individuals will leave the church only to wander from church to church, attending but never joining a congregation of like faith. In other cases, they will leave the church and eventually join another church, but only after a long and unnecessary delay. Sometimes, a person will leave the church and join a church that teaches something contrary to the principles of this covenant. And in some instances, someone will leave the church and stop attending church altogether. The reasons for these varied actions are many. Possibly, they do not believe that church membership is important, or that this commitment is truly biblical and right. However, if that is the case, one wonders why they ever affirmed it in the first place. Another possibility is that they simply become lazy or careless when it comes to their spiritual life. This is a danger for all of us, certainly, but it is an even greater danger for those who are not active members of a local congregation, where we ought to be stimulated to grow in the Lord and our commitment to him and to his church. So for those who have become lazy, it is doubly important that they follow through on this commitment! Of course, there may be some who have strayed from the truth that they have been taught, and so leave a faithful church to join one that will accommodate their erring beliefs or practices. Whatever the reason, the person who does not join another church of like faith as soon as possible, calls into question his own integrity by not fulfilling his promise in this covenant.
Now before I go further, let me make it clear that I have no animosity toward those who have left EBC and failed to join another Bible-believing church. My heart grieves for them, and I pray that they will see the error they have made and repent and join themselves to a Bible-believing church which will build them up in Christ and help them grow in faithfulness. Just as we ought to hold one another accountable for the earlier commitments in this covenant, such as our promises to walk together in Christian love, to be just in our dealings, to avoid tattling and backbiting, and to remember each other in prayer, we ought to hold one another accountable for this final principle. When a brother or sister leaves this place and does not unite with another church in a reasonable amount of time, we ought to question them as to why that is, and to encourage them to demonstrate their integrity in this matter. Our testimony as Christians is at stake, as is our spiritual well-being, for no member can long survive being separated from our bodies, neither can a member of Christ’s body, the church, long survive being dismembered from the local congregation. It is not harsh, therefore, but loving to strongly and strenuously plead with your brother to join another godly fellowship, and if he will not hear your loving rebuke, then this church must exclude him from membership as an act of discipline for his continuing disobedience.
It is also wise for each of us to consider our own attitude toward this principle, if we should ever leave this place, that we do not fall into sin through carelessness or hardness of heart toward the church of Christ. May we be faithful to keep our commitments and to honor the Lord with the integrity of our hearts, words, and actions and so fulfill the purpose of the church covenant.