Prioritizing Covenant Identity

Throughout Scripture, God forms a people first and then gives them practices to live by. He gives them covenant identity first, and then the practice. We want to follow this example.

Here are two examples:

Exodus 19–24: God calls Israel into covenant at Sinai (identity), then gives them laws and ordinances (practices).

Acts 2:41–42: People first believe and are baptized (added to their number), then they devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, etc.

In the same way, we want to establish a firm covenant identity as a church plant first, and only then begin to pursue various covenant activities, such as Bible studies, prayers, discipleship, etc. These are covenant activities best engaged by those who have publicly identified as part of a covenant community: committed, held accountable, and shepherded by the elders.  

Of course we want to encourage non-members and non-believers to participate in all that the church offers. But it’s important to clarify what it is that they are participating in and witnessing — the church is a covenant community, submitting to common elders, and, most of all, to the authority of God’s word. 

Hebrews 13:17-18 says, “17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.” 

Without membership, it is unclear to the shepherd and elders, 

• 'Who are we shepherding and keeping watch over?'

• 'Who has committed to the care and discipline of the church?'

• 'Who has entrusted their submission so we can joyfully and authoritatively teach and lead them?'

The reason for this order, therefore, is not only biblical but also practical.

Here's one more reason for prioritizing covenant identity before all else: It protects the church from potential disunity or doctrinal drift when, especially in the early days of a church plant, the church can be vulnerable to: 

• Dominant voices and/or divisive teachings that bring 

• Confusion about theological direction and missional direction of the church 

Membership ensures that those leading and participating in the church’s ministries are not operating with this kind of division or confusion but in unity and clarity. 

In close, before a covenant community gets busy with all the covenant practices, we believe it's important to patiently grow in the basic, ordinary means of grace, such as Lord's Day worship, the preaching of the Word, the sacraments, etc. There's also one-on-one discipling and counseling from the pastor, and other self-initiated gatherings outside the church. So, even in the early stages of the church plant, there's plenty for believers to explore and benefit from. But we want to patiently build our covenant identity first.