THEOLOGY - continued

Covenant, 2nd paragraph

The second paragraph of the Covenant sets forth three key theological concepts that guide members of The United Church:

“Having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and the Bible which gives God’s progressive revelation of Himself to mankind as my Supreme Standard of Faith and Practice, and heartily believing in the province of private judgment in the interpretation of the Scriptures, I seek fellowship with all who devoutly love the Lord Jesus Christ and adopt His standards of teaching and conduct as set forth in the New Testament.”

Perhaps the key element in any and all Christian faith and belief is that of accepting Jesus Christ. After all, it is the Christian faith. Such acceptance is spoken of in a variety of ways, all the way from “being born again” (John 3:1-10) to “Jesus as the example” for our living (Colossians 2:6-15). The Covenant states in a rather traditional manner, accepting “Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.” The emphasis of the statement is one’s personal relationship with God through Christ.

But, again, we are reminded that this is more a community covenant, than an individual’s compact with God. So the Covenant goes on, in this same paragraph (and remember it is all one sentence), to speak of seeking “fellowship” within the community that together confesses Jesus. In other words, our relationship with Jesus is not found in a one-on-one, you and me Jesus, attachment. As this is the church’s Covenant our relationship with Jesus is within the context of “wherever two or three are gathered” (Matthew 18:20) there the Christ is to be found and experienced. It is within the church as the Body of Christ that our relationship with Christ is defined.