MEMBERSHIP COVENANT

Blue Ridge Christian fellowship

Radiant, Virginia

            I recognize Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation.  I have accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior, God as my heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit as my guide.  I have publicly professed my faith in Christ by water baptism.  I accept the Bible as the authoritative Word of God and believe that all Scripture is given by direct inspiration of God.  I therefore base my faith, life, and practice on its written message.  My goal is to live according to Jesus’ teaching of love, peace, and reconciliation in all my relationships.  I affirm and accept the doctrines of the Bible as expressed in our congregation’s Confession of Faith.

            Recognizing the Christian’s deep need for fellowship, I will faithfully support our congregation’s life by regularly participating in the organized worship and sharing experiences.  I believe in the Scriptural injunction to worship God in the heart, the home, and the church.  I recognize the Biblical principles of worship as follows:  Worship must be from a pure heart and life, in spirit and truth, with the gathered congregation, decently and in order, and in Spirit directed glory to Christ.  Because the human voice is a God-given gift, I support acapella singing in our corporate worship.  Any use of instruments is to be subject to the following principles:  (a) The music must be played in such a way as to enhance the words and message of the song.  (b) Musicians and worship leaders must display holiness of life and consistency with their message.  (c) The beat or rhythm is not to unduly excite the body or manipulate the soul.  I will pray for our leaders, my brothers and sisters, and all our activities.  (Hebrews 10:25; Luke 4:16; Colossians 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Psalm 66:19; John 4:23-24; I Corinthians 14:40; John 16:14).

            I will carefully cultivate a personal devotional life by regular study and meditation on God’s Word combined with prayer for myself and others (Psalm 1:2-3).

            I acknowledge the Scriptural teaching of the holy kiss to be observed brother with brother and sister with sister, at communion and as often as the Spirit of love directs – frequently enough to show that we recognize it as a Biblical ordinance (Romans 12:10; I Corinthians 16:20).

            I pledge to live openly and lovingly with my brothers and sisters, to share their joys, problems and concerns with a caring heart.  I will always be ready for reconciliation and secure it without delay by willingly receiving and giving counsel in love, when offenses arise (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:2).

            I will take seriously Jesus’ great commission.  By my daily words and life, I will testify to those around me and to the world at large of God’s saving and enabling grace (Matthew 28:18-20).

            I recognize that the things I possess are really a trust from God committed to me as His steward.  Therefore, I will use them responsibly by contributing time, gifts, and offerings to the ministry and mission of the church (2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Ephesians 4:28).

            I believe that any sexual relationship outside the marriage bond is sin.  Anyone involved in fornication, adultery, or homosexuality needs to repent to stay in fellowship with the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3).

            I believe marriage, Christian and non-Christian, is a permanent, sacred bond terminated only by death.  I believe marriage problems must be dealt with redemptively.  A state of adultery exists in all cases when remarriage occurs while a former marriage partner is living.  (Romans 7:2-3; Mark 10:2-10; Matthew 5:32, 19:19).

            I believe the husband must diligently fulfill his role as leader in the home, modeling a Christ-like life in all relationships, loving his wife, and being sensitive to provide for the needs of each member by God’s help.  He is responsible to God to be the spiritual leader of the family.  Where teaching and/or authority is exercised over men, all church leadership positions shall be limited to men.  I believe Christian men shall have short hair and not have their head covered when praying or prophesying (Ephesians 5; 1 Timothy 2:11-12).

            I believe that the wife likewise must fulfill her Biblical role and be in submission to her husband.  I believe Christian women shall have naturally long hair covered with a veiling as a sign of authority in light of God’s headship principle.  The veiling worn should be a recognizable spiritual symbol of substantial size to complement the principle.  It should be non-decorative and clearly visible (1 Corinthians 11:1-16).

            I believe children should obey their parents in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-3).

            I believe that Christians are to maintain a non-conformed lifestyle that rejects the evil of the world.  Since my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I will endeavor to be a good steward of it, to find my joy in the pursuit of godliness, to wear simple, economical, gender-specific and modest clothing.  I understand modesty to mean that most of the body is covered with loosely fitting, unpretentious garments, and that bodily shape – particularly that which is indicative of sexuality – is to be concealed and privatized.  I believe sisters should seek that ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit rather than submitting to the standards of beauty that the world dictates, such as jewelry and elaborate hair styles.  I will carefully choose leisure activities that build a wholesome body, character, and thought life.  Recognizing the tremendous impact of television and other forms of mass media, I will allow the Holy Spirit to guide me in controlling their impact on my life and I agree to eliminate from my home any material that would seduce me and/or my family into sin.  I will refrain from practices that would grieve the Spirit and hinder my witness for Christ (I Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:9-10).

            I believe that human life has its beginning at the time of conception and the taking of human life, whether by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, or in any other such circumstance is murder and is forbidden by Scripture.  I will avoid violence and endeavor to live at peace with all men.  I will be a conscientious objector to any form of military service.  I will obey the government in all areas that do not conflict with my higher loyalty to God (Psalms 139:14-16; Exodus 20:13; Jeremiah 12:5; Ephesians 1:4-5; John 18:36; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Romans 13).

            I recognize that the subjects addressed in this covenant represent the teachings of Holy Scripture on these issues as agreed on by our brotherhood.  I understand that these statements are intended to guide us in our Christian growth and commitment to each other within the body of believers at Believers’ Fellowship.  Wherein we have not arrived at a full understanding of Biblical truth in all matters, I open myself to whatever the Scriptures clearly teach and commit to follow the Word of God wherever it may lead me.  By the grace of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit and my brothers and sisters, I desire to follow this covenant and use it as an instrument of unity in establishing and maintaining this congregation.