I was really intrigued by the community covenant that the Israelites make in Nehemiah as they work at getting back on track with their relationship with God. They very clearly set out for themselves exactly who they are going to be. They talk about what they will and will not do to honor God with their lives. They talk about the expectations that they have as a community for generosity towards God and others. They lay out a specific plan for what it looks like to be a member of the nation of Israel...what it looks like to live as God's chosen people.
I find this interesting, because I wonder if this is something that members of current day churches in the US are often missing. Sure, there are plenty of lists in the New and Old Testaments that lay out for us what the lives of followers of God should look like, but it seems like we don't ever really hold ourselves to those expectations. We don't really expect much of each other. I work on a church staff...I know what goes on behind the scenes...I am a part of the problem....it seems like we spend more and more time each year trying to figure out how to make church attending as easy as possible for people. Finding the perfect service times. Attractive programming. Great childcare. Convenient parking. It all fits perfectly in with a consumer culture, but it doesn't fit so well with real discipleship. It seems like we are making Christianity so easy. Pray this prayer. Go to this class. Attend church. Throw a couple of bucks in the offering plate. And you're a Christian - YAY! That was easy.
Yet every time somebody talks to Jesus about following him, he hits them right between the eyes. Remember Matthew chapter 20? The sons of Zebedee want to be big shots in Jesus' kingdom. What does he say to them, "I really think you can drink from this cup?" He is telling them...this is hard...this requires sacrifice...you have to be serious about this...following me is not convenient. I wonder if we need to stop making Christianity so easy for everyone and work on making it a little tougher. I'm not saying we should not be welcoming...that we should not let sinners in the door (Nobody could come in then, right?)...I am saying that we should expect more of ourselves and those we are in community with when it comes to following Jesus. I'm saying that we should start entering into covenant relationships with one another like the Israelites did...hold each other accountable...push each other...EXPECT MORE.
What would a covenant for Christians today look like? What would it require? Thoughts?
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