Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-010

COVENANTS AND CREEDS

From ‘Sunrise Sunset’ (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco), Rowland Croucher’s book of daily meditations. Feel free to use or adapt it.

The faithful God… maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9.

Covenant is an important ingredient in building community. A covenant is more than a contract. Covenants bind us together by voluntary intent, and the ‘penalties’ for breaking the covenant are relational. Contracts carry legal obligations and penalties, and the consequences of breaking the contract involve specific monetary or judicial punishments.

A covenant is also more than a creed. Creeds tend to be exclusive, emphasising the ‘truth’ thus excluding ‘heretics’ who might see reality differently. Covenants on the other hand are relational rather than propositional. They describe the way we will act towards each other in love. So covenants are dynamic, creeds static. Creeds tend to represent an understanding of the faith which was locked into one period of history.

Surely it is fundamental to a dynamic, progressive theology that ‘God has yet more light and truth to break forth from his holy Word.’ Creeds are outdated as soon as they appear. If you must have them use different creeds – perhaps four or five a year. Perhaps you might rewrite the creed in modern idiom. When a new creed is introduced to the congregation, rehearse it in silence before saying it aloud. Use the same creed or covenant several weeks running.

Faithful God, who offers to enter into a covenant with your people, may I keep my end of the agreement, and obey you always. Amen.

Shalom!