A few days ago, I was at my office doing my best to find the top of the desk. Papers, books, cassette tapes, (yes cassette tapes), magazines, and colored highlighters were seemingly on every space of the desktop. Wading through this glorious mess, I came across a paper I’d typed up a while back. It was a Baptist Covenant from 1853. I had found this covenant in an old book by J. Newton Brown called “A Declaration of Faith.” I began reading this old Baptist Covenant once again and found myself thinking about those Christians in the past that had a code they chose to live by. When you read it ask yourself if this is the level of dedication Christians should have these days and do we have it? I say yes, we should strive to live like this. (I’ll underline various parts for emphasis.)

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ…

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; tocontribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstainfrom the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealousin our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Saviour, to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God’s Word.”
Rev. Browns Baptist Covenant is one of hundreds. The great John Bunyan (Pilgrim’s Progress) couldn’t find one he liked so he wrote his own. We gave one out years ago on a Sunday that was a little different than Browns. Ours closed with words similar to this. “We moreover engage, that when we move to another city, town or location we will unite with a church of like faith and practice. If there is not a church such as we left, we will be instrumental in starting one.”

Creeds, Covenants and Resolutions. Are they all the same? Not exactly. These are loose definitions. A creed is a statement or list of beliefs that a person or group (church) believes. A covenant is a promise by parties (church members) to abide by a set of beliefs and obligations. A resolution is a belief or decision you personally will not waiver from no matter the circumstance. The great American Theologian is by many considered to be Jonathan Edwards. He is famous for many things during his life but one that has always been toward the top of the list of accomplishments were his “Resolutions.” Each year he’d add to the ones from past years. At the end of his life there were 70. These weren’t always doctrinal in nature they were personal as to how he would live. Examples: 9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death. 10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

A sweet, Christian lady from my past was named Beverly Zipperer. Mrs. Zipperer died years ago. She and her husband Ed raised five children. Four girls and one boy. Their kids were friends of mine. Mr. Zipperer was a godly Christian also. He passed away before her but she continued to love the Lord. Before she died, she wrote out long-hand what she called “My Creed.” One by one she wrote out her convictions. “I believe….” The third daughter is named Dawn and she gave me a copy of her mom’s creed over a decade ago. I still have it somewhere. Mrs. Beverly wanted everyone to know where she stood and what she believed about her faith.

Over time creeds can morph into covenants. Those creeds, list of beliefs, can also become resolutions. For two thousand years, Christians have written and shared their beliefs with Creedal Confessions and Catechisms. Some are short while others begin that way and are added to by the following generations. The very first, according to many theologians, was simply “Jesus is Lord.” How did it come about? During the Roman Empire, the Romans wanted ultimate loyalty to the empire and to the emperor. The emperor was to be “the” sovereign and worshipped. The early Christians sought to be good citizens. They obeyed laws and paid their taxes greater than any other group, but one bridge they wouldn’t cross was to say the emperor is Lord. That title and homage belonged to Jesus. “Jesus is Lord”. That one creed caused thousands to lose their lives in horrible ways. They covenanted with each other that they’d be together in this belief. They were resolute, even in the face of death, that Jesus was their Lord and King. What code, creed, covenant, or resolution do you live by? One closing question, is your creed biblical?

Pastor Tom