Covenant Church

What is a church? A building? A congregation? A denomination? We often say "church" without definition and clarity. "My church" may mean where we attend for worship and Bible study. "Our church" may refer to a group of churches considered a fellowship. "The church" may be used to refer to a building at a particular geographic site.

Let us say that the "church" is people who meet in a particular building. We ask the question: "Is the church in good health?"

It is said that a famous artist was retained to paint his version of a "poor church". He insisted it be done in secret. The day came to unveil the rendering. Suspense gripped the audience as they waited for the cover to be removed. The audience gasped. What they saw was a "church" building too magnificent for words.

"But," erupted the person who had retained the artist, "You were hired to paint a poor church!"

"Study the rendering," calmly replied the artist.

A silence fell upon the audience as they looked more closely. The doors of the "church" were open. The interior was an architectural marvel, with hand-craftsmanship and ornate furnishings. In the center of the front was the Communion table on which set a gold plate marked "missions". A pall of silence fell upon the audience as they saw the offering plate covered with cobwebs.

A church that exists to serve itself is a poor church. Bills may be paid, buildings may be fabulous, money may be in savings, but the building and people are in abject poverty. In truth, neither the building nor the people qualify to be called "church" by the definition Jesus calls "church."

A few things are deep beliefs for me. I believe that as a whole the European Common Market has as much to fear from al-Queda as does the United States. However, because the U.S. is the most powerful military in the world, and by far the richest country in the world, other countries are glad to see American dollars fighting THEIR war. In addition, we must ever remember that America is a very young country. England, France, and Germany have royalty that can trace roots for 1,000 years or more. Visit Buckingham Palace and view family wealth hundreds of years older than the United States. America has no aristocracy by their definition. The U.S. has people with "new" money. America is a young upstart, by old European aristocratic standards.

If the U.S. becomes financially broken, several facts seem apparent. First, the European Common Market (Or United States of Europe) would become the world's most powerful economic/political/military force. The United States of America would become subject to the power of the United States of Europe.

Second, the United States of Europe is not kindly disposed towards Israel. Israel would be pressured to accommodate the military desires and ambitions of the United States of Europe. As best we can understand prophecy this would set up the system for the anti-christ to rule.

Third, about 80% of the mission giving of the world is from the United States. If the U.S. suffers financially, and if mission giving decreases, care for missionaries and investments in mission works around the world would suffer terribly.

While the first two points are on the surface human and political, the last point I believe is one of satan's greatest strategies for warfare for these times. I write you to ask you to make mission giving a core pare of your heart. Look. Think. Pray about missions. If you do not give to missions, why not? If you are not sacrificing giving and praying for missions, why not?

Christ was a missionary. He came to find us and save us. He sacrificed His own life. What is our debt to Christ? Are we not his ambassadors to the nations? His parting word was "go." Paul makes clear in Romans 10 that if we cannot go, we must send.

Giving to missions—going and sending—is not an option if we would call ourselves "church." It is not a program, not a project, not a quarterly emphasis, not a social program, not a call to community service. Missions is a divine mandate. If we will please the Lord, we must. If we will have integrity with God and man, we must. Such is the heart of those who gather to worship at Covenant.

Call us what you want—church, parishioners, believers, congregation—but when the day is ended let it be recorded that at Covenant we will not allow cobwebs to gather on the offering plate where we dedicate our gifts to sharing Christ's love with the nations!

Much love,

Pastor Bare

Romans 10:14 "How can they hear without someone preaching to them?"