I’ve never been a big fan of pledging, and I know I’m not alone in this. Pledging feels like a form of obedience, and if you aren’t able to meet your pledge—which happens—it feels like failure. Since I arrive here at Gardens, the term “faith commitment” has been used, and that’s fine, but there’s still something missing. This is why I like the term “faith covenant.” Why? Well, it’s largely because the idea of “covenant” is biblical; in fact, it’s central to our relationship with God, especially in how we understand and response to that relationship, of which stewardship is a big part
Simply stated, we are people of the covenant, the one that has its origins in the Book of Genesis and runs throughout the pages of Scripture, which recounts the story of God’s steadfast love from generation to generation. To Adam and Eve, to Noah and his family, to Abraham and Sarah, to Moses and Aaron, and to the house of David, God made everlasting promises of faithfulness—promises of what the future will be like—and calling his people to respond in faith. In the fullness of time, God made a new and everlasting covenant with us through Jesus Christ.
The ultimate goal of the covenant between God and humanity is two-fold: First, that God will renew of all Creation. Second, that he will be our God, we will be his people and will dwell among us in that new Creation. Our baptism is a sign of our inclusion in that covenant and that our goal in life is to glorify and enjoy God now and forever, living in covenant fellowship with him and participating in his mission—trusting that we do not face the future alone and never will. So, by choosing to take part in this Covenant, we choose to work together as a church, to work with God, to help make God’s vision for our church become reality.
In terms of Stewardship, the idea of covenant stems from a sense of abundance and celebration of a right relationship with our gracious, generous, ever-faithful God. Thus, as I’ve said before, stewardship is a way of living, going beyond financial gifts. They can include a commitment to participate more in the life and ministry of the church through regular worship attendance, joining Bible studies, volunteering to help, perhaps even becoming involved in church leadership. I’ll say it this way, the more you put into church membership, the more you’ll get out of it.
As God said through the prophet Isaiah: “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” I firmly believe that God is about to do a new thing among us. I invite you to be a part of it.