If and when we begin sharing our faith and as we begin gaining spiritual territory for the Lord, then our church will grow as more and more people are added. This means we will be in charge of leading those who are new to our fellowship; and when people of differing backgrounds come together, it can result in chaos unless there are established rules. Properly communicated expectations serve to hold people accountable, and as one person states, “Accountability breeds responsibility.”(1) Without accountability people will do as they please, even if it means jeopardizing the well-being of other individuals in the church, or the entire community of faith.
We live in an age of individuality, where people balk at being held accountable to anyone or anything. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been taken to the extreme of a “me-first” attitude. Authority is frowned upon, and authority figures – such as police officers, bosses, political leaders and pastors – are despised and hated; and God, the ultimate authority figure, is relegated to the realm of myth, as people try to erase the very source of truth and morality. Author Tim Challies states, “Left to our own devices, we will soon devise or succumb to all kinds of evil . . . We need accountability – and God has anticipated our need by giving us the local church as the primary means of this accountability.”(2)
When people begin coming into our fellowship, they will often bring with them worldly beliefs, including a self-serving attitude. The church does not exist to serve oneself or the preferences of people. People are supposed to serve the preferences of God. This means that the church cannot submit to the ideas of the world, but must live by a higher standard and institute a code of accountability in order to keep people on task with the church’s mission – and one way of holding people accountable is to establish a covenant. In our passage today we will see that Joshua held each of the Israelites responsible for their actions by instituting a covenant.
Communicating the Expectations (vv. 14-15)
14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Right here, Joshua communicated the expectations required in serving the Lord; and in doing so, he set the standard by which the people should live. He stated that God was to be first in their lives above all else; providing two primary instructions of 1.) serving the Lord, and 2.) putting away all other gods and idols (v. 14). In the Ten Commandments these two basic guidelines were actually listed first, emphasizing their priority within the community of faith (cf. Exodus 20:1-11).
After communicating the expectations Joshua, as the spiritual leader, established himself as an example of how to live. He basically said, “Look, I am not only going to ‘talk the talk,’ but I am willing to ‘walk the walk’.” “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15). “How about you?” Therefore, Joshua stepped out to lead the way in wholehearted commitment unto God, hoping the others would be inspired by his faith and join him.
He implied that there could be no halfhearted commitment, with one foot in the world and one foot in the community of faith. There could be no fence riding. The people had to make a choice, one way or the other. He said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (v. 15) – the Lord, the gods of Egypt, or the gods of the Amorites. “But you have to make a choice! If you wish to serve the Lord, then there can be only one decision that is right; and that is to follow the God of Israel!”
When we lead a group of believers, we must state the expectations to each and every person who chooses to join the community of faith. Pastor Rick Warren asks, “Why do so many churches find it difficult to motivate members to give, serve, pray, and share their faith?” He answers “that the members were allowed to join with no expectations placed on them.”(3) Joshua clearly stated the expectations, and implied that if they did not agree with them, they could leave the community and go their own way. What’s that old expression? “Shape up or ship out!” Let’s now skip down and look at verses 24-27.
Entering a Covenant Agreement (vv. 24-27)
24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”
The people had heard the expectations and chose to serve the Lord, and at that moment Joshua made a covenant with them (vv. 24-25). Here we’re introduced to the Old Testament concept of the “covenant agreement.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary it is stated that “Joshua 24 contains . . . a covenant-renewal document in which the people of Israel were called on to confirm their covenant relationship with God.”(4) The definition of a covenant is “a contract or agreement between two parties.”(5) “According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, the Hebrew translation of covenant, berith, means primarily ‘a cutting,’ with reference to the custom of cutting or dividing animals in two and passing between the parts in ratifying a covenant.”(6)
“A covenant . . . involved a life-or-death agreement between two parties.”(7) Back in the book of Genesis, “If two men wanted to make a covenant, they would slice animals in half and walk between the carcasses (Genesis 15:10). This would signify that if either didn’t hold up their end of the deal, that what happened to the animals would happen to them. Yikes!”(8) “Sometimes this involved one half [of the carcass] being placed on a cursed mountain and another on a blessed mountain, meaning that if you broke off the covenant, you’d end up cursed.”(9)
The Bible teaches that “because of sin, a rift formed between God and His people. Part of the way He repairs this rift is by selecting a group of people and making a covenant between them. He promises something good, such as plentiful generations or a promise never to flood the earth again. In exchange, those at the other end of the covenant, God’s people, have some obligations to hold up. Most of the time, this means following God and not straying after other idols. As one can imagine, God’s people don’t always hold up their end of the bargain, and consequences ensue.”(10)
This particular agreement, which we see here in Joshua chapter 24, included “statutes” and “ordinances” (v. 25). Commentator William H. Morton says that “statutes and ordinances are detailed stipulations, perhaps best illustrated in the laws included in the Book of the Covenant (cf. Exodus 20:22-23:33).”(11) The covenant was not just a verbal statement of “I believe.” It was so much more than a loose confession of faith holding no accountability. The covenant contained detailed points concerning how a person should live for the Lord, and it was expected to be upheld.
It’s been recommended that, for seeing true commitment from a congregation, a church should establish a membership covenant. Allow me to share something from a church planting manual. Roger McNamara and Ken Davis tell us that most churches do have something called a “church covenant” in the preamble of their constitution, which is generally a summary of biblical teaching relating to the Christian life.(12) A membership covenant, however, is different in that it asks people to make a commitment to doing four things; and here are the four pledges:
1.) To protect the unity of the church by acting in love toward other members, by refusing to gossip, by following and cooperating with the pastoral leadership;
2.) To share in the responsibility of the church by praying for its spiritual and numerical growth, by inviting the unchurched and others to attend its services, and by warmly welcoming those who visit the services of the church;
3.) To serve in the ministry of the church by discovering their spiritual gifts and talents, by accepting training and equipping for ministry, and by developing a servant’s heart;
4.) To support the testimony of the church by attending it faithfully, by living a godly life, and by giving regularly to its support.(13)
I first learned about the concept of a membership covenant back in 2001 when I spoke with the member of a new church plant. He told me how it established a system of checks and balances to hold members accountable for their actions, and was especially useful in motivating people to attend and give regularly, and to curtail instances of church conflict. He stated that no one could join the church without first signing the covenant; and those who repeatedly neglected it, even after receiving wise counsel, were subjected to church discipline.
Now, some of you might be thinking, “Well, I wouldn’t go to a church with a policy like that! No one’s going to tell me what to do!” Well, if that’s how you feel, then you’ve just proven what I said at the beginning of this message; that we live in an age of individuality, where people balk at accountability. That’s why so many marriages fall apart, for example; because people refuse to be held accountable. A lack of accountability leads to unfaithfulness in finances, unfaithfulness in providing for the family, unfaithfulness in sharing responsibilities, and especially unfaithfulness in keeping the marriage bed undefiled.
Listen as I share something from a website called the BibleProject. Whitney Woollard says, “A covenant is a chosen relationship or partnership in which two parties make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal. They’re often accompanied by oaths, signs, and ceremonies. Covenants contain defined obligations and commitments, but differ from a contract in that they are relational and personal. Think of a marriage. In love, a husband and wife choose to enter into a formal relationship binding themselves to one another in lifelong faithfulness and devotion. They then work as partners to reach a common goal, like building a career or raising children together. That is a covenant.”(14)
Did you know that the relationship God had with Israel was seen as a marriage covenant? In Isaiah 54:5, the Lord told His people, “Your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name.” And, our relationship with Jesus is also seen as a marriage covenant. The apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 5, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her . . . A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (vv. 25, 31-32). And Revelation chapter 21 calls the New Jerusalem “a bride adorned for her husband” (v. 2). As the church, we are married to Christ. We are in covenant. So, why would we not want to be committed?
So, let’s get back to this concept of a membership covenant? Rick Warren says that before people join Saddleback Church that its purpose statement is explained in great detail to every person; and that no one can join “without attending the membership class and signing the membership covenant, which includes a commitment to support the purposes of Saddleback.”(15)
Ken Sande, in an article from Christianity Today, states, “At my church we have a twelve-week membership course, and our first priority is making sure a person has a credible profession of faith and understands the gospel. We also cover the theology of the church, our polity, our vision, how we handle conflicts, and an understanding of church discipline. Finally, it is helpful to discuss expectations for members regarding giving, respecting leadership, and serving in the community.”(16)
Notice how Joshua recorded the statues and ordinances in the Book of the Law (vv. 25-26). He did this in order to provide a written account of their agreement, in order to hold the people accountable should they ever attempt to deny their promise made on that day. Joshua then raised a large stone under an oak tree which was near the holy place, which served as a witness. So, how did this work? Simply by the fact that everyone would know and remember that the stone was set up on the occasion of this covenant agreement. The tradition would then be passed down, so that whenever people would see the stone, they would remember this agreement.(17)
When people sign a membership covenant, it is important to provide some form of witness or visual reminder of the agreement made before God and the church. For Joshua and the Israelites this witness was a stone. For believers today, it can be a signed and framed covenant, or a special service. Ken Sande, for example, states that in his church, “We highlight membership by having a special service, a membership Sunday. It is a serious ceremony that communicates the importance of membership.”(18) With the observance of a membership service, each and every member is regularly reminded of his or her own commitment.
Time of Reflection
So, allow me to summarize what we’ve learned from this passage. If we want to maintain the Promised Land, so to speak, and preserve the new territory that God has allowed us to claim for His kingdom, then we must bring those under our leadership into wholehearted commitment to the Lord and to the purposes of the church. Why? Because a lack of commitment will result in compromise, leading to inactivity, apathy, conflict, and ultimately a poor witness; all of which are destructive to the church’s efforts in advancing the kingdom.
Just as husbands and wives enter into a marriage commitment, with the agreement to submit to one another and remain faithful, the Lord instructs the church to enter into a marriage covenant with His Son, Jesus Christ. In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul stated that “the church is subject to Christ” so that “He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (vv. 24a, 27).
If the church is to be above reproach and be attractive to the world, then the members must submit themselves unto Christ, who is the head of the church. This means they must also uphold the rules and commitments expected by their particular body of believers, as they have been established by the leadership on whom Christ has conferred His authority. Only by commitment unto a covenant can the church continue to fulfill its mission, and bring glory unto the name of the Lord.
When a person confesses Jesus as Savior and Lord, he or she becomes a part of the church; and as part of the church, we collectively become the bride of Christ and are married to Him. And here’s what the Lord promises to the church, His holy bride. In Revelation 21:2-4, we read, “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’.”
If you will confess Jesus as Savior and Lord, you will receive the forgiveness of sins and the reward of eternity with God.
NOTES
(1) Stephen R. Covey, “Accountability Quotes,” Inspirational Word of Wisdom, http://www.wow4u.com/accountable-quotes/index.html.
(2) Tim Challies, “Escaping Anonymity,” Tabletalk (April 2009), p. 70.
(3) Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995), p. 319.
(4) John F. Walvoord, Walter L. Baker, Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1983), p. 369.
(5) M.G. Easton, “Covenant,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Power Bible CD.
(6) Hope Bolinger, “What Is a Covenant? Bible Definition and Importance Today,” Christianity.com: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-a-covenant. html (Accessed December 20, 2021).
(7) Ibid.
(8) Ibid.
(9) Ibid.
(10) Ibid.
(11) William H. Morton, “Joshua,” The Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 375.
(12) Roger N. McNamara and Ken Davis, The Y-B-H Handbook of Church Planting (Longwood, Fl: Xulon Press, 2005), p. 427.
(13) Ibid., p. 427.
(14) Whitney Woollard, “Covenants: The Backbone of the Bible,” BibleProject: https://bibleproject.com/blog/covenants-the-backbone-bible/ (Accessed December 20, 2021).
(15) Warren, p. 91.
(16) Ken Sande, “Taking Church Membership Seriously,” Christianity Today (4/18/2005), http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/currenttrendscolumns/leadershipweekly/cln50418.html.
(17) Roger E. Van Harn , The Old Testament and Acts (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2001), p. 155.
(18) Sande, “Taking Church Membership Seriously.”
