A Compass, Not a Map

Jeff Anderson lives in Winnipeg and is the Superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. It is fitting therefore, that he direct our conversation about these six Affirmations. In this entry, Jeff reflects upon the value of the Affirmations as a whole and addresses the nature of these Affirmations. 

The Evangelical Covenant Church has, since the founding, taken a slightly different approach than many of our Evangelical cousins.  Back when Survivor first came to television, each participant was allowed to take one item that they thought might help them over the course of the contest.  If we apply this to the area of church theology we might say that while most of our sisters and brothers took a theological map (doctrinal statements) we chose instead to take a compass (affirmations). 

The Covenant has as a community embraced six affirmations that have guided the church since 1885.  These Affirmations are as follows:

• the centrality of the word of God,

• the necessity of the new birth,

• a commitment to the whole mission of the Church,

• the Church as a fellowship of believers,

• a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit, and

• the reality of freedom in Christ.

A question often asked is, “Can this really work, and won’t some people take advantage of the lack of definition?”

I heard a speaker from Australia talk about the vast cattle ranches in that country.  One of them, Anna Creek Station is over 6,000,000 acres or slightly larger than the country of Israel.  On those vast ranches it would be nearly impossible and economically unfeasible to fence the entire station.  His comment to “how do you keep the cattle from wandering off” is a parallel to the affirmation verses doctrinal statement discussion.  Their practice is to drill deep and bring up clear clean water.  The well becomes the centre of the field and it is that refreshing centre that keeps the cattle from moving away to areas that are harmful. 

The Covenant sees the Affirmations as taking us into the deep well of life that is found in our relationship to God.  Canadian Pastor Bruxy Cavey in his book “The End Of Religion” explains the danger of focusing more on the edge than the centre of our faith:

“When faith becomes religion, people on the inside of the group begin to focus their attention on the perimeter, patrolling the boundaries to regulate who is in and who is out.  They develop visible boundary markers, demarcations of holiness, which become important signs of group identity…” (p. 212).

One final thought.  It is the capacity of the deep reservoir that brings life, not the precise placement of the well.  Because of this, you will find the same Affirmations understood and applied in slightly different ways.  This does not mean that one is right and one is wrong.  It means that the reservoir is deep enough and wide enough for many expressions and experiences.

It is my hope that as you dialogue with these Affirmations through this site and also with others in the community that you will be refreshed by the cool and clear living water offered by God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.