The Necessity of New Birth (Part 2)

This week, we read the conclusion of Marc Vandersluys' thoughts on the second Covenant Affirmation. In the last post, Marc drew the necessary point of the life of the Christian to be deriving from Scripture first and foremost. In his conclusion, he alludes to the necessity of new birth to be, not just a once and for all event of conversion, but a journey further up and further in that lasts the entire life of the believer. 

      The Gospels use the language of both “eternal life” and “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven” to refer to salvation. On a popular level, salvation is often thought of quite abstractly as “going to heaven when you die”, with life in heaven understood as a disembodied, non-physical existence in a location somewhere other than earth. But it seems that scripturally a more accurate term would be “entering heaven” or “participating in God’s kingdom,” because the Kingdom Jesus announces does not sound like something that will happen somewhere other than earth, but rather as the establishment of God’s rule precisely here on earth. “Heaven” in this context is therefore earth ruled by God and transformed into a place of justice, mercy, and peace.
      With that trajectory in mind, the affirmation identifies two aspects of God’s work in the world: transformation of persons and transformation of the world. God is making all things new. So in one sense, new birth is necessary simply as a step of obedience, through work of the Holy Spirit, to God’s will and to participate in his plan for the world. If we are not made new, not born again, how could we possibly participate in the new world God is creating? How are we to be agents of reconciliation without first being reconciled (2 Cor. 5:18-20)? In the words of the affirmation, “it is through transformed people that God transforms our world”. Individuals must be changed before the world can be changed.

There is no such thing as a solitary Christian...

      What is the practical meaning of this affirmation for the members, adherents, and leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church? There are several implications. This affirmation highlights the importance of spiritual formation to the Evangelical Covenant Church. The church cannot force change or spiritual growth on its people, but it can emphasize the importance of a life of obedience and discipline through teaching and providing opportunities to learn about various spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, fellowship, stewardship, etc.) as well as opportunities to serve others both inside and outside the church community.
      The affirmation says that “healthy and effective spiritual growth takes place in the context of relationships.” Being brief, the affirmation does not elaborate on this statement, but it does suggest that the corporate church setting is essential for maturing in the faith. There is no such thing as a solitary Christian; by definition being a Christian means living and growing in community. Through corporate worship, fellowship, and small groups we cultivate a safe atmosphere of openness and vulnerability in which we can encourage each other on our journeys of faith (Hebrews 10:24-25).
      I am not sure if the order of the affirmations was intentional, but it may not be an accident that “a commitment to the whole mission of the church” is the affirmation which follows “the necessity of new birth.” Evangelism, compassion, mercy, and justice are the natural outflow of new birth for individuals, church communities, and the denominations. These things are among the signs of new birth, and should form a part of the life of both individuals and communities.
      While each Covenant church is an independent entity, there is spiritual value in being connected with other churches and partnering with them and the denomination in acts of compassion, mercy, and justice, because new birth is not something limited to the individual, but works on a corporate level as well. When we gather as believing communities we are not simply legal corporate entities, but Kingdom communities formed and being formed in Christ. Our life and existence as church groups, therefore, is not different from our lives as individual Christians. The church as a body is also “born from above” through the work of the Holy Spirit. While the legal end of corporate life has its place, the church’s life and decisions are shaped primarily by the love and grace of God and the new life in Christ, rather than constitutions, legal expectations, and the bottom line.
      I am sure other personal and corporate implications can be drawn out of this affirmation. One thing is clear, however: new birth is not an other-wordly event without current implications. Instead, it is transformative of the individual with transformative implications for our communities and the world.

In our next post, Julia Sandstrom introduces us to the third Covenant Affirmation, A Commitment to the Whole Mission of the Church. What exactly are believers born into? How do they go about living into this new birth? What are these transformative implications which arise out of a transformed life? If any of these questions interest you, check back in a week for Julia's opening post.