Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTStion against the ‘jungle’ of Christianity where people have nodefinite commitment to a church.Roger: What happens when committed members ‘breakcovenant’? Are there really no bad vibes?Noel: Of course people are always free to leave us and manywho do so remain on good terms. We have many in our congregationswho truly belong to us but have not made covenant.Those that do, accept a covenant of membership withpledges concerning faith and lifestyle. Covenant does bring aspiritual obligation. But we never say, Roger, as we’ve beenaccused of saying, that covenant members who leave us aredamned. We do warn them of the dangers of backsliding. Butthose who leave us are loved and prayed for.Roger: Some people think that once you get into a communityhouse it’s very hard to get out again and that there’ssome kind of sinister hold over people.Noel: That’s rather silly! Up to two years is a trial period inwhich people can assess their call to community. There’s noproblem in their withdrawing during that stage. The trusteeswill not accept capital or goods until after at least a year haspassed and then they have the authority to return any wealththat’s been handed in, or to make payments in certain circumstances.If established people want to leave community there willnaturally be pastoral activity to understand the problem. Inmany cases a move to non-community membership proveshelpful. Others do leave us altogether and, of course, that’spainful.Roger: Now I’ve a few questions about money, and it alwaysraises people’s hackles once we start to touch on the422