Am I Covered? Are You Covered?

 Recently, I find myself wondering about some of these sayings a lot of Christians love to repeat. I feel a need to understand.

One such relates to covering. What is that and where did it originate? Is it biblical or doctrinal? 

Meaning, can we find basis for the concept in the Bible or is this one of those situations where a Pastor or a church board decides this is what’s going to happen in this church and if you don’t like it you leave. 

I think the problem comes for me when these terms are applied in a draconian way. For example, you are under the covering of this church and you cannot do anything outside of what we tell you to do.

Some denominations get real territorial with their members, literally dictating that members have to seek permission or approval to minister elsewhere. In fact, you can’t even have a ministry. And some try to discourage their members from visiting other churches. 

Now, as I understand it, when the church, the Body of Christ, when Christians refer to "covering," it does typically mean that one is part of an authority that they should be subject to, a body that offers spiritual protection and support.

So this is all good, really. For the Bible speaks to the need for spiritual oversight and care of the brethren.

Ephesians 4:11-12, and I’m reading from the NIV,  “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”. 

Then in 1 Peter 5:1-3, the Apostle Peter addresses the elders of the church, providing them with guidance on how to shepherd and lead the flock of believers. 

He said, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not Lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

Family, it is no secret that as humans, we love to do what we want when we want. 

Just the other day I had this conversation with a sister. And I strongly believe it is something that maturing Christians need to ask the Lord to help us to bring under control. 

We have this tendency to be self centred and we want immediate gratification, forgetting that there are other persons that we have in the equation that need to be considered. 

I believe that’s why God has to literally put the reigns or brakes on some of us sometimes, or else we will crash and burn.

So it all stands to reason, that churches, ministries, cannot be a place where everyone does what they please when they please. God is a God or order. Amen?! 

The Apostle Paul noted this in 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”

And again in verse 40 of 1 Corinthians 14: “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

I believe that speaks to covering, where as a member of a religious organization, a church, a ministry, one is expected to first be an excellent ambassador for Christ, and secondly be a good representative of the entity that you are a part of.

Family, our ultimate aim is not to bring prideful attention to ourselves or any particular denomination. We should be seeking to glorify God. So we can’t be rebellious, we can’t be renegades.

So if we boast, let us boast in God. 

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.”

So there’s that. Covering for those part of a particular church body.

What about those who don’t have such membership for whatever reason. Can you still be covered?

The answer is a resounding yes. Why? Because ultimately, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are under God’s covering. 

God is the Ultimate Protector. Psalms 91:1-2 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

We must have a personal relationship with our God that no one can have for you. No church, no Bishop, Apostle, Pastor, Minister, Evangelist, Elder. We have to be one on one with Jesus. John 10:27-28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 

We are all under the covering of the universal church, the body of Christ, which transcends local church membership. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

However, we cannot disregard formal church membership, as this provides specific structures of accountability, leadership, and communal support. It also provides the opportunity for us to be able to fellowship with other believers in a tangible way. 

Hebrews 10:24-26 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”

Family, let us continue to pray one for the other, support one another and provide as best we can that spiritual oversight to others as fellow believers.

It’s all about making sure that we are all accountable to God. If you can help me in that area and I can help you, our faith will be nurtured,  and our spiritual lives will be improved.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:17, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

So don’t stress out your Pastors, in Jesus Name. Amen?!

I don’t know about you, Family, but I am glad that there are people out there who cover me in prayer. Aren’t you glad there are people praying for you? Of course you are.

Their covering is not a substitute and we must be careful who we have covering us, because we know that not everyone means well.

But thanks be to God He has placed some good people in our lives to help us along this Christian journey. We are our brothers keeper. We are to uphold one another in the household of faith. Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

May we all respect and welcome the principle and stay under the spiritual covering of the ministries we are a part of and more so, Almighty God. 

Indeed we all need biblical teaching, spiritual protection, spiritual mentorship and guidance, spiritual support, correction and discipline, we all need to be accountable in living according to Christian standards. 

And…thank God we are all under the covering of the Blood of Jesus, if we choose to accept that great gift.

aub - 27May24

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