s the Christian faith a destination or a journey? Must it be either/or? Inquiring minds want to know. If faith is seen primarily in terms of behavior and moral conduct, or adherence to certain dogmas (dogma is a belief which must be believed), then it would seem to be more like a destination. After all, these things tend to be a bit more “objective”; that is, you can measure your performance in terms of moral behavior, and you can discern a person’s beliefs to determine if that person is a real Christian. Although such categories (beliefs and morality) may be helpful as indications of where one is in one’s faith, I am convinced that they are woefully inadequate and inappropriate measures of one’s salvation. I keep coming back to what my late teacher, Dr. Harrel Beck, used to drum into us: Christianity is primarily relational, not legal! We are saved by God’s gracious actions alone. Luther, in countering medieval Roman Catholic abuses, formulated the three “solis”...We are justified solely by the grace of Christ, solely by faith, and solely by Scripture! It is unmerited and unearned. It is grace, a gift. If Christianity is primarily relational, a covenant relationship between God and the individual (analogous to a marriage), then the concept of our faith as a pilgrim journey rather than as a destination makes sense. In a relationship, we never “arrive.” It is always an adventure. We call it a Christian walk. A walk implies movement, not stagnation. Relationships are that way. Either they grow, or they stagnate and die. So how goes your walk? Are you moving on the road? Are you, as Wesley says, going on to perfection? Last month a large number of St. Mark members experienced for the first time Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service as we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Why reaffirm a commitment you’ve already made? Because the journey is long and the world doesn’t help. Because we are growing and the commitment I made at 16 is not as profound as the one I can make again at 49. Because I have not always been faithful to that commitment. I continue to sin and need forgiveness and healing. And, having received the promises of God in this regard, I begin again. Imagine a marriage in which partners do not reaffirm their wedding vows through regularly saying “I love you.” Imagine a marriage in which the couple says, “I kissed you on our wedding day, and that should be enough.” Ludicrous! You can’t grow a marriage like that. In fact we need to continually reaffirm our wedding vows in a variety of meaningful yet ordinary ways. Wesley was very specific as to how the people called Methodists ought to walk this pilgrimage. I read these words during the covenant renewal service. To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these admonitions: First, set apart some time, more than once, to be spent alone before the Lord; In seeking earnestly God’s special assistance and gracious acceptance of you; in carefully thinking through all the conditions of the covenant; in searching your hearts whether you have already freely given your life to Christ. Consider what your sins are. Consider the laws of Christ, how holy, strict, and spiritual they are, and whether you, after having carefully considered them, are willing to choose them all. Be sure you are clear in these matters, see that you do not lie to God. Second, be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence. Third, claim God’s covenant, rely upon God’s promise of giving grace and strength, so you can keep your promise. Trust not your own strength and power. Fourth, resolve to be faithful. You have given to the Lord your hearts, you have opened your mouths to the Lord, and you have dedicated yourself to God. With God’s power, never go back... If all this sounds like a tall order, remember that we are Going on to Perfection. God does not ask us to complete the pilgrimage before we arrive. As Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3: 12-14).” God honors our intention more than our performance. Lee Cunningham is pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church, Santa Barbara, CA. The preceding article is a adapted with permission from the church’s newsletter, The Lion’s Print, February 1998. Thoughts Upon God's Sovereignty | Covenant Discipleship Institute at Asbury Calling the Church to a Higher Order | Cultivating Sprouts Plant a Seed for Literacy | Called to be a Miracle How Goes Your Walk? Prayer | Back to Covenant Discipleship Quarterly Home Page