The Real Meaning of Spiritual Covering

 The concept of covering is very important in the Bible. The first example is when God provided Adam and Eve with clothing made of animal skins.

The symbolic meaning is clear. God was willing to forgive their sin by the shedding of the blood of the animals.

God’s penalty for sin is death. In the Old Testament, Jews could expect God to forgive their sins if they sacrificed an animal on the altar.

In the New Testament, God sent his son to die, to take the penalty for our sins on himself.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3:16–17 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Co 5:21 NIV

For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us! 2 Co 5:21 The Living Bible, Paraphrased

In Genesis, God covered the sins of Adam and Eve with the skins of sacrificial animals. In the New Testament, God covers our sins with the sacrificed blood of the Son of God.

Isaiah prophetically foreshadows the complete covering of sin by the death of Jesus.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Is 61:10 NIV

The blood of Jesus not only covers sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are made right in God’s sight, not only forgiven but actually righteous.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Rom 5:1 NLT

The concept of covering is central to the doctrine of salvation.

On the other hand, a new and different application of the idea of covering has become prominent in the Evangelical and Pentecostal movements. Wives are supposed to be “covered” by submitting to the authority of their husbands. Church members are said to be “covered” by submitting to the authority of pastors. Pastors are said to be “covered” by submitting to a more senior church leader or a denominational executive.

In fact, this novel concept is often emphasised more than the essential doctrine of the covering of our sin by the righteousness of Christ. In this way, ordained church leadership becomes the focus of faith and obedience more than the personal relationship of each believer with Jesus.

This twisting of scripture has done untold damage to so many Christians.

So many Christians are told they should not transfer from one church to another without being “blessed out.” So you are not allowed to transfer from one church to another without the permission of your pastor.

I once endured a sermon from a preacher who said Christians must not criticise their pastor, because the pastor was accountable only to God. The pastor supposedly sits on the throne of Moses. No wonder so many pastors are not called to account for all kinds of offences against church members, especially women and children.

For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 1 Ti 2:5 NRSV

There is one church, comprising all believers in Jesus. There is one High Priest, one Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am covered by the blood of one Lamb of God and no other. I am obliged to unconditionally submit to only one man, Jesus Christ.

My wife is obliged to submit unconditionally to only one man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastors are appointed to lead churches, but their authority is limited and they have no right to control my life or rule over my family.

Human leaders must lead, but not rule. There is a difference.