The Restoration Movement - Part 1
This movement formed in the early 1800’s as a variety of men studied the scriptures and determined many church organizations were out of line with what Jesus and his apostles taught. These churches tended to be guided by creeds and church dogma more than the scriptures. The desire was to restore biblical teaching. As is common with such movements, initially they sought reform within their own church (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian). With resistance, gradually new churches formed, seeking to be independent of any denominational hierarchy, each congregation overseen simply by their own elders, the Bible as their guiding document.
Some of the early leaders in this movement were: Thomas and Alexander Campbell (father and son) and Barton W. Stone, whose groups would formally merge in 1831. Each developed churches that generally followed basic teachings they discovered in the Bible, such as the Bible being the only rule of faith and practice, baptism by immersion in water for remission of sin, and the Lord’s Supper (communion) being offered weekly to all who claim Christ as Lord (open rather than closed communion). There were many other preachers and leaders who played part in the early years, such as Walter Scott, the colorful Raccoon John Smith, Jacob Creath Jr., and many more. From this movement came several slogans that were popular, here are a few:
We are not the only Christians but seek to be Christians only. In other words, although we seek a pure form of Christianity with the Bible as our guide, we recognize that we are saved by grace through faith, and we do not claim you must be in a Restoration Movement church to be a Christian. We desire to work cooperatively with Christians outside our own churches in love and with a goal of ministry, realizing differences in beliefs. While true, we are serious about being non-sectarian (simply Christian).
Where the Bible speaks, we speak, and where the Bible is silent, we are silent. In other words, we preach and teach what Jesus and his apostles lead us to preach and teach but realize there are many vague areas or topics the Bible does not speak specifically about, and we do not wish to be divisive where the Bible is not clear. Where it is clear, we stand strong.
No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible. Rather than base faith on a man-made creed, we need to point people to Jesus allowing him to motivate correct beliefs with the Bible as the authoritative guide.
In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love. In other words, we desire unity around basic doctrines such as the divinity of Christ; man’s sinful condition and need for the salvation of Christ; the bodily death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to accomplish our salvation; our need to accept Christ in faith that turns to him with repentance, baptism, and faithful living with Jesus as Lord. The Bible is authoritative and our guide. But we wish liberty in many areas where the Bible is not so clear. No matter the topic, we wish to conduct ourselves with love toward all.
This Restoration Movement was the fastest growing church body in the United States in the 1800’s, but then saw division, resulting in liberal Disciples of Christ churches, somewhat legalistic non-instrumental Churches of Christ, and the independent Christian Churches, hopefully truest to our historical position.
Some of the early leaders in this movement were: Thomas and Alexander Campbell (father and son) and Barton W. Stone, whose groups would formally merge in 1831. Each developed churches that generally followed basic teachings they discovered in the Bible, such as the Bible being the only rule of faith and practice, baptism by immersion in water for remission of sin, and the Lord’s Supper (communion) being offered weekly to all who claim Christ as Lord (open rather than closed communion). There were many other preachers and leaders who played part in the early years, such as Walter Scott, the colorful Raccoon John Smith, Jacob Creath Jr., and many more. From this movement came several slogans that were popular, here are a few:
We are not the only Christians but seek to be Christians only. In other words, although we seek a pure form of Christianity with the Bible as our guide, we recognize that we are saved by grace through faith, and we do not claim you must be in a Restoration Movement church to be a Christian. We desire to work cooperatively with Christians outside our own churches in love and with a goal of ministry, realizing differences in beliefs. While true, we are serious about being non-sectarian (simply Christian).
Where the Bible speaks, we speak, and where the Bible is silent, we are silent. In other words, we preach and teach what Jesus and his apostles lead us to preach and teach but realize there are many vague areas or topics the Bible does not speak specifically about, and we do not wish to be divisive where the Bible is not clear. Where it is clear, we stand strong.
No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible. Rather than base faith on a man-made creed, we need to point people to Jesus allowing him to motivate correct beliefs with the Bible as the authoritative guide.
In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love. In other words, we desire unity around basic doctrines such as the divinity of Christ; man’s sinful condition and need for the salvation of Christ; the bodily death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to accomplish our salvation; our need to accept Christ in faith that turns to him with repentance, baptism, and faithful living with Jesus as Lord. The Bible is authoritative and our guide. But we wish liberty in many areas where the Bible is not so clear. No matter the topic, we wish to conduct ourselves with love toward all.
This Restoration Movement was the fastest growing church body in the United States in the 1800’s, but then saw division, resulting in liberal Disciples of Christ churches, somewhat legalistic non-instrumental Churches of Christ, and the independent Christian Churches, hopefully truest to our historical position.
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus