DOCSLIB.ORG

The Greatest Questions in Christendom

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Greatest Questions in Christendom Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Stone-Campbell Books Stone-Campbell Resources 1946 The Greatest Questions In Christendom D. A. Sommer W. G. Malcomson Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Catholic Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, History of Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Sommer, D. A. and Malcomson, W. G., "The Greatest Questions In Christendom" (1946). Stone-Campbell Books. 366. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/366 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Stone-Campbell Resources at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Stone-Campbell Books by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. The Greatest Questions In Christendom 1. Can Roman Catholicism Win America?­ "Yes" 2. Can Modern Protestantism Win America? -"No" 3. Can the Church of Christ Win America?­ "Yes" Including a tract by Mr. W. G. Malc omson , on "Mutual Mini stry in the Worship of the Church of Chr ist" 1946 MACEDONIAN CALL 918 Congress Avenue Indianapolis 8, Ind. I. Can Roman Catholicism Win America?-''YES" "Two years ago the Roman Catholic Church launched a campaign to shut Protestant missionaries out of Latin America. The campaign was launched in Washington, not Rome. The initiative was taken by the American hierarchy, not the Vatican . The Christian Century [a strong modernistic journal) de­ termined to learn what this aggressive new policy meant. To make sure it could speak with authority, a member of its editorial staff was assigned to study the present structure ·and purposes of the church in America . "Harold E. Fey is the field editor of the Christian Century. A graduate of Yale Divinity School, he lived for several years in the Philippine Islands. In the capital of that Roman Catholic country, he had oppor­ tunity to form a first-hand acquaintance with the culture and institutions of a country in which the church had been dominant for centuries. For the past decade he traveled extensively, in Europe and Asia as well as in America, and has had unusual opportunities to observe the development of church policy . During the past two years he has read exten­ sively in the curr ent literature of American Catholi­ cism. All of the data presented in these articles comes from Catholic sources. "The material presented in their booklet first ap­ peared in and was copyrighted by the Christian Cen­ tury . It was contained in the issues of November 29, 1944 to January 17, 1945."-Data concerning the tract, in which Mr. Fey decides that Roman Catholi­ cism CAN win America with the organization they have. 2 11. Can Modern Protestantism Win America?- 11 NO11 Now (April, 1946) Dr. C. C. Morrison, editor of the same Christian Century, is writing a series of articles entitled, "Can Protestantism Win America?" He compares it now with what it has been in the past, and decides that it is not now by any means as influential in the life of America as it once was. He thinks that Protestantism can NOT win America. He blames it all on "Secularism", materialism, worldlyism. It is astounding that he can analyze conditions so well, but can be so far off as to the underlying cause. It is true that secularism has had much to do with the impotency of Protestantism today, but Romanism, too, has had secularism to contend with, yet she is gaining in strength all the while. The difference is that Romanism is built around a religio-political ma­ chine, and it does not matter so much about piety. Witness on this point, the Roman Church of the Middle Ages . But Protestantism was built on faith and piety, and modern Protestantism has lost its faith. Dr. Morrison can not see that it is largely the Modernism such as taught so boldly by himself and his friends that has taken the life out of Protestantism. Can Protestantism have faith enough to resist the en­ croachments of Romanism, when Dr. Oxnam, the pre sident of the Federal Council of the 25,000,000 Protestants , refe rs to the God of the Old Testament as "dirty bully, " because he punished the people back there for their sins? ( See Oxnam's book, "Preach ing in a Revolutionary Age," publish ed by Abingdon­ Cokesbury Pre ss, New York, Pag e 79 . ) Oxnam's speech was delivered before Yale divinity students in 1944. Protestantism will con tinue to decline and Rcmanism will continue to grow in America, till Protes tantism gets back to fundamental belief in and practice of the Bible . 3 111. Can the Church of Christ Win America?-"YES" And now we come to the important question, Can the Church of Chri st, as portra yed in the New Testa­ ment, win America . I answer strongly in the affirma ­ tive, YES. The Chur ch of Christ of the First Century won mil­ lions to its banner, and laid the foundation for the overturning of the great Roman Empire . How did they do it in the First Century? How can we do a similar work in the Twentieth Century? These are questions which we shall consider from now on in this booklet. We wish to show that in the New Testament Church EVERY MEMBER was a priest unto God, and a miss ionary for him, and that the great weakness in both Romanism and Protestantism is that practicall y the whole work is done by the clergy . We reprint a tract by Mr. W . G. Malcomson, which was first published in 1922, ent itled "Mutual Ministr y in the Worship of Churches of Christ ." A br ief biog­ raphy of Mr. Malcom son will be found at the close of the booklet . We consider that this reprint contain s some of the most revolutionary and most important and most neglected truths of the Christian religion , and that it strikes at the root of the greate st evil in the Christian world-the kingdom of the clergy. We ask that the reader peruse with care every word and scripture reference . The tract follows : 4 Mutual Ministry in the Worship of the Church of Christ By W . G. MALCOMSON Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writing to the saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus-referring to the distribu­ tion of various supernatural gifts for the in­ struction, guidance and development of the Church of Christ, which is his Body, says Eph. IV, 11- 16. " ( 11 ) And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ( 12) for the perfecting of the Saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the Body of Christ; ( 13) till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in crafti­ ness, after the wiles of error; (15) but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head, even Christ; ( 16) from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in, due measure of each sev- 5 eral part: maketh the increase of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." The foregoing verses ( Eph. 4 : 11-16) are freely rendered by the scholarly commen­ tator Macknight, as follows: " ( 11 ) And he appointed some, indeed, apostles, and some prophets and some evangelists; and some pastors, and teachers, and bestowed on them the supernatural gifts of inspiration, prophecy, miracles, lan­ guages; and on some the power of com­ municating these gifts to others: ( 12) to enable them to fit the saints, even the be­ lieving Jews and Gentiles, for the ordinary work of the ministry, in order to the build­ ing of the Body of Christ, which is the Church, by converting unbelievers in every age . " ( 13) These supernaturally endowed teachers are to continue in the Church until, being fully instructed by their dis­ courses and writings, we all, who compose the Church, come through one faith and knowledge of the Son of God to perfect manhood as a Church, even to the measure of the stature wh ich, when full grown, it ought to have; so that the Church thus in­ structed and enlarged is able to direct and defend itself, without supernatural aids . " ( 14) So that having recourse at all times to their writings, we may no longer be children who, having no sure guide, are tossed like a ship by waves, and whirled about with every wind of doctrine by the cunning arts of false teachers, and by crafti- 6 ness formed into a subtle scheme of deceit: ( 15) but that, as faithful ministers, teach­ ing the truth of the Gospel from love to our people, we may make all the members of the body increase in him who is the head, or chief teacher and director, even Christ . ( 16) By whom the whole body of his disciples being aptly joined together into one harmonious Church, and firmly knit, through the exercise of the gifts proper to each individual, he maketh his body to grow, in proportion to the inward operation, of each particular part, so as to build himself by the love his members have for each other, leading them to exercise their gifts for the good of the whole." It seems clearly evident that the super­ natural endowments were to be limited to a time described as "till we [the members of the body] all attain unto the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the meas­ ure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." In other words, the apostle having repre­ sented the Church as Christ's Body, in a state of childhood (as it were), being few in number and incomplete in knowledge, he now informs these Ephesian brethren that the supernaturally endowed individuals were to continue in the Church, ti II it be­ came so enlarged and so well instructed that it would be able to sustain itself with­ out such supernatural aid.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Campbellite and Restorationist Traditions in the South
    CAMPBELLITE AND RESTORATIONIST TRADITIONS IN THE SOUTH (Converted to html from Lippy, Charles H. Bibliography of Religion in the South. Macon GA: Mercer University Press, 1985. Used with permission of Mercer University Press) THE FRENZIED EXCITEMENT of nineteenth-century frontier revivalism not only helped to imprint the evangelical style on much of Southern religion, but also led to the emergence of an interest in returning to the practices of primitive Christianity. Both commonsense rationalists and emotional revivalists sought to return to a presumably more pure Christian practice untainted by the accretions of time that had corrupted authentic Christianity. While this restorationist impulse attracted many campmeeting advocates, including Barton W. Stone, in time it coalesced around Alexander Campbell (1788-1866). Restorationists discarded denominational labels at first as signs of division within the one church, preferring to call themselves simply "Christians." In time, however, the followers of Alexander Campbell grew into one of the first indigenous denominations in the United States, the Disciples of Christ or the Christian Church. As the movement grew, it enlarged its vision to include a conviction that American society itself could be transformed into a culture replicating the pure simplicity of New Testament Christian communities even as it extended its following into both the North and the South. For many years Campbell maintained an unofficial headquarters in Bethany, West Virginia. As with other groups, the sectional divisions over slavery brought tension to the movement, which combined with disagreement over religious practices (such as the use of musical instruments in worship, the support of ecumenical missionary societies, and the like) to split the developing denomination in two by 1906, 276 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RELIGION IN THE SOUTH though for all practical purposes the emerging schism was obvious at least two decades earlier.
    [Show full text]
  • Hierarchy Through the Ages a History of the Organization, Structure and Connection Between Churches
    HIERARCHY THROUGH THE AGES A HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION, STRUCTURE AND CONNECTION BETWEEN CHURCHES STEPHEN F. STATEN This paper belongs to larger discussions, “Forward by Faith: ICOC 3.0 - Dreaming about the Future of our Fellowship,” held in Dallas, April 4-8, 2017. Evangelists, elders, teachers and administrators will take part in conversations about a Scripturally defensible and historically trustworthy model for advancing the gospel through the International Churches of Christ. March 20, 2017 WWW.BRIDGINGINTERNATIONAL.COM INTRODUCTION There are three indisputable truths about hierarchy in the Christian religion. First, church hierarchy is nearly always viewed more like a tiered pyramid than an interdependent network, like the human body. That paradigm can be traced to, among other things, the influence of ancient models of civic government. Second, the overreactions to hierarchicalism have never led to sustainable unity, health or growth. And third, there is no official overarching structure or organizational chart that has been sanctioned by Scripture—but we do possess relational and organizing principles. Solutions for a more transformative connection between churches are brought within reach when we ask questions like “What principles can we glean from the Scriptures for collectively preserving our resources and advancing the mission?” and “What can be learned from other Christian groups?” This paper contains two requested pieces related to the historical practices of brotherhood, as well as some objectives that a resilient brotherhood model would achieve. PART I—Historical Overview considers turning points of the structure and organization of churches throughout church history that became hierarchical norms, as well as attitudes and reactions to them.
    [Show full text]
  • THE BODY-Christ in the World Today CHRIST's REIGN on EARTH
    FEBRUARY, 1980 How Often Do We "Label"? p. 54 THE BODY-Christ in the World Today p. 50 CHRIST'S REIGN ON EARTH ••• Paul p. 46 Are You Ready For Invisible I.D. Numbers? / ' p. 42 CHRIST IS ALL WE NEED p. 44 Holy Land Pilgrimage AN E XPERIENCE THAT WJLL DEEPEN YOUR FAITH .. Dr. David Reagan, writer and lecturer on J3ible . prophecy, will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy L and this coming summer ( Allg11 st 6 - J 6 ). The pilglimagc will .focus on Biblical sites which are prominent in Bible p rophecy- sites like the Mt. of Olives and the Valley of Armageddon. For detailed information, write : D r. David Reagan Vice President Phillips University Enid, Oklahoma 73701 Don't miss this opporhmity to take a real spiritual pilgrimage (as opposeu to a canned tom ) with a group of fellow Christians. D evotionals will be conducted at all major sites in the life of Christ. ADDED BONUS : The pilgrinwge includes n visit to the fabulous rock city of Petra, the refuge ;. where Christians and Jews will flee for protection from tho persecution of the Anti-Chris t. "PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM" (Psalms 122:6) Wm. Robert Heid, Editor The Word and Work (USPS 691-460) is published monthly except December for $4 per year, bundles of 10 or more to one address $3.50, by tho Word nnd Work, 2518 Portland Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40212. Second class postage paid at Louisville, Ky. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Word and Work, 2518 Portland Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40212 Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • The Stone-Campbell Reformation: Its Roots and Ideals
    "Holding fast the faithful W ord ...", JU L Y , 1994 THE STONE-CAMPBELL REFORMATION: ITS ROOTS AND IDEALS THOUGHT - PROVOKERS from Various Restoration Movement Leaders Barton Stone: "We may take the Bible alone . as the only standard of faith and practice, yet without the Spirit, union can never be effected, nor continued .... Let every Christian begin the work of union in himself. Wait upon God, and pray for the promise o f the Spirit. Rest not till you are filled with the Spirit. Then, and not till then, will you love the brethren." Thomas Campbell: "Christianity is emphatically, supereminently -yea, transcendency, the religion of lo v e ." "If we have any desire to be eternally happy, and to exist for the purpose for which we are made, let us make the contents of the Bible our study night and day, and endeavor, by prayer and meditation, to let its influence dwell upon our hearts perpetually. This is the whole busi­ ness of life in this world. All else is but preparation for this; for this (Continued inside) alone can lead us back to God, the eternal Fountain of all being and blessedness. He is both the Author and the Object of the Bible. It comes from Him, and is graciously designed to lead us to Him . ." Alexander Campbell, writes Richard Hughes, "often insisted that mere intellectual assent to gospel facts is not saving faith. The faith that saves, he urged, ’is not belief or any doctrine or truth, ab­ stractly, but belief in Christ; trust or confidence in Him as a per- son.
    [Show full text]
  • Documents from Sand Creek
    Breakup of a movement: Documents from Sand Creek By A. K. Guthrie CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A GRAND OCCASION Daniel Sommer's Preliminary Report of the Meeting AN ADDRESS (Daniel Sommer) Sommer's Introduction to the Declaration ADDRESS AND DECLARATION (Version I) Version published in Sommer's Octographic Review ADDRESS AND DECLARATION (Version II) Version published a week later in Christian Leader (this one mentions Instrumental Music) SAND CREEK CHRONICLES Reaction by the Christian Standard SAND CREEK ADDRESS AND DECLARATION Reaction by David Lipscomb in Gospel Advocate THE SAND CREEK CHURCH CASE Decision of the Shelby County, IL Circuit Court from Gospel Advocate THE SAND CREEK CHURCH CASE Decision of the Illinois Supreme Court from Gospel Advocate A HISTORY OF THE SAND CREEK CHURCH Looking back, seventy years later from The Truth INTRODUCTION HOW THIS CAME ABOUT I am a life-long part of the (non-instrumental) Church of Christ and an amateur historian of the Stone-Campbell (or "Restoration") Movement . I'm increasingly amazed that our movement, begun to "unify the Christians in the sects," could divide into many factions, and do it in fewer than two hundred years. Many authors contribute to my continuing education. Cecil Hook's "Our Heritage of Unity and Fellowship" (available from him at 10905 S.W. Mira Court, Tigard, OR 97223) is especially valuable. It reproduces essays by W. Carl Ketcherside (from Mission Messenger) and Leroy Garrett (from Restoration Review). Chapter 13, The Sand Creek Address (from Mission Messenger , February, 1962) caught my eye. I believe the Sand Creek Address and Declaration is a key to understanding the mind sets which erupted into the 1880-1910 "Great" Division.
    [Show full text]
  • The Alabama Restoration Journal an Historical Perspective of Churches of Christ in Alabama
    The Alabama Restoration Journal An Historical Perspective of Churches of Christ In Alabama John Mulkey 1773-1844 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 July 01, 2012 Earl Kimbrough’s Latest….. John Taylor-The Life & Times of A Backwoods Preacher The life of .John Taylor, one of the most beloved of the pioneer gospel preachers ever in Northwest Alabama, is a story that must be told. Who better to tell this story than Franklin County’s own, Earl Kimbrough. In writing this book, John Taylor, the Life and Times of a Backwoods Preacher, Earl comes home— home to the hill country of Franklin County, Alabama. Earl was born and raised in Russellville, the county seat of Franklin County. This is a story close to his heart. We are greatly indebted to Earl Kimbrough for telling this story of joys and sorrows of John and Polly Taylor, as they labored for the Lord until the time of their deaths. $24.95, 260 pages, cloth bound with dust jacket. + 3.50 Shipping ____________ Earl Kimbrough, who gave us The Warrior from Rock Creek: Life, Times, and Thoughts of F. B. Srygley (1859-1940) in 2008, has, out of his vast knowledge of Restoration history and superb writing talents, given us another Restoration classic, John Taylor: The Life and Times of a Backwoods Preacher (1807-1885). Taylor labored among the poor in the hills of Northwest Alabama. Reared under the prevailing religious influence of the day--Calvinism--he sought to "get religion." Having never heard of Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, Walter Scott, or any of the other leaders of the Restoration Movement, Taylor, on his own study of the Bible, learned the way of truth.
    [Show full text]
  • Restoration Church History 2021
    RESTORATION CHURCH HISTORY 2021 Bibliographical tools of special interest to the Restoration Movement, which includes the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) [usually referred to as Disciples of Christ], Christian Churches/Churches of Christ [usually referred to as the Christian Church or Independent Christian Church] and Churches of Christ. Since Leroy Garrett’s The Stone-Campbell Movement: An Anecdotal History of Three Churches (1981), those who see it more as a unity movement than a Restoration Movement refer to it as the Stone- Campbell Movement. *R.R.286.6/E56. Foster, Douglas A., Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams, eds. The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. Contains almost 600 articles (most with bibliographies) by over 300 contributors on individuals, events, places, institutions, publications, and theological tenets of the American Restoration Movement. Illustrated by over 200 photographs. Contains an index. *R.R.286.609/S877g. Williams, D. Newell, Douglas A. Foster, and Paul M. Blowers, eds. The Stone- Campbell Movement: A Global History. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2013. A synchronous history of the different branches of the Restoration Movement, including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Christian Churches/Churches of Christ; Churches of Christ; and Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ [African American]. Presents a history of each group by era and/or area. The 14 contributors represent the different groups, except the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ: 7 from the Disciples of Christ, 2 from the Christian Church, and 5 from the Churches of Christ. Includes extensive end notes (382-436) and index.
    [Show full text]
  • “The Church Is the Pillar and Ground of Truth” (1 Timothy
    A Review of Tom Roberts’ Book, “The Church is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth” Tim Haile A Review of Tom Roberts’ Book: “The Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) Tim Haile In a new book, Tom Roberts joins Mike Willis, Dan King and others in an attempt to defend non-church, individually funded evangelistic and worship organizations. Brother Roberts’ treatment of the facts and Scriptures related to this subject is vastly different from his usual practice. He has misrepresented the position of his opponents and he has engaged in wild speculation about various Scriptures. This is particularly seen in his baseless speculations about “Noah’s Other Boat” and the possibility of Paul preaching as a member of the “paid staff” of the School of Tyrannus (pages 34, 35). One could just as easily say that Noah built a nuclear powered submarine, but the Scriptures say nothing about it! These particular sections of Tom’s book read more like a fiction novel than a serious analysis of issues. Tom shamelessly argues from the silence of the Scriptures. He leaves the solid ground of honorable exegesis and wanders into the quicksand of opinion and imaginative speculations. Brother Roberts has seriously misrepresented those of us who oppose business Bible lectureships and worship programs. It appears that he has attempted to answer his opponents without carefully reading or hearing their arguments. This makes him guilty of sheer folly, for it is a folly and a shame to answer a matter before hearing it (Proverbs 18:13).
    [Show full text]
  • The Voice of the Ages Against
    the praise of God in Psalms and Hymns and Spir- The Voice of Ages Against itaal Songs, their melody was the fruit of their Instrumental Music in Worship lips. For many centuries after this period, the use of Instrumental Music was unknown in Our Lord Jesus Christ dld not me, or the Church . In the Churches, as well 83 the use of instrumental music, at ieat in any in the Slmagogue, the whole congregation ordinance of worship that distinctively per- joined in the singing; but Instrumental hlusic tained to the New Teatament dispensation. was never brought into requisition. There is no evidence that His disciples used Justln Martyr-A. D. 150 instrumental rnuslc In any act of New Testa- Plain singing is not childish, but only the ment worship, or that they enjoined its use singing with lifeless organs, wlth dancing nnd upon others. cymbals, etc. Whence the use of such instru- The evidence is conclusive that the Chris- ments and other thlngs flt for children are tian Church after the days of the apostles did laid aside, and plain singing only retained. not use instrumental muslc in worship for sev- Clemcne of Alexandrla-A. D. 190 eral hundred years. We (Chrlstians) make use only of one organ In all ages since the days of the apostles the or instrument, even the peaceful Word, wlth most pioua men have opposed the use of in- which we honor God; no longer with the old struments In worship. Few, if any, among thoso psaltry, trumpet, drum, cymbal, or plpe. who have been regarded as the most godly I among men have voluntarily made use of in- 1 struments, and it Is believed that no church Such organa, or instruments, were then per court has ever enjoined, or even recommended, mltted them (the Old Testament Church) for their use in the worship of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Universl^ Micrailms International
    INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark, it is an indication of either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image of the page can be found in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note will appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photographed, a definite method of “sectioning” the material has been followed. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete.
    [Show full text]
  • The New Testament Church Restored to the Departure of the Christian Church These Notes Draw Dates and Events from Timelines Of
    A Chronology of Events Affecting the Church of Christ from the First Century to the Restoration 11. 1844 to 1906: The New Testament Church Restored to the Departure of the Christian Church These notes draw dates and events from timelines of www.wikipedia.com. The interpretation of events and the application of scripture to these events, as they affect the church of Christ, which was built by the Lord (Matt 16:18), remain the responsibility of this writer. 1844 Great dissapointment William Miller predicted Jesus would return to earth on October 22, 1844. Thousands of followers were disappointed. Miller based his conclusion on Dan 8:14. He is credited with the beginning of the Adventism movement of the 1830s and 1840s in North America. Among his direct spiritual heirs are the Seventh-day Adventists. 1845 The Southern Baptist The SBC became a separate denomination in 1845 in Augusta, Convention formed in Georgia, following a regional split with northern Baptists over Augusta, Georgia. the issues of slavery and missions. Southern Baptists emphasize the significance of the individual conversion experience, affirmed by a total immersion in water for a believer's baptism, and rejection of infant baptism. SBC churches are evangelical in doctrine and practice. Specific beliefs based on biblical interpretation can vary somewhat due to the congregational governance system that gives autonomy to individual local Baptist churches. [From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia] 1849 The first National Convention The issue was: should the brotherhood have societies to further held in Cincinnati, Ohio coopoerative missions and conventions to provide "general church organization for the furtherance of the work by the church collectively." Alexander Campbell did not attend, fearing a convention would lead back to denominationalism, but he was elected the convention President.
    [Show full text]
  • The Church to End All Churches? the Unifying Vision of the Stone-Campbell Movement
    CHRISTIAN HSTI ORY Issue 106 The church to end all churches? The unifying vision of the Stone-Campbell Movement Did you know? SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM STONE-CAMPBELL CHURCHES FROM LBJ TO ZIMBABWE Rhodesia, where he worked for equal rights for all SEVERAL PRESIDENTS have been members of the Africans. Queen Elizabeth II knighted Todd in 1986, Stone-Campbell tradition. The first was James Gar- but in 2002 he was stripped of Zimbabwean citizenship. field. Baptized at age 18, Garfield began preaching at age 21 and is the only U.S. president who was a min- TOP MAN AT YALE; HOOPS HERO ister (of a Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio). He He visits Civil War battlefields for fun and at his day was also among the group that launched the magazine job explains how early Jews and Christians adapted to Christian Standard, still published today. the culture around them without adopting its values. The second was Lyndon Baines Johnson. As a young He is Greg Sterling, appointed dean of Yale Divinity man, he was baptized in a small Christian Church in School in 2012—a noted New Testament scholar, for- Johnson City, Texas, where he also attended services in mer dean at Notre Dame, and minister in Churches of his retirement. Christ. Sterling’s appointment at Yale testifies to the Church was also a focal point of Ronald Reagan’s passion for biblical scholarship that has always charac- youth in Dixon, Illinois. He was a member of First terized the Stone-Campbell tradition (see “Reading the Christian Church and graduated from Disciples- Bible to enjoy the God of the Bible,” p.
    [Show full text]