Simply Christians David L. Eubanks Why Bother with the Brotherhood? Mike Shannon Are You a Christian? Gene Appel Just Christians, Just Enough Mark Taylor The Restoration Movement in the 21st Century Robin Underhill Keeping the Dream Alive David Faust HAT by David L. DO Eubanks W you believe? From one per- spective the principle, “no creed but Christ, no Restoration book but the Bible,” and Unity should be an adequate Of course, the early answer to that question pioneers did not and a sufficient guide to know all the direc- sound doctrine. Be- tions that the path cause of much confu- they had chosen sion in today’s religious would lead them world, however, the when they began. It question deserves a led to the successful more detailed explana- promotion of the tion for those who hon- name “Christian” to estly want to know. the exclusion of sec- tarian names by Rice Early History Haggard among the of the Republican Method- Restoration ists in North Carolina Movement and Virginia in 1794 With roots in the Brit- and the Presbyterians ish Isles, the Restora- of the Springfield tion Movement sprang Presbytery in Ken- to life in the United tucky in 1804. States about the turn of It led to the disso- the nineteenth century. lution of the Spring- The leading pioneer fig- field Presbytery and ures were such men as “union with the body Elias Smith and Abner of Christ at large” by Jones in New England, Barton W. Stone and James O’Kelly in others at Cane Ridge North Carolina and on June 28, 1804. It led Virginia, Barton W. the Brush Run con- Stone in Kentucky, gregation associated Thomas and Alexan- with the Campbells in der Campbell in Penn- Washington County, sylvania and West Virginia, and Walter This call took many forms: “Where Pennsylvania, to weekly observance of Scott in southern Ohio. These men were the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Lord’s Supper beginning on May 5, all dedicated preachers in major denomi- the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” 1811. It led to a soul-searching and Bi- national bodies. “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, ble-studied rejection of infant sprinkling With little or no contact among most liberty; in all things, love.” “Call Bible by Alexander Campbell on the occasion of them, these men and others around things by Bible names.” “No creed but of the birth of his first child, followed by them came to believe that a divided Christ, no book but the Bible.” “The the immersion of Thomas and Alexan- church did not conform to the will and Bible is our only rule of faith and prac- der Campbell in obedience to our Lord’s Word of God and that human creeds, tice.” And “We are not the only Chris- command on June 12, 1812. however correct they might be in sub- tians, but we are Christians only.” These It led the Baptist churches of the stance, perpetuated sectarianism and statements were more than just clichés. Blue River Association in southern In- denominational barriers when they were They represented a firm determination diana to disband their association in made tests of fellowship. Our pioneer to accept the Scriptures as the only 1821 and unite with the “Christians leaders called people to the simple gos- authoritative rule, to reject sectarian only.” It led Walter Scott to the devel- pel of Christ, the authority of the Scrip- division, to work for the restoration opment of his simple five-finger exer- tures, the right of private judgment in of the ancient church in faith and prac- cise on the plan of salvation—faith, matters of opinion, and the unity of all tice, and to promote the unity of all repentance, baptism, remission of believers. believers. sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit and This download originally appeared in the February 27, 2000 issue of THE LOOKOU T , a weekly magazine published by Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, Ohio. This resource was downloaded at www.standardpub.com. You may duplicate/print this download an unlimited amount of times for ministry and educational purposes. The purchaser, however, may not convey such rights to third parties or resell this product. ©2009, Standard Publishing. eternal life—by which thousands came Garfield’s Statement Lord’s Supper for all of the Lord’s children. to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ Because of the many inquiries that he 9. We plead for the union of God’s people on the Western Reserve in the years received concerning the views of this on the Bible and the Bible alone. 1827-30. It led to the union of the fast-growing movement, President James 10. The Christ is our only creed. Campbell and Stone branches of the A. Garfield wrote his classic statement, 11. We maintain that all the ordinances movement in the final days of 1831 “What We Stand For.” should be observed as they were in the days and a joint celebration of the Lord’s of the Apostles. Supper in Lexington, Kentucky, on 1. We call ourselves Christians, or Disci- New Year’s Day, 1832, because they ples of Christ. During the twentieth century, division held in common the essentials of the 2. We believe in God the Father. occurred within the ranks of the Resto- faith, in spite of differences over cer- 3. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the ration Movement. This division has had tain matters of opinion. Son of the living God, and our Savior. We re- many causes. In some instances, matters It sustained the movement through gard the divinity of Christ as the fundamental of personal preference have been ele- the Civil War without an open split in truth of the Christian system. vated to tests of faith. The silences of our ranks, although feelings ran strong 4. We believe in the Holy Spirit, both as to Scripture have been used to break fel- among people on both sides of the slav- his agency in conversion and as indwelling in lowship among believers. Others have ery issue. It allowed people to fellow- the heart of the Christian. cast aside the validity of the New Testa- ship together and consider each other 5. We accept both the Old and the New ment as the all-sufficient rule of faith brothers and sisters in Christ, while they Testament Scriptures as the inspired Word of and practice for the church. Denomina- differed over such matters as the use of God. tional respectability has been consid- organs in worship, paid preachers, 6. We believe in the future punishment of ered more important than the ancient closed Communion, missionary societ- the wicked and the future reward of the righ- gospel. In nearly all such cases, sectarian ies, and so forth. It led to a “free church” teous. pride has replaced the plea for the unity in a “free land” that multiplied twice in 7. We believe that the Deity is a prayer- of the church according to the doctrine the period from the Civil War to 1909, hearing and a prayer-answering God. of God’s Word. from a movement of 200,000 members 8. We observe the institution of the Lord’s While the Restoration Movement has to a fast-growing fellowship of nearly 1.5 Supper on the Lord’s Day. To this table we been hindered by such factors, the million people. neither invite nor debar; we say it is the Movement has not died. The reason for its persistence may be that it is not, and never has been, a structured organiza- tion; it is a free fellowship. Wherever in- Barton Warren Stone, 1772–1844 dividuals and congregations sincerely ORN IN COLONIAL MARYLAND, Stone grew up on the frontier in south- follow the New Testament as their only B ern Virginia. Converted while in college, he desired to become a Presby- rule of faith and order and practice the terian minister. He moved to the frontier in Kentucky in 1796 and began principle “in essentials, unity; in nones- ministering to two small churches, one of them at Cane Ridge. The great re- sentials, liberty; in all things, love,” the vival held there in 1801 changed his life and ministry. Movement continues to thrive, and con- Since the Presbyterian leadership opposed the revivals, Stone and others gregations are growing. left the Presbyterian organization and briefly formed their own presbytery. Concluding that this organization was also in error, they dissolved their In Essentials, Unity presbytery in The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery. The Fatherhood of God, the Messiah- This document emphasized their commitment to Chris- ship of Jesus, the facts of the gospel tian unity, biblical authority, and the autonomy of the (his death, burial, and resurrection), local congregation. the power and presence of the Holy Stone became the leader of a Christian Church move- Spirit, the inspiration and authority ment in the Ohio Valley. Although he had initially good re- of the Scriptures, the importance of lationships with the Christian Connection of New biblical names, the divine ordi- England/New York, he was more favorably drawn toward nances of baptism and the Lord’s union with the members of the Campbell Movement. A Supper, and the autonomy of the unification of Stone and Campbell followers occurred in church are some of the New Testa- 1832 as the two movements merged into one fellowship ment concepts that keep people of churches and members. Stone is particularly remem- united in Christ. bered for his commitment to Christian unity and his con- The fundamental truth of Christi- viction that the Bible is the only sure guide for the anity is the Messiahship of Jesus.