sign in sign up
<<
Home , Churches of Christ, Church of Christ, Daniel Sommer, Gospel Advocate, Restoration Movement

Parallels of Division Within the Movement by Matthew W. Morine

iscussion of divisiveness is not new to those who follow the history of ’s people in America. A majority of the books dealing with the Dhistory of the include a discussion of the increasing polariza- tion within the movement. Observers of the have noted an increasing split between two groups. The churches of Christ from 1906 to 1980 enjoyed a relatively peace- ful time of solidarity. Although there God, had to admit that the Restoration congregations ever widens. were a few minor divergent paths of Movement churches had splintered into This phenomenon is not new. The separation, overall, the church reaped diverse fellowships. The U.S. Religious faces have changed, the particular issues Dthe blessing of a strong core of faithful Census of 1906 had marked the real- have morphed, but the underlining truth congregations moving on a united mis- ity that a segment of the Restoration is the same. Three foundational prin- sion. But with the dawning of the new Movement officially left the biblical ciples associated with the split of 1906 century, a definite split seems to be pattern of the people of God to adopt are consistent with the present division present within the churches of Christ, unauthorized innovations. of this generation. and even an utterance of such a truth is Because the churches of Christ are filled with reservation. not a denominational body, no official Forces of Change voices pronounce regulations within (1) Sociological Forces. Some of the A History of Division the church. The separation between fabric of the split within the Restora- Related tension in confessing a divi- the Disciples of Christ (Christian tion Movement could be attributed to sion within the Church) and the churches of Christ in- the Civil War. Although Moses E. Lard is not new. On Aug. 18, 1889, the first creased during the 1880s to the 1900s. stated that the Civil War never divided clarion call for division was uttered. Another polarization between the con- the churches of Christ, this tumultuous called a mass meeting servative churches and the progressive event contributed to the social tension. of the in Sand Creek, Ill., churches occurred from the 1980s to The Civil War might not have been the to draw a line in the sands of fellow- the 2000s. Of course, there was no prime motivation for the division, but ship. He proposed drawing up a docu- official pronouncement, but tremors it certainly created sociological forces ment to advocate disfellowshiping of division could be seen. that contributed to the increasing gap the erring churches. Although David A strong example of this division is between congregations. Lipscom originally praised Sommer, within the pages of the directory of the As the North increased in wealth, the he eventually criticized the call for the churches of Christ produced by Mac South continued to struggle materially. split as sectarian. Lynn. The Christian Chronicle reported Although the North urbanized, the As the tension in the fellowship in Jan. 22, 2009, that 21 congregations South continued with a rural perspec- continued to progress, John R. Williams were omitted because of the intro- tive. The Disciples of Christ entered the compiled a list of loyal and duction of the instrument in mainstream of the sociological fabric churches in opposition to innovation in services. As the clock continues to move of America, demonstrated when one of 1902. Finally, in 1906, even Lipscomb, forward, the chasm between the conser- them, James A. Garfield, became presi- who desired unity among the people of vative congregations and the progressive dent of the . The churches

34 advocate • January 2012 With the dawning of the new century, a definite split seems to be present within the churches of Christ. of Christ continued to stand outside of leadership. This organization started to the symptoms of the lack of basic the sweeping cultural forces of Ameri- question some of the basic beliefs of the methodology in properly interpret- can progressivism. Christian . ing the silence of Scripture. The As the liberal element in the church There was doubt concerning the basic question concerning silence continued to seek acceptance from nature of inerrancy of the Word of God of Scripture is whether silence is mainstream America, there were and questions concerning the supernatu- prohibitive or permissive. changes within the worship and doc- ral aspects of the . This insidious When L.L. Pinkerton introduced an trine of the church with an emphasis on force attacked the faith at the core of instrument at the Midway congrega- blending into mainstream . truth. Subtly, the sinister liberalism tion in 1859, he took a decisive step This dynamic continues to be at play created confusion concerning some of toward rejecting the regulative principle since the period of the 1980s. the most basic doctrines of the church. of biblical interpretation, which states One of the best-known preachers Particularly, one’s view of the Scriptures “that which is done in worship must be within the churches of Christ during was shifted from total sufficiency to authorized by the Word of God.” But the that time period was . He a spiritual document containing some basic debate over the silence of Scrip- accomplished a goal that few, if any, wisdom on the nature of God. ture is predicated on “pattern .” preachers within the fellowship ever The spirit of liberalism began This means that there is a pattern for fulfilled. He became a well-known au- seeping through the church. In 1889, the people of God in the pages of the thor throughout modern denominational R.C. Cave pronounced what had been inspired text. Christianity. The liberal elements within simmering underneath the fellowship This is one of the major divid- the church championed him as a success for some time when he questioned ing points within the churches of case. He transcended the churches of the inspiration and authority of the Christ. The progressive segment of Christ fellowship to gain broad accep- Scriptures. In his sermon, he called the movement has largely rejected tance in American Christianity. for preachers to “come out of the the regulatory principle concerning But with this acceptance came com- closet” and declare their doubts on silence of Scripture, even rejecting promise in truth. Within time, Lucado the biblical text. This was why J.W. the idea of a biblical pattern in the seemed to continue to open himself to McGarvey penned an article on bibli- . This dynamic has new realms of acceptance. No longer cal criticism each week for 20 years. created two separate styles of con- did he stand firm on for the In the same manner, another influ- gregations: restoring churches and remission of sins but continued to advo- ence, postmodernism, is creeping non-restoring churches. cate fellowship to “all who call on the through the modern church. One of The restoring congregations are name of the Lord.” He was a forerunner the basic tenets of this philosophical those that still seek to follow the for the current progressive movement construct is the denial of absolute truth. pattern laid out in the Word of God; within the churches of Christ. Few progressive leaders would fully the progressive movement has greatly Among modern progressive leaders, endorse the denial of absolute truth in rejected primitivism. The basic few would deny fellowship or churches of Christ, but the influence of essence of the modern separation to those who have not been baptized. this cultural mindset is being felt. between conservative and progressive There is continued acceptance of those Because the denies man’s congregations concerns the desire for who differ radically on the basic ques- ability to be certain of anything, the restoration of the first-century church tion of what man must do to be saved. It leaders of progressive churches refuse to within a 21st-century world. has even moved to exchanging pulpits draw lines of fellowship, refuse to take As there was great mourning over the with those who deny the basic bulwarks definitive stances, and allow postmod- increased divergent paths taken by those of the faith. Much of the current divi- ern “I-am-fine-you-are-fine” attitudes who claimed Christ as Lord in the early sion boils down to an inherent desire to dominate the church. The increased years of the Restoration Movement, to be accepted by classic American separation between conservative and there is also a modern mourning in the denominationalism. liberal churches flows from one’s ability church over the increased separation (2) Philosophical Forces. One of the to deal with the postmodern perspective. in the fellowship. Although the names strongest forces that caused the division (3) Hermeneutical Forces. The and issues have changed, the underlying within the Restoration Movement was flash point of division for the 1906 principles of the division are the same. ❏ the influence of German liberalism. The official separation was the introduc- Disciples Divinity House, associated tion of instrumental music and the Matthew W. Morine preaches for the Castle Rock in Castle with the University of Chicago, opened society. But these two Rock, Colo. He may be reached at the floodgates of liberalism within the additions to the church were merely [email protected].

Photo: iStockphoto January 2012 • 35